JB Priestley’s most performed play, An Inspector Calls, makes a welcome return to the Midlands this month - offering What’s On a perfect opportunity to catch up with leading man Liam Brennan and find out why the show remains so popular...

The hugely successful National Theatre production of JB Priestley’s An Inspector Calls is out on tour again this autumn, taking in local venues in Shrewsbury, Stoke-on-Trent, Birmingham and Coventry.

Directed by Stephen Daldry, the show opened in the West End 30 years ago and is both critically acclaimed - it’s won a host of Olivier, Tony and Evening Standard awards - and a favourite with audiences, having been watched by more than five million people to date.

The story focuses on the Birling family, who have met for a celebratory dinner. Suddenly there is a knock at the door - and a police inspector calls. But who is Inspector Goole, what does he want with the family, and what is their connection to the death of a young woman?

In Inspector Goole, Priestley, who was born in Yorkshire but spent his later years living in Alveston in Warwickshire, created one of the most enigmatic characters in British theatre. And it’s Goole’s air of mystery which Liam Brennan, who plays the inspector, believes lies at the heart of the play’s success.
“I guess if you’ve never seen this play before or read it, you probably would spend the time thinking ‘Who is he, is he the girl’s father, what is he?’ And that’s fun. 

“Who the inspector is, isn’t really revealed, and people want to work that out. We often do question & answer sessions after school performances, and the kids are very intrigued by the inspector. They often say to me, ‘but who are you?’

“I know it sounds like a cop-out, but I usually say ‘Look, at the end of the day, the play doesn’t answer that question, so I can’t answer it either. So it’s kind of up to you’.
“I think we love puzzles and trying to work things out, so any good detective yarn where there’s a mystery to solve, like The Mousetrap or An Inspector Calls, has an endurance. It will always intrigue us because we like trying to solve problems and work something out.” 

As Goole unpicks his story, the members of the Birling family come to learn they may know more about the dead girl than they initially realised. And it is their culpability which lies at the heart of the play.

“I think its basic themes are eternal. It’s about responsibility, it’s about kindness, it’s about looking after people - particularly people who have very little or nothing. It’s about taking responsibility for when we are all occasionally maybe a bit cruel or a bit selfish - and that theme of responsibility doesn’t go out of fashion. And it’s about more than individuals; it’s the accumulation of things that is disastrous for this young woman.”

Liam first played Goole on a UK tour eight years ago and has returned to the part again and again since then, performing in the West End, America and on UK tours. But his acquaintance with An Inspector Calls goes back beyond his involvement in the theatre production.

“I remember reading the play when I was a teenager and seeing the old black & white movie. I just thought it was really intriguing. I like the fact that all the questions don’t get answered, and we’re not sure who or what the inspector is.”

Daldry’s production, with dramatic sets by Ian MacNeil and music by Stephen Warbeck, emphasises the cryptic aspects of the story.

“In some ways this production kind of re-invents the play to a certain extent, but the spirit of it is the same. I think one of the reasons it’s been so successful is because it’s very fast-paced and without an interval, and I think that kind of stresses the thriller element of it. It’s exciting, the music is great, and it has the most wonderful set. I used to expect the massive schools’ audiences to be very restless, but actually that hardly ever happens - it does seem to grip them. It’s a powerful story, and hopefully a really exciting piece of theatre, even for kids.”

Liam has toured with the show to Shrewsbury’s Theatre Severn and Stoke-on-Trent’s Regent Theatre before, but this will be the first time he’s performed the role of Goole at Birmingham’s The Alexandra and Coventry’s Belgrade Theatre. 

“I like touring. I know some actors don’t, and it’s quite tiring because you’re in a different place each week, so you spend a lot of time on trains and sorting out digs, but I quite like that. 
“This is a great company to work for. It’s always interesting, as there are cast changes each time, so it always stays fresh. People bring their own vibe.”

After playing Inspector Goole for eight years, does Liam view the role any differently from when he first took on the part?

“Fundamentally I don’t think so. I don’t think I’ve changed, but I hope I’m more deft and relaxed because I’ve done it so much now. I’m sure that if I was to watch a video of me eight years ago, I would probably say, ‘Oh Liam, you look a lot more relaxed and confident now.’ But it’s such a fun role to play, and I love the story. That’s why I keep coming back to it.”

The show, which often sells out venues, is definitely one to catch, says Liam.
“It’s a really good night at the theatre. It’s a good thriller, it has a message but it’s not preachy, it looks fantastic, and hopefully it’s genuinely exciting.”

Diane Parkes