16 – 20 May Read our review on 17 May
The 30th Anniversary tour of Stephen Daldry’s seminal stage production of An Inspector Calls visits the Theatre Royal Bath.
Winner of nineteen major awards, this landmark staging of J.B. Priestley’s thriller, directed by world-renowned theatre and film director Stephen Daldry (The Crown, The Hours, The Reader, Billy Elliot), has played to more than five million theatregoers worldwide. Only a handful of tickets for the week-long run in Bath now remain, to enquire after returns contact the Box Office.
Written at the end of the Second World War and set before the First, the compelling and haunting story begins when the mysterious Inspector Goole calls unexpectedly on the prosperous Birling family home. Their peaceful family dinner party is shattered by his investigations into the death of a young woman. Goole’s startling revelations not only shake the very foundations of their lives, but challenge us all to examine our consciences.
J.B. Priestley’s brilliantly constructed masterpiece powerfully dramatises the dangers of casual capitalism’s cruelty, complacency and hypocrisy, whilst Stephen Daldry’s epic production highlights the play’s enduring relevance. Winner of four Tony Awards and three Olivier Awards, An Inspector Calls is the most internationally-lauded production in the National Theatre’s history.
Liam Brennan reprises the role of Inspector Goole, having toured in An Inspector Calls previously, including to Bath’s Theatre Royal in 2015. His many theatre credits also include Richard III and Twelfth Night at Shakespeare’s Globe, and Diary of a Madman at The Gate, for which he was awarded Best Actor at the Edinburgh Festival in 2016.
Christine Kavanagh, who plays Mrs Birling, has appeared at the National Theatre in Man and Superman and Albert Speer, and toured the UK in the National Theatre’s production of Hedda Gabler. Her West End credits include The Importance of Being Earnest, which toured to Bath in 2014, where she also performed in Basketcase in 2011. With the Royal Shakespeare Company, she has performed in Macbeth and Much Ado About Nothing. Jeffrey Harmer, who appears as Mr Birling, performed nationwide in the play Bird Song. His many theatre credits include Fox on The Fairway, Out Of Order, Donkey’s Years, Romeo & Juliet and As You Like It. He last performed at the Theatre Royal Bath in The Forsyte Saga in 1991.
Simon Cotton, who plays the role of Gerald Croft, is best known on television for his role as Hugh Bryant in Emmerdale. His theatre credits include A Clockwork Orange at London’s Park Theatre. His film credits include The Rise of the Krays and The Fall of the Krays, in which he played Ronnie, The Unseen and Undercover Hooligan. Chloe Orrock appears as Sheila Birling. Her stage work includes The Picture of Dorian Gray for the European Arts Company, Too Much Punch for Judy at Upstairs at the Gatehouse, Twelfth Night and Romeo and Juliet for Tomahawk Theatre Company, and her own play, Of Sirens and Other Monsters at venues in London. George Rowlands plays Eric Birling and Frances Campbell appears as Edna. The company also features understudies Philip Stewart, Beth Tuckey, Maceo Cortezz and Rue Blenkinsop.
World-renowned theatre and film director Stephen Daldry’s many theatre credits include Peter Morgan’s The Audience and David Hare’s Skylight. His multi award-winning stage production of Billy Elliot The Musical ran for eleven years in the West End before embarking on a national tour. His film credits include The Hours, The Reader and Billy Elliot, all of which earned him Academy Award nominations for Best Director. Most recently, he has directed several episodes of the smash hit Netflix series The Crown, for which he is also Producer. An Inspector Calls features Ian MacNeil’s ingenious design, with music by Academy Award-winning composer Stephen Warbeck (Shakespeare in Love) and atmospheric lighting by Rick Fisher.
An Inspector Calls appears at the Theatre Royal Bath from Tuesday 16th to Saturday 20th May. Ticket availability is extremely limited. To enquire about returns contact the Theatre Royal Bath Box Office on 01225 448844 or visit www.theatreroyal.org.uk
Photo credit: Mark Doouet
