Theatre can be a force for change – I went looking for it on the Italy/Slovenia border | Arifa Akbar

In a city belonging to two nations, I hoped for art that could heal suspicion and bridge political divides. Instead I found timidity

Gareth Southgate had a “genuine desire to unite people around a particular project rather than divide people and cause upset,” said British playwright James Graham in his tribute-cum-eulogy to the departing England football manager after the nation’s defeat to Spain in the final of Euro 24.

Graham, who is busy rewriting his football drama, Dear England, in light of this outcome (presumably as a tragedy), is best known for the sting of his political dramas, which so often expose division, government doublespeak and hypocrisy. His words brought to mind the role of theatre-makers and their responsibility to unite the audience around a “particular project”, or otherwise.

Arifa Akbar is the Guardian’s chief theatre critic