These are reviews from our Silver Critics’ Circle- from Secondary School Year 12 and 13 pupils.

Mark Benton              7th February 08
War and Peace

With the start of a new year Nottingham Playhouse Theatre Company have collaborated with the highly acclaimed Shared Experience company to produce a truly inspiring version of Tolstoy’s famous tale of Russia amidst the Napoleonic Wars; ‘War and Peace’. Co-directed by Nancy Meckler and Polly Teale, this saga (spanning a 15 year period in Russian history, and subsequently being split into two separate plays) concentrates on the political and social crisis of the early 19th century – with particular reference to the effects of these on the aristocracy.

What is so excellent about this production is that, despite its length, it completely engages the audience throughout. This is a testament to the superb direction and very strong performances and is achieved through many different techniques. In my opinion the paramount aspect of this engagement is the driving rhythm with which the play is performed. The palatial soundtrack and tragic choral singing adds to this. And it is further enforced by the small quick scenes which overlap to give the illusion of time passing by quickly.

In fact, the play as a whole is extremely expressionistic. The use of sound as a reflection of the character’s inner thoughts and mental states is very effective; as through, for example, the open, calm wind sounds the fill the stage towards the end of Andrei’s life, the audience is given a sense of personal involvement, as they are aware (through experience rather than observation) that the young man’s life is at a close.

The lighting, too, adds to these visual realisations of character moods. The majority of the play is backlit; casting shadows on the stage that – together with the candlelight and fog – creates a feeling of desperation and an eerie sense of decay. This emphasis on atmosphere by the production team gives the play an emotional force that enthrals the audience. Even the set is designed to aid this; with 3 "portals" made out of a reflective, frosted marble, the stage has an aristocratic sense, but more importantly – with there being a minimal amount of props and the reflective surfaces giving the illusion that it is much bigger – a bleakness that is unavoidable and almost toxic.

Using every single aspect of production to work to a specific end is, without a doubt, this pieces greatest strength. And, in my opinion, the use of props is the best example of this. There is an emphasis throughout on physical theatre, and as such, all props serve several purposes; such as chairs being used during the compelling battle scenes (which, undoubtedly makes the staging of such an event much easier). More interestingly, however, are the use of picture frames on stage as windows and doors. In a literal sense, this allows for creation of split scenes on the same stage as actors interact with them. But, more significant, they are also used as a metaphorical window into the characters’ souls, giving the audience vital insights into the characters’ hearts. These are only a few of the techniques used within this superb production, and to truly appreciate the magnitude of the play, and al the different aspects that have seamlessly been moulded together it must be seen first hand.

Review of ‘War and Peace’ 7th February 2008:

Even if you haven’t braved the epic novel, you’ll have probably heard of Tolstoy’s greatest work, ‘War and Peace.’ You’ll be relieved to hear then, that the version performed through a collaboration of Nottingham Playhouse and Shared Experience, despite being 5 hours long (if you wish to see both parts) is a joy to watch.

I have to admit I really enjoyed the book, but I agree it isn’t for everyone. But at the heart of it are some beautiful characters and this is the focus of Shared Experience’s piece.

Combining physical theatre, modern interpretations of the characters and some really nice work with picture frames (one of the main pieces of a fairly simplistic set), this production brings the grandeur of a Russian ballroom into the 21st century.

Starting in a museum in modern day Russia, we are taken back to the time when greats such as Napoleon walked the earth, and aristocracy was the place to be. Following no less than 5 different families throughout the years between 1805 – 1815, War and Peace focuses on love, family relationships, freedom, destiny, pride and greatness through very ‘real characters.’

One of the families involved are the Rostova’s:  made up of the rich Count and Countess, their beautiful and lively daughter Natasha, their ambitious sons Nikolai and Petya and their adopted daughter Sonya. Another important character is Pierre, an illegitimate son who finds it hard to find a purpose in life after he inherits a lot of money. Another family is the Bolkonsky family, secluded and sheltered in the countryside by the eccentric but respected Prince Bolkonsky. Other characters include the irresistible Anatole Kuragin, gossiping Anna Pavlovna and the old and wise Commander Kutuzov. There are so many really great characters that it is hard to do justice to all of them. I recommend reading the book or at least a detailed plot summary to get a real feel for the play, even though you can grasp a lot without.

However this adaptation is captivating in itself: by splitting the book up into lots of very small scenes, connected effortlessly by similar themes and feelings, it is easy to follow and pick up, as each character is distinctive enough to recognise every time they appear. It has definite pace and rhythm, as well as being very visual, which just makes it easier to understand. A set made entirely out of old mirrors, and period costumes created atmosphere and really made 1805 come to life on stage.

It goes without saying that not everything from the book could be included; Tolstoy writes pages and pages about the positions and details of each battle, as well as many philosophical parts about freedom and power, but I truly think that this version captured the essence of what War and Peace is all about.

Overall, I enjoyed it even more than I expected to, as some parts needed real people as the characters to bring out all the humour and emotions from the characters. A classic read and a truly fantastic production.

By Rachel Knott (Heanor Gate Science College)