What Happened Before The Inspector Called?
In this show, the surreal elements of Priestley’s play are extended backwards in time to the afternoon of the fateful day. The Inspector arrives at the scene of a suicide and begins his investigation. ‘Eva Smith’, who does not appear in the Priestley play, speaks through the words she left behind in her journal.
Inspired by JB Priestley’s ‘An Inspector Calls’, this project was intended to be Polymorph’s production at Edinburgh Fringe 2020 until circumstances(!) intervened.
The idea for the show arose as an exploration of a possible ‘prequel’ to the Priestley play. The ‘reality’ or otherwise of the Inspector in that work is subject to endless discussion and also the origins of the motivation of that character. The young woman, ‘Eva Smith’, likewise is deliberately not necessarily a real individual and does not appear in the original play.
Development Status: IN REHEARSAL.
Rehearsal photo gallery
This show will go into production early in 2021 (Covid-dependent).