Chariots of Fire is the stage adaptation by Mike Bartlett of the 1981 Oscar winning motion picture. This Sheffield Theatre production is cleverly directed by resident award winning Artistic Director Robert Hastie and unfortunately, his last Sheffield production in the role. Hastie with Associate Director Lilac Yosphon and Assistant Director Chantell Walker re-imagine what was first performed at the Hampstead Theatre in London in 2012. In the Olympic year of 2024, this production marks 100 years since the Paris Olympics of 1924 when this extraordinary real life story takes place and is subsequently dedicated to Sheffield Olympians past and present.
It would seem the circular stage (theatre in the round) of the Sheffield Crucible is the perfect location to house a production that requires a running track. Set and Costume Design by Ben Stones, transport us effortlessly with minimal and tokenistic elements, to a time when sport was about amateurs and athletics wasn’t a science. The stage is a revolve that is used to its full potential and creates the track, it is particularly effective in the opening sequence as running machines are used and we see the passage of time of the Olympic Games through to modern day and back to 1924. It is in 1924 that we are introduced to the two main characters in this inspiring true story – Harold Abrahams and Eric Liddell as they vie to become the fastest men on Earth, whilst racing for acceptance and glory. Both men yearn for the simplicity of the track as they battle their faiths and their nation. It is a tale of honour, courage and conviction, a tale of two men who are etched into Olympic history.
Composer and Musical Director – Frew – epically fills the theatre with nostalgia and ambience, as we experience what it takes to be an Olympian. The Movement Director does an outstanding job with a piece of theatre where the race must be fore and central to the story. From laps in and out of the auditorium to races around the revolve and the beautifully detailed use of slow motion – to the exquisite use of running machines to enable to audience to experience the effort and sweat exuding from every pore. In reality, no race is the same and every race is impressively choreographed with a unique and fresh perspective.
With a cast 16 strong cast – and all bar ten, including the two principal characters of Abrahams (Adam Bregman) and Liddell (Michael Wallace); multi role playing, the action and storytelling is as swift as the ‘100 yard dash’ with some exquisite cameo roles. The characters are of the era and the Dialect Coach does a sterling job with some wonderfully eccentric British accents from the echelons of Cambridge University played by Mark Lockyer and Richard Cant – this pair are very classy and versatile actors. Leo Wan as Foster and the Prince of Wales has many of the comedic moments and plays these to perfection. Watch out for Sally Frith’s young boy, Colin, quite hilarious! Benjamin Westerby shows his classical training at Lord Andrew Lindsay and Eddie-Joe Robinson and Seb Slade are formidable in competitiveness and in role as the American competitors. But primarily is it Abrahams and Liddell’s story and Bergman and Wallace give the characters as much grace in their portrayal as they do to their running style. The audience are fully invested in these two characters and there are some beautiful moments of reflection, desire and desperation in their performances. Both unique and both driven in the face of adversity.
This production rekindles the Olympic Spirit and in its own right wins the race for morality and a somehow lost ‘Britishness’. Grit and determination and the British ‘we just get on with it’ of yester year are key to the nostalgic appeal of this production as we all relish a time when things were much more simple and far more pure. ‘Where does the power come from to see the race to its end? From within.’ Chariots of Fire is at the Crucible Theatre, Sheffield until Sat 27th July 2024, it is a heart-warming joy of a race that is though provoking and leaves you knowing you have run a marathon with the characters rather than a short sprint! A medal winning production, bravo!
Playing until 27th July, https://www.sheffieldtheatres.co.uk/events/chariots-of-fire
Reviewer: Tracey Bell
Reviewed: 11th July 2024
North West End UK Rating: