The New Theatre, Cardiff
Tue 12 – Sat 16 Apr
From Stephen Daldry, the Oscar nominated director responsible for Billy Elliot on both the big screen and stage, comes the multi award winning West End production of J.B Priestley’s classic thriller/drama, An Inspector Calls.
The play itself has won more awards than any other play in history, and is coming to Cardiff next month. The haunting classic, An Inspector Calls, originally produced by the National Theatre in 1992, was written after the Second World War but was set before the First.
The story follows inspector Boole, who arrives unexpectedly at the Birling family home, a warm capsule of privilege, with expensive chandeliers, champagne, port and a lot of tension.
He ruins their delightful engagement party dinner by beginning his investigation into the suicide of a young working-class woman. With his horrifyingly intrusive questions, it becomes clear that perhaps they all bear some sort of guilt for the destruction of the young woman. His startling revelations and relentless behaviour shake the foundations of their lives and challenge us all to examine our consciences. This is the story of a family being torn apart by a questionable investigator, if he even is an investigator, but how much of it is their fault? With the drama unfolding, the focus is strongly on the rich and the poor classes. This is an issue that is just as relevant today. The words that J.B. Priestly put across in 1912 will always have a significant impact on anything you apply it to.
“We don’t live alone. We are members of one body. We are responsible for each other.”
With big orchestral music to bring the hair on the back of your neck to a stand, this play has thrilled audiences in the West End, on Broadway, and throughout the world with its wildly imaginative and chilling suspense. As a play that is set in only one room, a lot lies in the balance of the character traits, and with that it has the power to shock and stun its audience in seconds.
KARA GURR
Tickets: £9-132 Info: 029 2087 8889 / www.newtheatrecardiff.co.uk
