An Inspector Calls

Last week, I got over excited buying theatre tickets and decided that I simply had to see An Inspector Calls. The day after my birthday party. I was utterly shattered, I got caught in the rainstorm on my way home (and my umbrella broke) and I very nearly decided to say bollocks to it. Despite having already bought the tickets.

But I've wanted to see this play for years. Literally years. Ever since my brother found me sat on his bedroom floor reading his school copy, I've wanted to see this play. It's one of the best plays I've ever read. And despite getting the times mixed up and thinking the play started at 4.30 rather than 4pm, I'm so pleased we went. It's actually one of the best plays I've ever seen. (Also Props to the Novello theatre for not getting mad at us for being late. They were actually helpful and friendly even though we were in the wrong.)

There are so many plays these days that try to do "too much". They're all over the place, the scene changes ever five seconds and they're all singing and dancing (metaphorically of course, although I've never had a huge place in my heart for musicals). I love the simplicity of theatre. I like that it makes you look like you're snooping. For two hours, you get to sit and watch lives of characters you've never met. There's something very special about removing that forth wall. You don't get that with other arts. Sure, there's all sorts of fancy effects on film, but I don't want to trick my mind into thinking something is real. I want to watch it instead. Theatre is raw, and that's what makes it special.

An Inspector Calls doesn't change. It's one room, a small cast and not much happens. But it's just astounding. J.B Priestly is a genius and I think the Inspector is one of the most under valued parts in modern drama. Everything about the play is about the little things. It's about the words. It's a simple story, about a family's life being torn apart through the consequences of their actions. In two hours. The play is in real time and you can feel the point where everything begins to fall apart.

When I was younger I wanted to write plays. I still do sometimes. But I don't think I have the discpline. I've been kinda removed from theatre over the last year or so, and I miss it. I miss watching someone's imagination come to life in front of you. There's no barriers when someone is one stage. It's real.

Go see An Inspector Calls. Go fall in love with theatre.