The Force of Change ( Archived )

Reviews

newspaper reviews

(L to R) : Laine Megaw (Caroline), Stephen Kennedy (Stanley); Simon Wolfe (Mark); Stuart Graham (David), Gerard Jordan (Rabbit).

Production photography by Ivan Kyncl.

Direction: Robert Delamere.
Design: Simon Higlett. Lighting: Chris Davey.
Sound: Paul Arditti.
Music: Harry Peat.

Cast : Sean Caffrey, Stuart Graham, Gerard Jordan, Stephen Kennedy, Laine Megaw, Simon Wolfe.

“This is a major event, a warts-and-all portrait of an institution that has come to epitomise in some people’s minds what must change in Northern Irelands if there is to be a chance of peace. Mitchell, from the working-class Protestant district of Rathcoole, Belfast, courageously tracks the mindsets of his own community and exposes intense internal conflict as well as inveterate, “no surrender” hatreds. What he sees makes for grim viewing.

“Grim, but not dull. The achievement of The Force of Change is that is packages an explosive analysis of the Troubles as a gripping thriller.”

DAILY TELEGRAPH

“In the interview room of a police station, DS Caroline Paterson is attempting to break a resolutely mute suspect whom she know has been involved in racketeering, intimidation and probably worse. It is a tough case for her, made tougher by the fact that she is a fast-track career policewoman with a a promotion coming up, and has an interview partner in old-timer Bill, who ha been on the Force for 30 years, who is proving more of a hindrance than a help. Quite how much of hindrance only becomes apparent just before the interval.

“Gary Mitchell’s play could merely be a gritty episode of Prime Suspect and there are times when his televisual thriller seems to be little more than a sparkily written slice from one of those police dramas where a female detective encounters the misogyny of canteen culture. But context is all in Mitchell’s play. Paterson is not in any old police force but the RUC, and the suspect in the interview room is Stanley Brown, a member of the UDA.

“… Robert Delamere’s production cleverly contains the explosive nature of the revelations so their impact is all the more devastating. Simon Wolfe as Caroline’s police partner, and Stuart Graham as the misogynist who knows that his day will come, are outstanding”

THE GUARDIAN

“Surprise is the most effective weapon in the interrogation room. And in his new play, The Force of Change, Gary Mitchell skilfully exploits this fact. First he lulls his audience into security by presenting them with the kind of cop drama that fills our TV screens – and then he suddenly twists the plot and we are plunged into a high-voltage political piece that illustrates in gripping detail the intractable, infinitely complex nature of the Ulster problem. This move is clever, it’s effective, it’s thoroughly riveting – and in terms of its significance, all too depressing. … Mitchell’s uncompromising scrutiny of a police force facing change is riveting… “

FINANCIAL TIMES