Collaborators

The National Theatre Live commences its third season with a new play by John Hodge (Trainspotting, Shallow Grave): Collaborators. Directed by Nicholas Hytner and starring Simon Russel Beale (All Creatures Great and Small) and Alex Jennings (Cranford), this premiere screening is thoroughly enjoyable and a great way to open what promises to be a great season.

Set in Moscow in 1938, Collaborators tells the story of Mikhail Bulgakov (Jennings), a well-known Soviet Russian playwright active in the first half of the 20th century, and his ‘relationship’ with Joseph Stalin (Beale). Inspired by historical fact, Hodge illustrates the frustration and political angst in a time where censorship, desperation and loss of freedom were a way of life in a grotesquely humorous and compelling way.

The opening scene shows Bulgakov having a nightmare whereby Stalin is chasing him around with a typewriter in his hands, ready to smash it over Bulgakov’s head. With the continuous threat of ongoing censorship, Bulgakov’s Moliere – although a success with his peers – is soon under great scrutiny.

Bulgakov and his wife Elena (Jacqueline Defferary) live amongst dissidents, who seek freedom from ongoing oppression under a Communist regime, where a sense of humour and freedom of speech are a dangerous combination. Harassed by a terrifyingly cheery secret policeman (Mark Addy, The Full Monty), Bulgakov is forced to write a play about Stalin’s youth in honour of his 60th birthday. Facing terminal illness (nephrosclerosis) and the end of his career, Bulgakov reluctantly agrees and so the cat-and-mouse games begin as Stalin cunningly infiltrates Bulgakov’s life and mind.

Jennings and Beale are superb as the harassed and haunted playwright and somewhat unstable and ruthless Soviet leader. The audience is transported into a time and place that is completely foreign, nightmarish and disturbingly witty.

Performed and filmed in The Round of the National Theatre for the first time, the use of props and lighting add to the menial and dark lives of the characters. Communist red borders the edge of the set with the use of grey, black, brown, navy, beige and white primarily making up the characters’ wardrobes. Scene changes are cleverly arranged and not too hard to discern.

Although seeing Collaborators live on the big screen is not the same as an actual live performance, this screening – in HD for only a limited time at selected cinemas across Australia – is definitely one not to be missed.

4 out of 5 stars

Collaborators
By John Hodge
Director: Nicholas Hytner
Cast: Alex Jennings, Simon Russell Beale

Screening in select cinemas January 14 & 15, 2012
A list of participating cinemas and more information: www.ntlive.info