An Inspector Calls
The award-winning production of J B Priestley’s An Inspector Calls makes a welcome return to Birmingham Repertory Theatre from January 30 to February 14 following its sell-out successes in 2003 and 2005.
Stephen Daldry’s production of An Inspector Calls is without doubt one of the most outstanding theatrical events of our generation, winning more awards than any other play in history. It opened at the National Theatre in 1992, transferring to the West End for two years before going on an extensive international tour including Broadway and Australia.
Written at the end of the Second World War and set before the First, An Inspector Calls is a brilliantly compelling and haunting thriller. The story begins with the mysterious Inspector Goole arriving unexpectedly at the prosperous Birling family home. His startling revelations not only shatter the very foundations of their lives but challenge us all to examine our consciences.
Stephen Daldry is one of Britain’s hottest theatre and film directors whose musical production of Billy Elliot has proved a smash hit in the West End and has just opened on Broadway to huge acclaim. He was the director of the Academy award-winning film The Hours (starring Meryl Streep, Nicole Kidman and Julianne Moore) and his most recent film The Reader (starring Kate Winslett and Ralph Fiennes) has just opened in the UK. Daldry has won a string of Theatre Awards for Best Director, including the Olivier, Tony, Drama Desk, Critics’ Circle, Evening Standard and many more. He was previously Artistic Director of the Royal Court Theatre.
Ian MacNeil’s ingenious designs for this production have won him a host of awards and tremendous critical acclaim. Complete with exquisite Edwardian costumes, An Inspector Calls delivers a stunning visual treat. The designs are so legendary that audiences the world over still talk about the amazing set and the hauntingly powerful atmosphere. Ian has collaborated with Stephen Daldry on several productions including Machinal at the National Theatre, for which he won a Critics’ Circle Award and The Editing Process at the Royal Court Theatre. Rick Fisher’s lighting work for An Inspector Calls has earned him the Drama Desk and Tony Awards for the Broadway production, as well as a nomination for an Olivier Award in 1993 in London. An Inspector Calls also boasts a sweeping soundtrack by Oscar-winning composer, Stephen Warbeck.
Inspector Goole will be played by Louis Hilyer, who recently appeared at The REP as Dr Wangel in The Lady From The Sea. Mr Birling will be played by Christopher Saul, whose recent stage appearances include Oedipus at the National Theatre and Hamlet at the Stafford Shakespeare Festival. Joining them will be Sandra Duncan as Mrs Birling, Marianne Oldham as Sheila Birling, Alisdair Simpson as Gerald Croft, Robin Whiting as Eric Birling and Diana Payne-Myers as Edna.
Listings Information;
An Inspector Calls
Friday 30 January to Saturday 14 February
Performance Times: 7.30pm Mon to Sat apart from 7.00pm on Tues 3 Feb
Matinees at 2.00pm on Thu 5, Sat 7, Tue 10 and Thu 12 February
Spotlight – free pre-show talk: Wed 11 Feb
After Dark – free post-show discussion with the acting company: Fri 6 Feb
Audio Description & Touch Tour: Thu 12 Feb at 7.30pm
BSL Interpreted Performance: Wed 11 Feb at 7.30pm with Harjit Jagdev
Captioned Performance: Fri 13 Feb at 7.30pm
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