This play from Frantic Assembly combines the stories of soldiers from 1918, 2013 and 2026, united by the fact that they are all coming home to Scarborough. George (Jared Garfield), is returning from the Western Front, Frankie (Joe Layton), from Afghanistan and Nat (Jonnie Riordan), from a Norwegian refugee camp in the near future. The actors also play all the other characters in the play, seamlessly flitting between time periods by donning the odd piece of clothing. They also play the two women in the piece, without disguise, but simply, with subtle physicality and sensitivity. Frantic Assembly run Ignition, a free national training programme for 16-20 year old men. The Unreturning celebrates Ignition’s ten year anniversary by showcasing actors who all emerged through this scheme. The sheer physicality, passion and honesty in the performances is testament to this initiative and Frantic Assembly should be applauded for it. Mention should also be given to Kieton Saunders-Browne, making his professional stage debut.

Praise must also be given to the set, lighting and sound designers (Andrzej Goulding, Zoe Spurr and Pete Malkin), for creating an evocative world for these stories. A shipping container literally contains the action and transforms into a tunnel, barracks, lorry and much more to brilliant effect. The frenetic revolving of the set echoes the turbulence of the characters’ lives and minds and it is the actors themselves who steer it, never resting. The powerful soundscape evokes poignancy through stringed instruments as well as the horrible noise of war punctuated by percussive beats and blasts. The image of George staring at his reflection in the water, seeing his dead soldier friends will haunt me for a long time.

The performance runs for 100 minutes without an interval, and the audience tastes something of the relentlessness the performers and their characters feel. My only criticism would be that Nat’s story is the least developed, and set against the highly emotional narratives of George and Frankie, seems somewhat lacking. Maybe in the future as this world of ours unravels, Nat will get his own play!

The Unrelenting is the most superbly apt name for this play, where the experience of coming home is as difficult as the experience of war itself. Frantic Assembly and the writer, Anna Jordan have created an iconic production which I hope will return to touch many more lives in the future.  ★★★★★    Karin Andre    27th February 2019