An Inspector Calls Archives - North West End UK

6May

By Peter KinnockNo Comments

West Midlands

An Inspector Calls – The Alexandra

There are not many of these old theatrical war-horses left, you know. Those familiar, reliable, well-made plays which stomped across the provinces for year in, year out have now been replaced by newer, younger models targeting the cutting-edge, ground-breaking yoof market. There are fewer and fewer Agatha Christies, Ray Cooneys and hardly any Terence Rattigan. And no one has touched JB Priestley for years. Apart from Stephen Daldry. Priestley’s dour, northern wordy world has been given a fresh new slant in this production which itself is knocking on a bit having premiered way back in 1992 yet feels a fresh as a daisy - which is oddly the name of a character in the play. It’s appropriate that a play about social responsibility and the evils of capitalism should have started in Russia in ...

30Apr

By Paul ClarkeNo Comments

Yorkshire & Humber

An Inspector Calls – Bradford Alhambra

Only yards away from this historic theatre is a statue of local boy made good J B Priestley so it’s fitting that it’s a full house for this revival of his spooky masterpiece. Still a GCSE text An Inspector Calls was revived by Stephen Daldry for the National Theatre and since then Priestley’s combination of the supernatural and socialism has become a staple of the touring circuit. Posh industrialists the Birlings are having an engagement party for their self-absorbed daughter in their mansion at the turn of the last century when a mysterious police inspector arrives to ask them questions about the suicide of a young local woman. Piece by piece Inspector Goole reveals the complicity in the death of these smug people, whose only concern is for themselves, but is their inquisitor all th...

12Feb

By Jackie FoottitNo Comments

Yorkshire & Humber

An Inspector Calls – Hull New Theatre

As curtain raisers go, there can’t be many more dramatic than that which I witnessed on Tuesday evening, when a National Theatre production of JB Priestley’s classic thriller, An Inspector Calls, exploded on to the stage. Hull New Theatre seemed to be packed to the gills, especially after the arrival of hordes of school leavers and their teachers. All soon settled and then the fun began a few minutes after 7.30pm. The explosive start of a very stormy night, with real water falling as rain that little street urchins splashed in, took part outside the impressive home of the wealthy Birling family. This stage setting - a telephone box, street lamp, a distant urban backdrop and the house - changed very little throughout. But when it did, my goodness it was ear splitting. All the ac...

20Nov

By Hannah EsnoufNo Comments

North West

An Inspector Calls – Liverpool Empire

With the size and grandeur of the Empire stage, any play has a feat to reach the farthest eyes and ears in the audience. Especially a play that has such a wide and respecting reputation, not to mention a sell-out run to precede it. I didn't watch that initial tour of this production, so I have no comparison. That said, I was keen to see the calibre of the National Theatre re-produced, albeit with a hint of apprehension as to whether it would feel big enough for a space so different to the intimate Littleton. However, sat way back in the stalls I was pleased to feel so much life from the distant stage. The characters were bold and worked very hard to keep us in that world of tailcoats and silk gloves. Sheila Birling (Leona Allan) had humility, and a subtlety needed to counteract Mr an...

7Sep

By Alan Stuart MalinNo Comments

London

An Inspector Calls – Alexandra Palace

Stephen Daldry’s iconic revival of ‘An Inspector Calls’ has returned to the stage, opening its highly anticipated 2024 UK tour at the extremely grand Alexandra Palace. First performed in 1992, Daldry's production of J.B. Priestley’s classic thriller has since become a global phenomenon, earning 19 major awards, including Tony and Olivier accolades. With its distinct fusion of heightened realism and surrealist undertones, this tour aims to captivate both new and returning audiences. The play is set in 1912 and revolves around the wealthy Birling family. As they celebrate an engagement, their evening is disrupted by the arrival of the mysterious Inspector Goole, investigating the suicide of a young woman. His inquiries expose uncomfortable truths about the family's involvement in the trag...

Award-Winning Classic Thriller Returns to Liverpool

20Mar

By NewsdeskNo Comments

NEWS

Award-Winning Classic Thriller Returns to Liverpool

Following a sell-out tour in 2022, and a sell-out Liverpool Empire Theatre run in early 2023, Stephen Daldry’s multi award-winning National Theatre production of JB Priestley’s An Inspector Calls returns to the city for another Empire stint from 19th – 23rd November 2024. Casting to be announced. The story? It's a classic: when Inspector Goole arrives unexpectedly at the prosperous Birling family home, their peaceful dinner party is shattered by his investigations into the death of a young woman. His startling revelations shake the very foundations of their lives and challenge us all to examine our consciences. More relevant now than ever, An Inspector Calls is a must-see for a whole new generation. “We’re thrilled to be presenting another tour of An Inspector Calls," says Director S...

10May

By Paul ClarkeNo Comments

Yorkshire & Humber

An Inspector Calls – Alhambra Bradford

A few hundred feet from this theatre stands a statue of Bradford’s favourite son J B Priestley, so it was fitting this perfectly realised revival of his enduring drama was coming home after becoming a worldwide hit. On one level it is a clever thriller with a smart twist, but on a deeper level it remains a searing condemnation of the cult of the individual - which is the essence of capitalism - written by a lifelong socialist who survived the horrors of the trenches in the First World War. Some theatre goers might find the political undercurrent a turnoff, so can just enjoy a mysterious police inspector calling on the well to do Birling family in their mansion where he strips bare their Edwardian hypocrisy as he reveals their culpability in the suicide of a destitute young working-cl...

15Mar

By Luke StephensonNo Comments

North West

An Inspector Calls – Liverpool Empire

Upon writing this review I’m still trying to process what I saw upon the empire stage last. I can’t put into words (ironically) how good it was, but I will certainly give it a go. It also comes with a bit of sadness because usually when I write reviews, I hope that it encourages people to watch however, this run has already completely sold out so if you like what you are reading do check out where it is performing if it’s in your area or an area near you be quick and snap up tickets. I studied ‘An Inspector Calls’ by J B Priestley in school I would say it’s one of the first plays that gripped me and drew me in and got me in to theatre so when given the chance to see it live I was very excited. This production was directed by Stephen Daldry. It was a dark rainy night; children were pl...

An Inspector Calls – Edinburgh Festival Theatre

1Feb

By Beth EltringhamNo Comments

Scotland

An Inspector Calls – Edinburgh Festival Theatre

An upper class family oblivious to fact that the world around them is falling to ruin, a family laughing around a dinner table without a care in the world; that is until he arrives. A detective. A dead girl and secrets to be explored. There’s a reason that An Inspector calls by J B Priestley has been wildly used in educational studies throughout the years and that’s simply because it fantastic. It’s a play that keeps us on our toes as it unravels itself with every character, providing us with twists and turns but also striving in the end to leave us with important moral lessons. The lessons of this tale clearly being ‘our own actions have consequences’ and that ‘we should take responsibility for how we treat others because we never know what could be going on in their lives’. T...