Performance

VenueGrand Theatre
Other spaces: Arts Wing
TownSwansea
CountyGlamorgan
From4th April 2005
To9th April 2005
WhenMon-Sat 19:30. Wed, Thu, Sat Mats 14:00
PricesFrom £8.00. To £17.50.
What is currently on at Grand Theatre (V831)

An Inspector Calls

An Inspector CallsT01139219965
When Inspector Goole calls unexpectedly on the prosperous Birling family investigating the suicide of a poor young local woman his startling revelations shatter the very foundation of their lives. As the Inspector asks insinuating questions it becomes clear that they all bear guilt for the destruction of the woman they have variously exploited for cheap labour, cheap sex and worse - And then the plot thickens. Written at the end of the second World War and set before the first, An Inspector Calls is a brilliantly compelling and haunting thriller.
Author J B Priestley


Archive :: production:T01139219965, play:S2343, venue:V831
Current production:Work

Production details

Website

Special Performances


  • 7 Apr 05 Sign Interpreted

Reviews

Overall: 5.00
USER (08Feb05): An Inspector Calls Birmingham Rep, Monday 7 February 2005 This production has been on tour since early 2003. Such is the popularity of this J B Priestley classic that 2 years on it is back in Birmingham at the Rep and still packing them in! The atmosphere was buzzing with anticipation and that special magic that goes with first nights and classic thrillers. Stephen Daldry’s award winning National Theatre production which dates back to a decade ago, has a more symbolic and impressionistic setting than for example the film version with Alastair Sim and works beautifully. The small child, at the opening of the play, tugging at the heavy stage curtain trying to get in but failing to do so. The house in which the rather grand Birlings live, rather nut like and once cracked open exposing some pretty terrible hypocrisy all works wonderfully! The cobbled street on an incline, which seemed to move things off centre worked to create an unreal and yet recognisable environment. Clearly all is not what it first seems… The main players and there are familiar faces, live out the drama with passion and individually are highly believable and compelling. They are without doubt assisted by both the eerie settings, immaculate costumes; the ladies dresses are beautiful, atmospheric lighting and clever positioning of actors. It simply works and the audience applause at the close demonstrated that once again. “An Inspector Calls” is as relevant today as when it was first written and part of the impact is that you can still relate to both the behaviour of the characters and their beliefs. The comfortable, middle class Birlings lives are thrown into chaos by the arrival of the mysterious Inspector Goole played convincingly by Nicholas Day. He is the kind of Inspector that will get right inside the case and force the characters to face their actions. David Roper an imposing figure of a man is impressive as the pompous Arthur Birling and projected himself well. Sandra Duncan is equally well cast as his haughty wife and together they play a thoroughly immoral pair who could try and get themselves out of anything! Their daughter Sheila, the only really good one in the family is played sympathetically by Katie McGuinness. Her drink sodden brother Eric is played with conviction and at times great hysteria by Nick Barber. Mark Healy a well-known TV face is tall, dashing and believable as Gerald Croft the fiancé of Sheila. Elizabeth Ross plays Edna the maid, a lovely character piece and another example of “us and them”. I enjoyed the evening immensely and can only wish the tour all the success it deserves and it now continues throughout the UK until at least the end of June 2005! Clive Fuller 5

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Company

Producer Royal National Theatre
Director Stephen Daldry (original director)
Design Ian MacNeil
Lighting Rick Fisher
Music Stephen Warbeck
Performer Nicholas Day
Performer Sandra Duncan
Performer David Roper
Performer Mark Healy
Performer Katie McGuinness
Performer Elizabeth Ross
CORONAVIRUS: All UK venues closed on 16th March 2020, restrictions were lifted on 19th July 2021. Please note that iUKTDb archive listings between March 2020 and July 2021 may not be accurate as we did not receive details of all rescheduled and cancelled shows.

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