“A Mirror”

Digital programme:

Director’s foreword
Cast list
Rehearsal gallery

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Director’s foreword

In a review in The Guardian following the premiere of A Mirror in London, this play was described as ”not a cosy night at the theatre”.

Writer Sam Holcroft herself said that she wanted her audience to have a taste of what it might be like to attend theatre while living under an authoritarian regime – so in essence, this play is about how and why we might make theatre in a country where art is censored by the state. It was inspired by her time spent with playwrights from Lebanon and Syria, all of whom were expected to submit their work to a censorship bureau. She was impressed by the bravery of these writers, saying that if her work is unpopular, “the worst that happens is a bruised ego”.

That said, this is in no way a heavy political drama. It is, in fact, very funny in places because we believe that fundamentally, theatre should be entertaining. But the best theatre deals with issues that concern us all, and if they can do this in an entertaining way, then that is the dream. When we were granted performance rights to do this play, the agent mentioned what a good time it is to be doing this piece, things being what they are!

I personally wanted to direct it not just because it’s clever and playful, but because it constantly makes you question what is real and what is performance. The play does not just tell a story but implicates the audience in the storytelling – without excruciating audience participation, which, let’s be honest, nobody really likes.

A Mirror is gripping and unsettling – constantly making you question what is real, who is in control and how art can be censored or manipulated. It is about truth and power and the choices we make when confronted with authority. Do we toe the party line, or are we brave enough to speak out and disrupt? It also asks us to reflect on the role that theatre plays in society. Is it a mirror showing us the world as it is, or is it a mask shaping the version of reality that we are allowed to see?

Here at Corkscrew, we like plays that make some demands on our audience, and we often ask ourselves the question, “What do we want them to talk about on the way home?” Do tell!

~ Lesley Ford

Cast list

Čelik David John
Mei Sharon Rose Goldtzvik
Adem Will Males
Bax Dan Aspel
Senior Officer Christian Burton
Wedding Guests Kate Hughes, Charlie Beer, Kalina Evans, Celeste Webb-Charles
With Babak Fletcher, Filip Ilie, Harleen Kaur, Callum Brownlie

Director Lesley Ford
Deputy Stage Manager and lighting Kerri John
Stage Manager Kate Hughes
Make-up Katie Buck
Photography Paul Ashley
Video Emlyn John

With thanks to: