This week, all of the Lower 5 GCSE English Literature students from TH attended a performance of Stephen Daldry’s acclaimed production of J.B. Priestley’s An Inspector Calls at The Mayflower Theatre in Southampton. The visit aimed to enhance students’ understanding of the play and to provide a live theatre experience that would help them engage more deeply with the text and its themes in preparation for their GCSE examinations.
Stephen Daldry’s production of An Inspector Calls is renowned for its dynamic and thought-provoking presentation of the classic play. Set in 1912, the drama explores the moral failings and social responsibility of the Birling family, who are confronted by the mysterious Inspector Goole after the suicide of a young working-class woman, Eva Smith.
Daldry’s interpretation is particularly notable for its bold set design and innovative staging. The play was performed in a minimalist style, with a focus on the tension between the characters and the stark social divisions that the Inspector exposes.
The performance was engaging from the start, with the dramatic use of lighting and sound underscoring the suspense and urgency of the play’s themes. The actors delivered powerful performances, particularly the actor playing the Inspector, who embodied the moral force that drives the narrative. The set itself was striking, with the Birling family’s home suspended above the stage, which served as a metaphor for their social detachment and false sense of security.
The school trip to Stephen Daldry’s An Inspector Calls was an enriching experience for all students involved. After the performance, students discussed the performance in class, to consider the director’s choices and illustrate how they had critically engaged with the modern elements introduced by Daldry.
Grateful thanks go to Mrs McDonald for organising the visit, and to the English department for accompanying the trip; giving students the opportunity to think beyond the page and consider how different productions can bring new interpretations to a classic text.
