Theatre review: His Dark Materials: Parts 1 and 2 Festival Theatre

Published on Saturday 23 May 2009 11:18

His Dark Materials: Parts 1 and 2 Festival Theatre * * * *

IN the past decade the concept of shock and awe has become a byword for a handful of missiles and a few camouflaged soldiers.

In another reality, however, an inter-dimensional war against religion and a mysterious Authority has been brewing for several millennia. Cue 1,300 pages of shock, awe and pre-pubescent awakenings in Philip Pullman's modern classic His Dark Materials trilogy as protagonists Will and Lyra get to grips with life, the universe and magic "Dust".

Bringing Nicholas Wright's adaptation of the three books in two plays to the Festival Theatre this week, the Birmingham Repertory Theatre Company and West Yorkshire Theatre Company have certainly injected drama, vibrancy and shock into the production – but where's the awe?

In an adaption of a book called Northern Lights one would expect an enthralling Aurora Borealis experience. Instead the audience has Christmas lighting as supplied by the local DIY store. Similarly, the moments of moving from universe to universe are passed over too quickly to appreciate the momentous undertaking this must be for the characters.

Yet solid, engaging performances from the cast and puppet "daemons" compensate. Where the script becomes patchy, meandering and over-complicated, the direction saves the production.

Ends tomorrow