Probably best known by many as the topic of their school curriculum back in the day and, by the number of coaches full of school children in attendance last night, still enjoyed and studied today, An Inspector Calls is at the Bristol Hippodrome this week.
Stephen Daldry’s multi award-winning National Theatre production of this classic thriller is only in Bristol for a matter of days and, like its record-breaking sell-out tour in 2022, has too sold out.
The J.B. Priestley play was brought to life on stage in a production that was innovative, atmospheric and hugely impressive. From the get-go, there was immediate tension which only built as the stage curtain was lifted.
The staging itself was mesmerising, with the home of the Birling family opening up like a dolls house to reveal the characters – and all of their secrets. This, in addition to the entire cast’s flawless performance, made the production simply unforgettable.
The arrival of the Inspector Goole had everyone in the audience excited and also stunned into silence at the same time. The moments of quiet as we waited for him to interrupt the Birling family’s celebratory drinks were almost Hitchcock-like – a feeling that never let up as the story progressed.
And even if you knew the story, part of you was expecting something out of the ordinary, a twist or turn, or something dramatic to happen at any moment. The music and the lighting aided this consistent atmosphere and tension, and the audience (of all ages) couldn’t peel their eyes away from the stage even for a moment.
Without giving too much away, some standout moments in terms of the staging involved the house itself, rain, the ever-changing sky behind it all, and the use of smoke machines to really immerse the audience into the experience. I also particularly loved the props that other cast members brought to our attention, for instance the old radio. Every movement was cleverly thought out.
The cast were utterly mesmerising in their performance, and the choreography truly incredible. They portrayed every human emotion imaginable effortlessly, left the audience gasping during certain emotion-fuelled moments, and those cast members outside of the main six, while remaining silent throughout the entire show, played their part exceptionally well.
The Inspector, for me, was probably the figure on stage (and elsewhere) I was most drawn to – and the character’s extensive monologues and quick-change emotion meant that Tim Treloar had a mammoth role to tackle. He made it completely his own, however, and had the other characters and audience-alike bending to his every will. He was truly a powerhouse on stage.
But then, the same could be said for each and every one of the main six. Each one was cast perfectly and brought the attitudes and emotions their characters are famous for, alive. So much so that, when all was said and done, many of us in our seats were ready and willing to dig out our old GCSE or O Level papers and analyse this ever-topical play in all its glory once more.
The whole one hour and 45 minutes (with no interval) was nothing short of a masterpiece. And, thanks to the incredible cast, crew, and all those behind every inch of the set and story, we were all reminded how relevant J.B. Priestley’s tale remains, even to this day.