Inspector Calls Trip

An Inspector Called into Liverpool Empire Theatre for a fantastic performance.

A special thank you must go to some of our Year 10 and 11 students, and their English teachers- Mrs Robinson, Mrs Murray and Mrs Pilkington, who attended Liverpool Empire Theatre, on Wednesday 15th March, for a performance of their GCSE text: An Inspector Calls. Pupils and staff were treated to a riveting performance of J.B. Priestley’s modern classic directed by Stephen Daldry. Every year, our English students are enthralled by this clever, twisting plot; dynamic characters and powerful social message about the need for society to look out for their fellow man, no matter what social background they are from. “We don't live alone. We are members of one body. We are responsible for each other.”

Mrs Robinson said, “We always remind the pupils that An Inspector Calls is a play and is meant to be spectated on the stage. They have really enjoyed reading it in class, but to see it performed live makes the characters come alive and the messages of the play more visceral. Many of our pupils have never been to the theatre before so it was lovely to be able to offer that experience to them.”

Highlights from the performance include the amazing set consisting of the Birlings’ middle-class home, which opens up like a doll’s house the moment the Inspector arrives to ‘crack open’ the case of Eva Smith’s mysterious and brutal suicide. When the individual involvement of each character’s actions that contributed towards Eva’s death are revealed, the Inspector conveys his final speech to the audience: “And I tell you that the time will soon come when, if men will not learn that lesson, then they will be taught it in fire and blood and anguish. Good night,” followed by a dramatic explosion and the complete destruction and collapse of the Birlings’ house along with their picture-perfect reputations. But who was the Inspector and where did he come from? We won’t spoil the ending for you, but it’s fair to say that the pupils were gripped.

On a final note, the English department would like to express how proud they were of all the pupils who attended the theatre that night. The pupils’ behaviour was exemplary, and it was a pleasure to escort them on this trip.