Student review: An Inspector Calls
Wednesday, February 1, 2023
Stephen Daldry’s multi award-winning National Theatre production of JB Priestley’s thriller, An Inspector Calls, is touring the UK. Here, students from George Abbot School share their impression of the production at the Yvonne Arnaud Theatre.
Mark Douet
After a hiatus from the theatre, we were pleasantly surprised by the high quality of the production of An Inspector Calls. The acting was full of charisma and passion, with all the actors embracing their roles. Their interpretations of these iconic characters brought JB Priestley’s ideals and story to life.
When the curtain opened, the set was intricate: rain that set the mood, a house that reflected the ideas of the class divide and a glimpse of their society unknown to us in the book. The acting was direct, and we were made to feel as though we were in the pace of a 1940s audience.
We found the casting of the Inspector very apt – it seemed just as Priestley had intended. He was a dominating and intimidating figure on stage, standing up for Eva Smith’s working class. At the climax of the play, the set mirrored the feelings of the family, with an extravagant display of catastrophe – the house literally crashing and burning, just as the family did. It came as a fitting shock to all.
The audience’s engaged response goes to show just how well this play was executed. This was a night to remember and helped with our studies of the play as well! We strongly recommend this production to anyone studying An Inspector Calls for their Drama or English GCSE, or anyone who enjoys a great night of entertainment.
