Enlightenment is a fascinating play by Shelagh Stephenson (Memory of Water) which is having it’s UK premier in a production by Edward Hall at the Hampstead Theatre in London. Although originally set in the US the play translates seamlessly to an anonymous middle class UK setting.
The starting point of the story is enough to set the blood of any parent of gap year children running cold. Lia (Julie Graham) and Nick (Richard Clotheir) are the parents of a missing backpacker. One day he just stopped communicating. Six months later the parents are left in limbo, looking for answers, trying as the playwright says “to construct a narrative”. A narrative emerges but not, perhaps, one that any of them were expecting.
The play is described as a ‘tense psychological thriller’ but it is more than that. This is a play about truth and not truth, about the way we construct the narrative of our children and ourselves as parents.
We saw it last night and I was very impressed. The play uses a dark humour to make the unthinkable approachable. I found it deeply moving at times and at times almost unbearable to watch. A sparse set and subtle use of back projection add greatly to the atmosphere.
The production runs until October 30th. If you are in London and looking for a good play I’d certainly recommend it.
Enlightenment at The Hampstead Theatre, Eton Avenue, London NW3 3EU
Cast: Daisy Beaumont, Richard Clothier, Paul Freeman, Julie Graham, Polly Kemp, Tom Weston-Jones
London Theatre Plays – Play Tickets and Hotel Packages
London Theatre Plays, Play Tickets and Hotel Packages
