Review: The mystery of the Inquisitor and the Prisoner is compelling
'You are us,' says the Inquisitor of Peter Arnott's play to his silent Prisoner at one point. This is a telling moment in this unspecified war of attrition that reveals the similarities as much as the differences between those in one conflict or another. Whether political, religious or generational, as the Inquisitor expounds on morality, ethics and all the contradictions at play that give us the excuse to square any circle we like in the name of whatever cause is going, for a veteran like him, this time it seems, it's also personal.
Tom McGovern's Inquisitor is every inch the well-heeled establishment mandarin in Liz Carruthers' suitably elliptical production, the final lunchtime offering from A Play, a Pie and a Pint's spring and summer season. Sat in the old school splendour of designer Heather Grace Currie's set, McGovern waxes forth from his desk while his Prisoner, initially bound, but always captive, acts as a human sounding board, never giving anything away in Michael Guest's concentrated portrayal.
Read More:
A bold concert with a mighty juggernaut
'Charm aplenty' - Review: Goodbye Dreamland Bowlarama, Oran Mor
Review: You Won't Break My Soul, Oran Mor, Glasgow
Just what alliance the Prisoner appears to have betrayed is never revealed, but both men are facing the consequences of whatever actions got them here. Is the Prisoner a terrorist sympathiser infiltrating the system in order to corrupt it? Or is he merely an angry do-gooder who got in too deep? As for the Inquisitor, how did he end up where he is now? And why does he appear to be as trapped as his captive?
Arnott sets up the sort of circular debate we don't see enough of on stage in an expansive probing of belief, faith and how far someone will go to get what they want. Flanked by cosmic film footage, the Inquisitor's speech is part TED talk, part confessional before the two men finally find some kind of accord beyond the silence. Just who is seeking to be released, however, no one is saying in a fascinating and compelling hour.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
South Wales Argus
3 days ago
- South Wales Argus
Free children's treasure hunt at Newport Museum open now!
Grimwood Museum Adventure is running until August 25 and is an interactive scavenger hunt that is free to enter. The scavenger hunt is based on the highly popular Grimwood children's books that are written by author Nadia Shireen. With colourful woodland style characters, like fox siblings Ted and Nancy the books are a big hit with children aged six to nine. As part on the Grimwood Museum Adventure children must walk around the museum and find characters and 'forest doors' dotted about different exhibits. The competition form for the Grimwood Museum Adventure (Image: NQ) The challenge reads: 'The residents of Grimwood are causing mayhem in the Museum! How many of them can you spot in the collections? Tick a box when you find them.' As they do this, they can tick off each character on their list which is given to you at the start of the hunt. Once all the characters and doors have been located children (with the help of parents) can then fill out the competition form to 'elect a new mayor' of Grimwood. Young Aaoin taking part in the Grimwood Museum Adventure (Image: NQ) A replacement resident from the scavenger hunt can be selected to replace 'Titus Crazyhorns' a retired stag character and former 'Mayor' of Grimwood. The competition form reads 'I Titus Crazyhorns, have retired as Mayor of Grimwood! Can you find a suitable replacement for me? Someone in a painting perhaps?' Characters hidden about the Museum as part of the Grimwood Museum Adventure (Image: NQ) Upon completing the hunt children will receive a free sticker from the museum. The lucky competition winner will receive a signed bundle of Grimwood books and Double National Arts Pass allowing free entry to participating museums and galleries. Overall, the family friendly day out takes around 20 minutes to complete and is an interactive activity that encourages children to read during the school holidays.
