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BrumHour saw Ben and Imo at the invite of The RSC.
By David Fox twitter.com/DavidFoxTheatre
Review: Ben and Imo at The RSC, Swan Theatre
⭐⭐⭐⭐”An amazing two-hander”
Directed by Erica Whyman, written by Mark Ravenhill
The true story of the passionate partnership between Benjamin Britten and Imogen Holst”
The Year is 1953 – ready for the Coronation of Queen Elizabeth II and the dawn of a new era. To commemorate the event famed composer Benjamin Britten undertakes the writing of a new opera about her predecessor Elizabeth I. Wracked with doubts, and worries about completing the work on time, help arrives in the form of friend Imogen Holst.
Ben and Imo is a new play from The RSC that explores not only the life if composer Benjamin Britten, and the composing of his opera, but also his turbulent and fractious relationship with Imogen Holst (daughter of Gustav), whose frank and forthright attitude proves to be the perfect antidote and antithesis to Britten’s madness, mood swings, and depression.
Whilst I had heard of Benjamin Britten, and heard some of his work, I did not really know much about him, so this play was an excellent way of discovering about him – and left me wanting to find out more! One particularly powerful moment sees Britten talk about playing music to a liberated Belsen concentration camp but not knowing what to play in such a horrific situation. Imo reminds him and us of the importance of art: “We must make music, especially in the darkness”.
Ben and Imo is an amazing two-hander, with powerful and mesmerising performances from Samuel Barnett and Victoria Yeates. Barnet, more well known for his break-out role as one of The History Boys‘ and on TV in the Dirk Gently series on Netflix is fantastic, showing Britten’s shifts in moods – particularly good when angry that his play Gloriana may be dropped from the Coronation celebrations in place of ballet! However, for me the stand-out performance of the two was Victoria Yeates, star of Call the Midwife‘ and the Fantastic Beasts film series. Here Yeates shines – some singing, some dancing, and a lot of assertiveness in order to control Britten.
Skilfully directed by Erica Whyman who has an impressive list of theatre credits to her name, including Romeo and Juliet, and (in particular) the excellent Miss Littlewood (still one of my favourite RSC productions).
Set Design for Ben and Imo by Soutra Gilmore is simple, yet very effective. Showing only the back wall of the theatre, with the stage dominated by a grand piano, the stripped-back stage allows the audience to focus on the performances.
Ben and Imo was originally written for BBC Radio 3 to mark the centenary of Britten’s birth in 2013. For 2024 this play has been reimagined for 2024 for the RSC stage! While the play may be set in 1953 and looking forward to a new Elizabethan age, its comments on politics, royalty, and the arts, are incredibly relevant and have a lot to say about our country today.
If you are looking for an interesting play, expertly acted, and to make you think, then I would recommend seeing this great new work from the RSC!
Ben and Imo is at Royal Shakespeare Company’s Swan Theatre until 9th April 2024. Book tickets here: rsc.org.uk/ben-and-imo.
