DramaFringe TheatreReviews

Review: The Trumpeter, Finborough Theatre

summary

Rating

Good

Challenging and rewarding with moments of visceral impact.

When Russia began its invasion of Ukraine in 2022, the city of Mariupol found itself on the front lines. Besieged by Russian forces, thousands of civilians and Ukrainian military personnel sought refuge in Cold War-era bunkers beneath the Azovstal Steel Works. They were forced to shelter there for months, enduring sporadic moments during which civilians were allowed to leave, only to be shelled by Russian forces nonetheless.

Following on from the Finborough’s staging of Pussycat in Memory of Darkness, Kristen Milwad returns to present Ukrainian author Inna Goncharova’s The Trumpeter,translatedby John Farndon. The unnamed trumpeter, the sole survivor of the Brigade’s brass band, shelters beneath the steelworks. Amidst the chaos, he attempts to compose a symphony of war, listening to the rhythm of the bombs landing above, seeking an order he can translate into musical notation.

The intimate venue has been blacked out, with just four chairs on stage. The low lighting and reliance on Milwad, who plays the trumpeter as well as three other characters sheltering in the bunker, immediately brings a sense of claustrophobia. We learn a bit about the musician: his life before the invasion, his time at the conservatory, and his hopes of playing at weddings. His constant attempts at composing music, however, often annoy the others alongside him, including the wounded Lieutenant Collier. The cramped quarters leave little room for personal space. Milwad delivers an intensely physical performance, as bombs constantly drop, shaking the bunker and collapsing ceilings. Unfortunately, this can detract from the characters and their stories. Instead of giving focus to the revelation of how they ended up in the bunker and how they are surviving together in this nightmare scenario, it can feel disjointed, parts dominated by Milwad thrashing on the floor or up‑ending chairs as bombs hit. The story of the characters falls away in favour of their experience.

While this could indeed reflect reality — after all, moments between a nurse and a wounded patient won’t wait for the bombs to stop falling — the lack of control experienced by those in the bunker, subject to sudden explosions at any time, does not translate all that successfully into theatrical experience. In contrast, stunningly effective moments occur during blackouts. After giving us just a glimpse of what life might be like in the shelter, the lights go out completely; we are engulfed by the darkness and the horrific sound of bombs landing, which has a visceral impact.

The Trumpeter is a challenging but rewarding, even harrowing, evening. Credit must be given to the Finborough who have also paired each performance with an informal post-show event featuring poetry readings, music, play reading, play performances, discussions and debates. Bringing Ukrainian art to the UK is now more important than ever.


Written by: Inna Goncharova
Translated by: John Farndon
Directed and Designed by: Vladimir Shcherban
Lighting and Sound Design by: Hakan Haifzoglu

The Trumpeter plays at the Finborough Theatre until 3 August. Further information and details on how to book can be found here.

Dave B

Originally from Dublin but having moved around a lot, Dave moved to London, for a second time, in 2018. He works for a charity in the Health and Social Care sector. He has a particular interest in plays with an Irish or New Zealand theme/connection - one of these is easier to find in London than the other! Dave made his (somewhat unwilling) stage debut via audience participation on the day before Covid lockdowns began. He believes the two are unrelated but is keen to ensure no further audience participation... just to be on the safe side.

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