Intimidating, intriguing, frightening, powerful, mysterious, challenging, surprising, refreshing, depressing, hopeful, dark, dramatic….
Moira+I went to the Bristol Old Vic last night to see Caryl Churchill’s “Far Away” and these are the words I scribbled down to try to sum up my “instant” reactions to the play. It’s in three parts and lasts just 50 minutes and left me with a whole host of emotions at the end. It felt like part-“1984”, part-“Animal Farm”, part-“War of the Worlds” and even part-“Climate Change Summit”. Brilliantly conceived and designed (set, lighting and sound). Director Simon Godwin decided that it would be interesting (helped, no doubt, by the shortness of the play) to invite a series of guest speakers - including such names as Jonathon Porritt and Jon Snow – to provide their own insights into the play (afterwards) and to act as a catalyst for the audience to talk and to question. Last night, in addition to Godwin and one of the actors, Cara Horgan, the speaker was Nina Raine – who had been assistant director to Stephen Daldry in the original 2000 production of the play. It certainly helped to crystallise my own thoughts.
There is something rather wonderful about live theatre.
Moira+I went to the Bristol Old Vic last night to see Caryl Churchill’s “Far Away” and these are the words I scribbled down to try to sum up my “instant” reactions to the play. It’s in three parts and lasts just 50 minutes and left me with a whole host of emotions at the end. It felt like part-“1984”, part-“Animal Farm”, part-“War of the Worlds” and even part-“Climate Change Summit”. Brilliantly conceived and designed (set, lighting and sound). Director Simon Godwin decided that it would be interesting (helped, no doubt, by the shortness of the play) to invite a series of guest speakers - including such names as Jonathon Porritt and Jon Snow – to provide their own insights into the play (afterwards) and to act as a catalyst for the audience to talk and to question. Last night, in addition to Godwin and one of the actors, Cara Horgan, the speaker was Nina Raine – who had been assistant director to Stephen Daldry in the original 2000 production of the play. It certainly helped to crystallise my own thoughts.
There is something rather wonderful about live theatre.
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