First performed at the Kamerny and Leningrad Theatre Company of Moscow in August 1945

London premiere by the Old Vic at the New Theatre in October 1946

New York premiere at the Booth Theatre in October 1947 

All three acts, which are continuous, take place in the dining-room of the

prosperous Birling family in Brumley, an industrial city in the North

Midlands of England.

It is the late evening of April 15, 1912.

The glitter of the rank, wealth and fashion of the English Edwardians

brings the myth of the Lost Golden Age into the Twentieth Century.

The upper and middle classes constitute less than fifteen percent of the

population, but consume two-thirds of the national income.

The 39 million members of the working class exist on the remaining third.

John Boynton Priestley (1894-1984) was a patriotic socialist whose love for his country could appear nostalgic, but who was passionately convinced of the need for social change to benefit the poor. During the Second World War, his weekly radio broadcasts were highly influential and expressed his faith in the ordinary people of Britain.

An Inspector Calls is concerned with themes of power, morality, and social responsibility. Searingly relevant in the 21^st century, it is firmly rooted in the context of war and upheaval in the 20th: Priestley wrote the play in the last year of the Second World War, but it is set in 1912 just prior to the First World War. It was first performed by the Kamerny and Leningrad Theatre Company of Moscow in August 1945 because of the lack of availability of a suitable theater in London.  It then came to London only a year later, where it was staged by the Old Vic. The opening performance in Moscow was on the same day as the atom bomb was dropped on Hiroshima. This coincidence highlighted the dismay that Priestley, profoundly affected by his experiences of the First World War, felt at seeing such horrors repeated.

The need for society to change is a central theme of An Inspector Calls. In it, Priestley emphasizes the need for future generations to act and prevent further bloodshed.  At the same time, however, he keeps the action of the play at an intensely personal level.  As the characters' secrets are revealed, the crumbling of society is reflected in the disintegration of this seemingly happy family and we are challenged to examine our own consciences.

The play opens in the early spring of 1912.  Simple calculations based on the comments of Mr. Birling place the date as the evening of April 15, 1912.  History buffs will note that the Titanic struck an iceberg en route to New York at just before midnight on April 14^th and sank a few hours later in the early morning hours of April 15^th.  News of this event wouldn't have reached an isolated town like Brumley in the North Midlands of England until the next morning - April 16^th.

I wish to thank Shakespeare`70 for this opportunity to direct such a powerful piece of theater, Kathy Garofano for her invaluable assistance and guidance as producer and stage manager, Dale Simon for his fantastic set design, Linc Konkle for his support and faith in this project, George Hartpence for his partnership and vision (on and off stage), my wonderful cast and crew, and all who helped make this production possible.

Carol Thompson