The Climbers – Theatre by the Lake

The Climbers by Carmen Nasr was due to receive its world premiere in 2020 -and it has been well worth the wait to see this production which transports us between the UK and the Himalayan Mountain range below the summit of Everest, writes Karen Morley-Chesworth.

During lockdown, Theatre by the Lake hosted a live online read-through of the first half of this play, with the actors in their bedrooms and living rooms across England. This left me desperate to know what happened next. Now, to see the staging of this play, the script is elevated to another level.

Charlie and Yasim Harris are climbers. Yasmin has had a burning desire to climb Everest since a child. Together they have planned the trip of a lifetime, however, two go and only one returns.

Charlie’s mother, Celia Harris wants to know what has happened and sends out a private investigator – who partly uncovers the draw of the mountain while carrying out her enquiries.

The set is simple, stunning and very effective. The production of this play is impressive. There is a real sense of the freezing, isolation and disorientation – and then a snap back into the cosy, warmth order of home.

Marc Graham as Charlie and Claire Lams as Yasmin capture the joy and passion of climbing, and the complexity of a relationship beautifully. Shenagh Govan as Celia gives a moving performance as the mother, desperate to protect her child, whatever their age – and unable to accept death without a body.

Louise Mal Newberry as the PI Connie Chang asks the questions those who don’t climb want to know – why? Why put your life at risk? Why put yourself through hell? 

Why can’t she get to the bottom of what has happened? She gives a strong performance as a corporate person out of her comfort zone.

When she meets Gwen, another young climber in the bar, Connie gets closer to understanding herself more than what has happened in the snowstorm near the summit of the Mountain.

Ameilia Isaac Jones as Gwen gives another strong performance, presenting the case for what draws her and hundreds of others to this busy climbing mecca, paved literally with the bodies of those who failed before them.

While the middle classes of the West scramble to take on Everest, it’s Sherpa Tshering, Yasmin and Charlie’s guide who provides the cultural background and complexity of ‘climbing tourism’. Manish Gandhi gives an excellent performance as the young sherpa.

One person pays to climb the other takes the money, so one day they will not have to climb. One has climbed Everest multiple times and gets no hero grams, the other once and is heralded a hero.

There are several scenes in this brilliant new play that are moving and exceptional -especially the beautifully choreographed piece with the duplication of the ghost in the second half of the production.

I am not a climber. Like Connie Chang, I don’t understand how you could put yourself at such risk, queueing to make your way to the top of the world. I find this piece so interesting. However, I would imagine this play would be a production that would capture the interest of those who love climbing.

Director Guy Jones has done an excellent job of taking an already great text by Nasr and creating a production that transports you to the most wonderful and equally terrifying place on earth and draws you into the world and mindset of the climber, and those left behind.

The Climbers by Carmen Nasr runs at Theatre by the Lake in the Main House until July 16th, 7.30 pm with 2pm matinees on selected dates. For more information and to book your tickets visit the Theatre by the Lake website www.theatrebythelake.com

Reviewer: Karen Morley-Chesworth

Reviewed: 25^th June 2022

North West End UK Rating: ★★★★