An Inspector Calls

“A spectacle of an Inspector” ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

An Inspector Calls is a beloved institution of British theatre, having been in its current iteration from director Stephen Daldry since 1992 and being played to more than 5 million people worldwide since then.

Written by J.B. Priestly and first performed in 1945, the setting is that of a fictional industrial town called Brumley in the North Midlands. We open in spectacular fashion in a rainstorm whilst the well-to-do family of the Birling’s celebrate the engagement of their daughter  Sheila (Leona Allen) to Gerald Croft (Tom Chapman). Their celebrations are short lived however, as the long shadow of Inspector Goole (Tim Treloar) falls across their dinner party with news of an unfortunate death and a series of probing questions for each of the attendees.

And when I say spectacular, I do mean spectacular. I’ve not seen an opening like this before, and this being the first time I’ve seen An Inspector Calls I was impressed at what the stage design achieved as their opening look into the world of 1910. The practical effects used to create a rainstorm on the cobbled streets of Brumley were cleverly created, and the way the set itself is designed to open up and allow us into the parlour of the Birlings was incredible. We see the Birlings house, warm and lit up and cosy, raised above the street outside which is wreathed in fog and mist, whilst a downpour soaks the poor children in the street, immediately showing us the disparity in society that will be the cornerstone of the message tonight: those with warmth, light and food and those left in the cold rain. The designer Ian MacNeil and his team deserve huge commendations with what they have achieved here.

This was a packed house for opening night, and this is at least the third time this has been around to the Alex so its popularity is clear to see. Its also wonderful to see so many young people here to take in what is likely their first proper “grown up” theatre production, as An Inspector Calls has been a part of the GCSE syllabus for some years, and the lines of coaches outside to ferry the excitable teenagers home shows how popular it remains. I’ve been to a few shows where the audience has been a bit younger and you can sometimes tell, as there can be a slight restlessness in the audience: not so tonight, the house was enraptured with the production being put on before us and that is probably the best recommendation you could possibly give for a show.

Our cast puts on a great show: we have the spiky and defiant Mrs Birling (Jackie Morrison) who does her best to remain calm and steely in the face of the questioning, the Birlings son, Eric (George Rowlands) who is having a great time until he falls under the spotlight and possibly the most understated yet powerful performance of the housemaid Edna (Alice Darling) who remains silent through most of the play, drifting between responsibilities for her employers, showing us again the stark difference from those that have and those that serve.

There is a part that I am curious about: towards the beginning of the show in one of the initial conversations between Inspector Goole and Mr Birling (Jeffrey Harmer), the Inspector defiantly declares “I don’t play golf” to be met with rapturous applause from the younger ones in the audience. After quite a lot of googling, the best explanation I can find is “its a thing.” It seems that memes from the TikTok generation have reached plays from 1945 now.

An Inspector Calls is a message from the past that speaks even louder now, showing us that those that have can easily disregard those that have not and tries to tell us that society should look out for each other, no matter their background. It’s comforting to know this is still a message that brings in the crowds, and even more so that it’s being taught to and resonating with our children at school. 

Book your tickets here: https://www.atgtickets.com/shows/an-inspector-calls/the-alexandra-theatre-birmingham/

Disclaimer: We were invited along to the press performance.