AD| An Inspector Calls – Review

Calling all StageSiders, welcome back to another review here at StageSideUK. This time around we are talking about An Inspector Calls which played at the Darlington Hippodrome.

Disclaimer: we were gifted 2 press tickets in exchange for an honest review of the show.

Stephen Daldry’s An Inspector Calls at Darlington Hippodrome Stephen Daldry’s take on An Inspector Calls at the Darlington Hippodrome is a whodunnit with a twist of the moral screw, where every character is guilty until proven… well, more guilty.

It’s a stormy night in the Birling household—literally—and with a downpour of accusations, this revival of Priestley’s classic drama leaves no dirty secret unturned.

One thing that left me initially puzzled was the post-Blitz design of the set. Given that the play is set in 1912, I found myself wondering why the Birlings’ home was set in a street that looked as though it had barely survived the London bombings…air raid siren, and all. But once I moved past my historical confusion, I was captivated by the set’s stunning symbolism. The house is perched perilously on stilts (let’s be honest, that house looks about as stable as Mr Birling’s economic theories) and towered above the street-level slums. It embodied the Birlings’ precarious position atop the social hierarchy perfectly. It’s a masterstroke of metaphor, with the fragile, crumbling structure showing just how easily those at the top can tumble down once their foundations – moral or otherwise – begin to crack.

The play opens with the Birling family inside their grand yet tiny dollhouse, while the rest of us – along with some curious bystanders – are left to peer in from the street. It’s a clever way to underscore the class divide, with the privileged Birlings tucked away in their little blissful bubble. But I have to admit, I was a bit apprehensive during this scene. The haze machine was working overtime, and while the actors were mic’d, the audience lost much of the initial conversation which sets up the beginning of some key character arcs. Between the haze and the echo, the conversation was muffled and hard to catch.

Thankfully, once Inspector Goole shows up with his impeccable timing and air of moral superiority, the house opens up, and so does the stage. To my great relief, the majority of the action then takes place downstage, where we could actually see and hear the characters in all their glorious denial and guilt. It was a clever theatrical move, though took away from the crucial forshadowing.

Other than that, I had no complaints about this show at all. It was an utterly perfect representation of a classic.

The cast delivers stellar performances throughout, however, a special mention must go to Tim Treloar, whose portrayal of Inspector Goole was nothing short of captivating. Treloar played the Inspector with a quiet intensity, his every word delivered with the kind of weight that made you feel he was inspecting more than just the Birlings’ consciences. He managed to strike the perfect balance between calm, commanding and passionate. His ability to unsettle the characters with nothing more than a look or a pause was masterful. An unforgettable performance that truly made him the spine of the entire production.

I must also give a nod to the fantastic special effects, which truly brought the production to life and added an extra layer of intensity to the storytelling. From the swirling smoke that seemed to mirror the cloud of secrets hanging over the Birling family, to the dramatic lighting that perfectly punctuated the tension, the technical elements were as much a part of the show as the dialogue itself.

And then there’s the fire and rain—yes, it actually rains on set. Each element is used with purpose and precision, never feeling like a gimmick but rather an essential part of Daldry’s vision. A truly electrifying use of stagecraft that deserves high praise.

All in all, Daldry’s production is as gripping and relevant today as ever. The set may have confused me at first, but its beautifully symbolic design only adds to the play’s power, a visual reminder of how fragile the class structure really is. If you’re looking for a theatrical experience that challenges you, thrills you, and rains moral lessons down like a storm from the heavens, then An Inspector Calls deserves nothing less than five stars.

Have your say!

Have you seen An Inspector Calls? What did you think? Let me know in the comments and let’s get a discussion going.

As always, please be respectful of each other’s opinions and be kind to each other. I completely respect and value everyone that worked on this show. We need to remember that these are people with feelings. Let’s treat them with respect. Bullying will not be tolerated and harmful language will be removed. 

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