Telegraph
03-08-2025
- Telegraph
Sydney Sweeney registered Republican days after Trump's conviction
Some critics on the Left have called it a sexist attempt to appeal to Mr Trump's 'Maga' base, while others – noting the pun on 'jeans' and 'genes' – claimed it promotes eugenics and 'Nazi propaganda'. 'It seemed clear to me that they [American Eagle] were aligning themselves with a white nationalist, Maga-friendly identity,' Shalini Shankar, an anthropology professor at Northwestern University, told CNN. JD Vance, the vice-president, said the Left's 'crazy' reaction to the advert showed they had failed to learn from Mr Trump's electoral victory last year. 'Did you learn nothing from the November 2024 election?' he asked on Friday. 'I actually thought that one of the lessons they might take is we're going to be less crazy. The lesson they have apparently taken is 'we're going to attack people as Nazis for thinking Sydney Sweeney is beautiful'. Great strategy.' 'Wow. Now the crazy Left has come out against beautiful women,' said Ted Cruz, the Republican senator for Texas, this week. 'I'm sure that will poll well.' Steven Cheung, the White House communications director, called the criticisms 'cancel culture run amok' and hit out at the 'warped, moronic and dense liberal thinking'. Two years ago, Sweeney faced backlash from fans when she hosted a birthday 'hoe-down' for her mother's birthday where guests were pictured wearing red Maga-style caps with the words: 'Make Sixty Great Again.' The Euphoria star called the event an 'innocent celebration' and said it had been 'turned into an absurd political statement, which was not the intention'. 'Please stop making assumptions,' she added. 'Rigged' against Trump Last year, Mr Trump was convicted of 34 counts of falsifying business records to buy the silence of Stormy Daniels, a porn star with whom he was alleged to have had an affair shortly after the birth of his youngest son in 2006. The then-presidential candidate declared himself the victim of a 'rigged' justice system trying to stop his campaign to become president, prompting a groundswell of support from Republicans. His campaign said it raised a record-breaking $53m (£40m) in the hours after the verdict, around a third of which came from donors who had never previously given money to the party. Mr Trump was handed an unconditional discharge 10 days before he took office in January. The largely symbolic move meant he avoided any fines or jail time. The Republicans have enjoyed limited celebrity backing under Mr Trump, while the Democrats made celebrity endorsements one of the linchpins of Kamala Harris's campaign last year.
Scottish Sun
28-07-2025
- Scottish Sun
Iconic house was loved by millions in hit TV show – but do YOU recognise it?
The property features heavily in an Emmy winning show SILVER SCREEN Iconic house was loved by millions in hit TV show – but do YOU recognise it? Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) AN ICONIC house, featured in a TV show watched by millions, came onto the market but went mostly unrecognised by house hunters. The Grade II listed property in the swank borough of Richmond, London, was listed with a guide price of £4.5 million. Sign up for Scottish Sun newsletter Sign up 5 The house sits on the corner of The Green just a stones throw away from a pub featured in the TV series Credit: Google 5 Jason Sudeiki's character lived just around the corner from the house Credit: Alamy 5 The home is located in the centre of the area where the Emmy winning show was filmed Credit: Apple TV+ The Georgian building featured heavily in the hit Apple TV comedy Ted Lasso. It is located just around the corner from Jason Sudeiki's character Ted's on screen flat and boasts an impressive amount of space. It's also just a few steps away from the local pub seen in the TV series which follows an American football coach hired to train an English "soccer" team. The Crown & Anchor Pub in the Apple TV comedy, known as The Prince's Head Pub in real life, is just a stones throw from the front door. Located right on Richmond Green, which also featured heavily in Ted Lasso, the home boasts easy access to a community space where cricket games are played on Sundays. Located in the centre of the area where the Emmy winning show was filmed, the town house featured heavily as a set piece on the show. It boasts easy access to dozens of filming locations and is conveniently located near some of Ted's favourite on screen haunts. It dates back to the 18th century and still has much of the original architecture intact. Savills property agent Peter Norgrove said the famous property is a: "Fabulous example of Georgian architecture and craftsmanship. He added that the house is: "In an incredible setting overlooking Richmond Green, a delightful village Green immortalised as Henry VII's former jousting ground and the principal setting for the inimitable Ted Lasso' Cops hunt ruthless gang after four swanky homes featured in hit TV comedy Ted Lasso are raided in £2m spree The four bedroom, four bathroom house boasts an immense 3,698 sq ft of space. The lucky buyers would have needed deep pockets though with the house listed for an eye-watering sum. A first-floor drawing room spans the full width of the town house and boasts three floor to ceiling windows facing the nearby green. It has a courtyard garden which can be reached easily from the kitchen or study. 5 The property sits next door to a clothes shop on the corner of Richmond Green Credit: Google 5 The local pub, the Princes Head features in Ted Lasso as the The Crown & Anchor Pub Credit: SWNS It has since sold for an unknown sum but the guide price of £4.5 million offers some idea of the value of the Ted Lasso Townhouse. The home has plenty to offer aside from its celebrity status with dozens of local amenities. With a stylish exterior design featuring red brick soldier coursing and a pilastered entrance give the Georgian home stands out on the street.
