The Red Barn review – The National Theatre’s storm

The Red Barn- National Theatre

The Red Barn, is a cold and sinister play adaptation of the 60 year old book ‘La Main’, written by Belgian detective thriller author Georges Simenon.

The famous play writer David Hare chose to take this novel to another artistic level and adapt the story as a play, with the help of young London director, Robert Icke.

From its great, passionate actors to every little piece of the stage set, the Red Barn is a real chef-d’oeuvre which will cost you no more than £20 maximum to watch.

In Connecticut at the beginning of the 70’s, a team of two couples will try and walk home after an intense party through a tough storm, not all of them will manage to get home safe…

The protagonist/antagonist Donald Dodd (Mark Strong) find himself lost between his wife with whom he built his entire life, and the recent pretty young widow Mona Sanders, the wife of Donald’s best friend that died that night.

Watching this play and its stage set up is like watching a movie. With around 8 different sets sliding across every part of the stage, the effect is as intense as the Agatha Christie thriller and makes everything look even more real. Scenes can be closed in the shape of a square by focusing on whatever the director wants us to focus on.

Go watch this fantastic piece of art, you’ll walk out from the National Theatre surprised by how this discipline can impress you more than what you thought and let’s face it, it’s not something you’d do everyday…