Enlightenment, Hampstead Theatre

Edward Hall’s first offering is an exciting metaphysical thriller

by Aleks SierzWednesday, 06 October 2010

Tearful encounters: Paul Freeman as Gordon and Julie Graham as Lia in 'Enlightenment'Manuel Harlan

When, earlier this year, Edward Hall took the reins at the Hampstead Theatre, some eyebrows were raised. It’s meant to be a new-writing theatre and Hall has had much more experience directing Shakespeare than in tackling new plays. On the other hand, this venue needed a clean sweep and Hall is certainly able to wield a new broom vigorously. His first show, Shelagh Stephenson’s thrilling play about the disappearance of a gap-year student, opened last night — and it’s an excellent debut.

There’s a twisted emotional knot in the very guts of this satirical and intensely likeable work

Buy

The Memory of Water, Hampstead Theatre review – uneasy tragi-comedy

Explore topics

Share this article

The future of Arts Journalism

You can stop theartsdesk.com closing!

We urgently need financing to survive. Our fundraising drive has thus far raised £33,000 but we need to reach £100,000 or we will be forced to close. Please contribute here: https://gofund.me/c3f6033d

And if you can forward this information to anyone who might assist, we’d be grateful.

Subscribe to theartsdesk.com

Thank you for continuing to read our work on theartsdesk.com. For unlimited access to every article in its entirety, including our archive of more than 15,000 pieces, we're asking for £5 per month or £40 per year. We feel it's a very good deal, and hope you do too.

To take a subscription now simply click here.

And if you're looking for that extra gift for a friend or family member, why not treat them to a theartsdesk.com gift subscription?

more Theatre

ARK: United States V by Laurie Anderson, Aviva Studios, Manchester review - a vessel for the thoughts and imaginings of a lifetime Despite anticipating disaster, this mesmerising voyage is full of hope

Wolves on Road, Bush Theatre review - exciting dialogue, but flawed plotting New play about young black men and cryptocurrency is sadly predictable

Burnt Up Love, Finborough Theatre review - scorching new play Super writing and acting jolts us out of complacency

L’Addition, BAC review - top billing for physical comedy duo The latest in Forced Entertainment’s 40 years of experiment is a thought-tickling farce

Barcelona, Duke of York's Theatre review - Lily Collins migrates from France to Spain The 'Emily in Paris' star surrenders to cliche - or does she?

Guards at the Taj, Orange Tree Theatre review - miniature marvel with rich resonances Rajiv Joseph’s play pitting beauty against duty gets an impressive staging

The Buddha of Suburbia, Barbican Theatre review - farcical fun, but what about the issues? Hanif Kureishi classic gets a compulsively comic makeover from Emma Rice

How To Survive Your Mother, King's Head Theatre review - mummy issues drive autobiographical dramedy Lots of heartache, but a strange void where the heart of the play should be

Dr Strangelove, Noël Coward Theatre review - an evening of different parts Kubrick’s humour doesn't always detonate as it should in Armando Iannucci's version

Reykjavik, Hampstead Theatre review - drama frozen by waves of detail Richard Bean’s new play revisits the Hull fishing industry of the 1970s

The Forsyte Saga Parts 1 and 2, Park Theatre review - if Chekhov did soap operas Joseph Millson leads a super cast in a classy production from Troupe Theatre Company

The Wild Duck, The Norwegian Ibsen Company, Coronet Theatre review - slow burn, devastating climax Ibsen's pitiless take on the 'life lie' is another triumph for Norwegians in Notting Hill

Follow @theartsdesk