The now-classic National Theatre production of J B Priestley's thriller An Inspector Calls embarks on a 30th anniversary tour that includes northern dates at The Lowry, Salford (January 10-14); York Grand Opera House (February 7-11); Liverpool Empire (March 14-18) and Bradford Alhambra (May 9-13). Other dates are still to be announced.
In the 30 years since its first performance at the National Theatre, Stephen Daldry’s production has won 19 major awards, including four Tonys and three Oliviers, and has played to more than five million people worldwide – the most internationally-lauded production in the National’s history.
Written at the end of World War II and set before World War I, An Inspector Calls begins as the mysterious Inspector Goole calls unexpectedly on the prosperous Birling family. Their peaceful dinner party is shattered by his investigation into the death of a young woman.
For the new tour, Liam Brennan will play Inspector Goole, with Christine Kavanagh as Mrs Birling and Jeffrey Harmer as Mr Birling. The cast is completed by Simon Cotton, Evlyne Oyedokun, George Rowlands, Frances Campbell, Philip Stewart, Beth Tuckey, Maceo Cortez and Rue Blenkinsop.
Brennan has played the Inspector on previous UK tours, and among his extensive other credits is a best-actor award for Diary of a Madman at the Edinburgh Festival in 2016.
Christine Kavanagh’s National Theatre credits include Man and Superman and Albert Speer and the National Theatre UK Tour of Hedda Gabler.
This landmark production again features Ian MacNeil’s ingenious design, music by Oscar-winning composer Stephen Warbeck and atmospheric lighting by Rick Fisher.