A new play to see…

Photo: Mark Douet

By Carlie Newman GTO

Take your group to Hampstead theatre to see REYKJAVIK (until 23 November). Although concerned with one particular incident, the sinking of a trawler off the coast of Iceland in February 1975, the play gives us a view of the community in the fishing port of Hull, England.

The first act shows us Donald Claxton in his office in Hull. He deals with his business, instructing the young secretary, talking with his father who was the previous owner and sacking one of the young fishermen for incompetency.

He learns of the sinking of his trawler, the Graham Greene in icy water and the loss of 15 men. Visited by the wife, Lizzie (Laura Elsworthy) of one of the survivors, he is surprised, as well as somewhat shocked, when he hears her say she wished her husband, Jack Joplin was dead as he is abusive. The survivors, including Jack (Matthew Durkan) are in Reykjavik.

And in the second act they are there in a hotel bar being served by the young female Icelandic owner. Having done the ‘Widows’ Walk’ – visiting on foot each of the bereaved households, the company director decides to go to Reykjavik to help the survivors get home.

The men are somewhat wary meeting Donald Claxton who they see as the capitalist who exploits their labours. The men swap stories of superstitions and even a ghost story.

With the usual attention to detail the play has two wonderfully constructed sets by Anna Reid. And director Emily Burns shows us the different lives of the owner and fishermen.

Naturalistic and underplayed characterisation from all the actors who perform beautifully give real depth to the play. Matthew Durkan is remarkable playing two parts: first, The Vicar planning the memorial service for the dead men in the first act and then there is the somewhat violent Jack in the second act. John Hollingworth gives just the right mixture of the owner of the trawling business and the guilt feeling of being responsible for the deaths of most of his crew.

This well-written play by Richard Bean, who was born in Hull, is very different from his well-known play, ‘ One Man, Two Guvnors.’  A 4 stars show, it’s well worth a visit.