Review: Narvik, York Theatre Royal

Poignant, beautiful and at times deeply uncomfortable it’s also about as impressive piece of studio theatre that you are likely to catch this year.

Written by Lizzie Nunnery, who was inspired by her grandfather’s story of being part of the naval convoys which braved the Arctic during the Second World War to liberate the Norwegian port town of Narvik, it’s a moving snapshot of how ordinary people sometimes find themselves in extraordinary situations.

Joe Shipman plays Jim Callaghan who leaves behind his home city of Liverpool on an adventure which quickly turns to tragedy. Played out in a set, which is little more than a square metal frame, but which is powerfully claustrophobic, Shipman morphs seamlessly from the young, optimistic seaman into an elderly man still plagued by the demons he witnessed during the war.

He’s not the only one changed. The carefree school teacher Else Dahl, who is brought memorably to life by Nina Yndis, also has her life derailed and everyone touched by the conflict emerges from the fug of war more fragile than they were before.

Nunnery’s words are in safe hands with director Hannah Tyrrell-Pinder who makes every one of the 80 minutes count. Taut, moving and utterly absorbing, this is theatre at its very best.

Narvik will be at The Carriageworks in Leeds on March 9 and Harrogate Theatre, from March 14 to 18.