Vidar Hjardeng MBE - Of Mice and Men, AD Theatre Review
Season 1, Episode 1697, Apr 28, 2023, 02:00 PM
RNIB Connect Radio’s Toby Davey is joined again by Vidar Hjardeng MBE, Inclusion and Diversity Consultant for ITV News across England, Wales, Northern Ireland and the Channel Islands for the next in his regular Connect Radio theatre reviews.
This week Vidar was reviewing a tale about the crumbling American dream with the audio described performance of Birmingham Repertory Theatre’s production of John Steinbeck’s Of Mice and Men on Thursday 6 April at 7.30pm with description by professional Audio Describers Julia Grundy and Carolyn Smith.
“I got you, and we got each other”. George and Lennie are migrants with a dream; a dream of a better life, a place where they can belong, where Lennie feels safe and George can be somebody. But this is the Great Depression, not many dreams come true in a time where a few have plenty but most have nothing. When the friends take a job on Curley’s farm, tragedy unfolds leading to a heart-breaking decision.
John Steinbeck’s classic novel is more than 80 years old, but with themes of economic migration, racism and prejudice, it remains a parable for our times.
A story of enduring friendship, this new production from Rep Associate Director and Commonwealth Games Opening Ceremony Director, Iqbal Khan, focuses a 2023 lens on Steinbeck’s affecting tale of the crumbling American dream. His recent Rep productions include East is East and Tartuffe.
The set is sublime, the choral singing is spine-tingling and when the action comes, you are fully immersed in the story” ★★★★ (four star)West End
For more about access at the Birmingham Repertory Theatre along with dates and times of their audio described performances do visit their website-
https://www.birmingham-rep.co.uk/your-visit/accessibility/
(Image shows RNIB logo. 'RNIB' written in black capital letters over a white background and underlined with a bold pink line, with the words 'See differently' underneath)
This week Vidar was reviewing a tale about the crumbling American dream with the audio described performance of Birmingham Repertory Theatre’s production of John Steinbeck’s Of Mice and Men on Thursday 6 April at 7.30pm with description by professional Audio Describers Julia Grundy and Carolyn Smith.
“I got you, and we got each other”. George and Lennie are migrants with a dream; a dream of a better life, a place where they can belong, where Lennie feels safe and George can be somebody. But this is the Great Depression, not many dreams come true in a time where a few have plenty but most have nothing. When the friends take a job on Curley’s farm, tragedy unfolds leading to a heart-breaking decision.
John Steinbeck’s classic novel is more than 80 years old, but with themes of economic migration, racism and prejudice, it remains a parable for our times.
A story of enduring friendship, this new production from Rep Associate Director and Commonwealth Games Opening Ceremony Director, Iqbal Khan, focuses a 2023 lens on Steinbeck’s affecting tale of the crumbling American dream. His recent Rep productions include East is East and Tartuffe.
The set is sublime, the choral singing is spine-tingling and when the action comes, you are fully immersed in the story” ★★★★ (four star)West End
For more about access at the Birmingham Repertory Theatre along with dates and times of their audio described performances do visit their website-
https://www.birmingham-rep.co.uk/your-visit/accessibility/
(Image shows RNIB logo. 'RNIB' written in black capital letters over a white background and underlined with a bold pink line, with the words 'See differently' underneath)