Earthquakes in London
by Mike Bartlett
Performed by BA Acting 2024
Director: Joanna Bowman
14 June 2024
Chandler Studio Theatre
Royal Conservatoire of Scotland, Glasgow
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Mike Bartlett's epic play about the climate crisis and its impact on our everyday lives was written and first performed in 2010. Now in 2024, Earthquakes in London feels even more urgent and essential.
Anchored by the lives of three sisters in 2010, Earthquakes in London travels both backwards and forwards in time to develop the multi-generational story. Sarah (Emma Coles) is a Lib-Dem minister in the Conservative / Lib-Dem government with responsibility for policies like airport expansion and managing the tricky balance between economy and environment. Freya (Imani Preyor) is pregnant and increasingly uncertain about bringing a child into a world in crisis. Jasmine (Mhairi Watt) is the wild, younger sister - carefree and full of mischief. All three have been abandoned by their climate scientist father and find themselves with life-changing decisions to make.
The three hour play takes us around London, past yummy mummies and outdoor swimmers, up to rural Scotland, back in time to the 1970's and forward to an uncertain future. It's epic in scale and potentially overwhelming, but the play cleverly focuses on one single family. Bartlett has done a wonderful job of making the world-wide climate crisis feel tangible, and although the play is full of fun, and brilliant pop music, it's also able stop us in our tracks with harsh truths. At one point we are told that the Earth can sustain 1 billion humans... And that there's currently six billion of us.
Gulp.
The staging for RCS's production of Earthquakes in London is 'in the round' and intimate; it felt almost immersive at times. The audience are seated at stage-level between three walkways that lead to a central stage. The walls are covered in strips of white plastic that ripple in the breeze and completely enclose the area. With thoughtful lighting and exceptional sound effects it genuinely feels as if we are in the shower / rain / womb with the cast. It's claustrophobic and hypnotic. The production teams have excelled with this staging; it's wonderful to be so absorbed in the story.
The cast use every part of the stage and walkways. The scenes change so quickly - especially in Act I where some scenes last mere seconds - actors and props constantly appear and disappear from all avenues. It's beautifully choreographed chaos from Director Joanna Bowman. The Stage Managers must have an extremely difficult job in calling this show, yet not a second of stage time goes to waste. The book moves at pace and the 3-hour run time flies by. So captivating are the actors and so horrifying and exhilarating is the drama, I was on the edge of my seat for the entire play.
Bartlett's play is a brilliant choice for the Conservatoire as there are ample interesting roles for a large cast to perform. Emma Coles, Imani Preyor and Mhairi Watt are pitch perfect as the Crannock sisters, Saul Davidson and Reece Montague are stunning as the husbands with extremely complex relationships, and Cara Barton is outstanding as the scene-stealing teenage tearaway Peter. Every single one of this company of actors is superb; it's genuinely a privilege to witness their final performance at the Conservatoire. I've no doubt many of these performers will soon be household names.
With superb set and costume design from Glenn Parkinson Earthquakes in London is an exquisite assault on the senses and an urgent call to arms. It's a play that deserves to presented with such care and ingenuity as has been done here, and it should be essential viewing for all six billion of us.
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
📅 Earthquakes in London was staged at the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland's Chandler Theatre from 12 - 14 June 2024.
📸 Production photos: Jacob Martin Walls
Earthquakes in London review, RCS, Royal Conservatoire of Scotland, BA Acting 2024, Joanna Bowman, climate crisis.
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🎟️ Disclosure: I was invited to review this show and received a complimentary ticket in exchange. Neither the venue nor show has a say in what I write. I'm completely independent and invites have no impact on my analysis or star ratings.
