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BrumHour saw Kyoto at the invite of The RSC.
By David Fox x.com/DavidFoxTheatre
Review: Kyoto at The RSC, Swan Theatre
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐”Phenomenal theatre”
Directed by Stephen Daldry and Justin Martin, written by Joe Murphy and Joe Robertson
11 December 1997 – The Kyoto Conference Centre. 5am. The Kyoto Climate Conference has been in motion for over eleven hours trying to agree on a resolution – and tempers are fraying. World leaders are desperately trying to come to an agreement to stop the effect of climate change, but one man stands in the way of the path to progress: American oil lobbyist Don Pearlman.
On the surface you may not think that a play set around a conference would be very entertaining – but Kyoto is far from this: engaging, informative, and at times incredibly gripping! A detailed, well-written, beautifully acted, and stunning new play at the Royal Shakespeare Company’s Swan Theatre. A really intelligent play that left me wanting to find out more behind the real-life story.
Kyoto is told from the point of view of infamous lobbyist Don Pearlman: Lawyer and representative for the ‘big 7’ oil companies who would be most affected by climate change treaties and protocols. The play told over a decade’s worth of Pearlman’s life, and major historical events leading up to the crucial COP3 climate change conference in Kyoto, Japan. It was an interesting reminder of events and figures from recent political memory: Presidents Reagan, Bush, Clinton, and their worldwide counterparts. I found the machinations of Pearlman, and the political intrigue and in-fighting totally.
While Kyoto has an impressive ensemble cast there a few familiar faces from TV screens. Ingrid Olivier (Doctor Who) plays Angela Merkel, while Vincent Franklin (The Thick of It amongst many others) plays Fred Singer. Other members of the cast who impressed were Jorge Bosch as Raul Estrada-Oyuela, and a particularly amusing turn by Ferdy Roberts as John Prescott. The central performance by Stephen Kunken as infamous lobbyist Don Pearlman was electrifying and mesmerising – there was a touch of the Wolf of Wall Street about him. You totally love to hate him!
Kyoto has a prestigious pedigree being superbly directed by film and theatre legend Stephen Daldry – best known for directing Billy Elliot, The Crown, the long-running and definitive National Theatre version of An Inspector Calls, and more recently Stranger Things: The First Shadow, in London’s West End. Daldry’s co-director here is Justin Martin. The use of video screens to provide a backdrop to the conference, and PowerPoint presentations, and videos of the real conference are particularly effective.
Set Design for Kyoto by Miriam Buerther is simple, yet very effective. The round table of the conference room dominates the room with delegates sitting around it – lucky first-row audience members get to sit around the table, interact with the actors, and become part of the action. When entering the theatre audience are given delegate badges and lanyards and “Welcomed to the conference” with the experience proving totally immersive – a very clever and enjoyable conceit.
At the end of the play, there was a well-deserved standing ovation, and you could tell the cast knew they were part of a truly special piece of theatre.
Kyoto‘ is phenomenal theatre – I genuinely can’t remember when I have been so utterly thrilled and enthralled by a play. It is only at The RSC for very limited run so catch it while you can! Kyoto is at The RSC’s Swan Theatre, for a limited run until 13th July 2024. For more information visit rsc.org.uk/kyoto.
