AMY STUTZ
  • Theatre
    • Reviews
    • Interviews
    • Features
  • Travel
  • About
  • Published Work
  • Theatre
  • Travel
  • About
  • Published Work
4K Followers
0 Followers
Subscribe
AMY STUTZ
AMY STUTZ
  • Theatre
    • Reviews
    • Interviews
    • Features
  • Travel
  • About
  • Published Work
  • Reviews
  • Theatre

REVIEW | The Unreturning | UK Tour

  • 4th November 2018
  • No comments
  • 2 minute read
  • Amy
Frantic Assembly The Unreturning UK Tour
Frantic Assembly The Unreturning UK Tour
Total
0
Shares
0
0
0

Frantic Assembly bring the trauma of war to the forefront of their powerful production The Unreturning. It’s a production that captures the physical and mental effect of war through parallel stories across three eras.

Performed by a cast of four, it is slick and smoothly acted to tell four distinct stories. A traumatised young man in the First World War, a discharged soldier from Afghanistan fighting allegations in the press, and a refugee from the future in 2026 on a mission to find his brother in a Britain hit by civil war. We watch these men’s lives unfold as they search desperately for the life they left behind.

Jordan’s language is compelling as you are consumed by 100 minutes of poetic language, emotive storytelling and exhilarating physical theatre. The show is built with monologues, duologues and ensemble performances charged by Frantic Assembly’s renowned physicality.

The male cast bring expressive characterisation to a multitude of roles, both male and female. Joe Layton takes on the angry and frustrated soldier whose explosive temper causes him a lot of problems. Yet he also manages to slip into the sympathetic and softly spoken Rose. Jared Garfield entangles the complexity of PTSD with his troubled character and Jonnie Riodan brings a sense of real vulnerability as he poses some important questions about attitudes towards refugees. 

The simplistic set designed by Andrzej Goulding works seamlessly as the shipping container centre stage moves around to transform into everything from a tunnel, to an obstacle course and even a night club. The twists and turns of the shipping container mirror time ticking forwards and backwards as we are transported across the ages into the lives of these young soldiers.

This is the second Anna Jordan play I’ve seen and the writing is just exceptional. Drawing on interviews with former soldiers, the characters are complex as the audience get an insight into their minds. Jordan’s slick language builds intensity until the curtain goes down. As we glide through 1913, 2013 and the future, the themes and emotions tackled don’t change at all.

The Unreturning is a thought-provoking piece of theatre performed by a strong cast that draw out the potency of the universal emotions through poignant physicality. 

★★★★

The Unreturning is currently touring across the UK, tickets and information can be found here.

Total
0
Shares
Share 0
Tweet 0
Pin it 0
Amy

Previous Article
  • Reviews
  • Theatre

REVIEW | The Lovely Bones | UK Tour

  • 1st November 2018
  • Amy
View Post
Next Article
Musical Theatre Brunch at Studio 88
  • Features
  • Reviews
  • Theatre

INSIDE | Studio 88 Launch West End Brunch

  • 4th November 2018
  • Amy
View Post
You May Also Like
View Post
  • Interviews
  • Theatre

INTERVIEW | Nostalgia, Smash-Hits and Stardom, Alex Cardall Talks The Osmonds Musical

  • 14th March 2022
  • Amy
View Post
  • Reviews
  • Theatre

REVIEW | The Magician’s Elephant | RSC

  • 8th November 2021
  • Amy
View Post
  • Interviews
  • Theatre

INTERVIEW | Divina de Campo Talks Taking to the Stage in Chicago the Musical

  • 23rd October 2021
  • Amy
View Post
  • Interviews
  • Theatre

INTERVIEW | Summer Strallen Talks Playing A Villain for the First Time in The Magician’s Elephant

  • 18th October 2021
  • Amy
View Post
  • Reviews
  • Theatre

REVIEW | School of Rock | UK Tour

  • 23rd September 2021
  • Amy
View Post
  • Interviews
  • Theatre

INTERVIEW | Sharon Sexton Talks Powerhouse Production Bat Out of Hell the Musical

  • 15th September 2021
  • Amy
View Post
  • Interviews
  • Theatre

INTERVIEW | Molly Lynch Talks Love, Life and Learning in The Last Five Years

  • 8th September 2021
  • Amy
View Post
  • Theatre

INTERVIEW | Avita Jay Talks The Comedy of Errors at the RSC this Summer

  • 9th August 2021
  • Amy

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Search
about
Amy Stutz
Follow Us
AMY STUTZ
UK Arts, Culture and Theatre Blog

Input your search keywords and press Enter.