‘Tears are usually not sufficient’ – Grenfell: within the phrases of survivors overview

Gillian Slovo’s play takes the phrases of ten survivors of the Grenfell Tower disaster and weaves them right into a composition of astonishing energy.

Following the 2 verbatim performs by Richard Norton-Taylor and Nicolas Kent that reproduced the inquiry, this provides to the accumulating proof of the venality and negligence that value 72 lives.

It begins with every actor introducing themselves and the true folks they characterize. As they begin to relate their private histories and their lives within the constructing earlier than the devastating hearth, a portrait of a combined however mutually supportive neighborhood in public housing is conveyed with heart-stirring readability.

In the primary half, the dramas and incidents are home – children’ video games within the stairwells, damaged lifts, neighbourly to-ings and fro-ings.

Neo-Realism and theatre go hand in hand as lighting, sound and props (one field of salvaged possessions per particular person) carry it right into a extra inclusive dimension.

Divided into two halves – the primary earlier than the hearth, the second half the conflagration and escape – the testimonies culled from interviews are interspersed with interrogations from the inquiry.

The responsible events are named though the people, firms and establishments accountable have but to face prices.

Directed by Phillida Lloyd and Anthony Simpson-Pike, that is really collective theatre; every actor brings a definite voice to their tales and all are very good.

Small particulars resonate; the Italian lodge employee ringing his work to apologise for not coming in, a person and his spouse having to go away their canine behind within the inferno; a disabled man negotiating the steps in complete darkness and choking smoke.

We see nothing graphic however we will think about the horror all too clearly. The closing coup de theatre is nearly unbearably transferring. Tears are usually not sufficient.

Grenfell: In the Words of Survivors, National Theatre till August 26, Tickets:  020 3989 5455