Review: War of the Worlds at Cast Doncaster

“…innovative theatre… I have never seen anything like it…”

War of the Worlds by H.G. Wells adapted by Pete Brooks and Andrew Quick, Cast Doncaster

By Grace Sansom

imitating the dog are back at Cast with their tech-fuelled reimagining of H.G Wells’ classic, The War of the Worlds.

Four actors, multiple cameras, three screens. That’s the stage set-up. War of the World’s cast film themselves on stage, as the footage is live streamed onto the screens behind. Through clever prop trickery and haunting visual effects, a dystopian apocalyptic horror is presented to the audience. Martians are here, but they’re not the only enemy…

Simon Wainwright, Pete Brooks and Andrew Quick’s direction sees Wells’ Victorian tale transposed onto 1968 London, a city divided by hate following Enoch Powell’s ‘Rivers of Blood’ and the protests that ensued. These blood-filled rivers become an allegory repeated throughout. Our protagonist, William Travers (Gareth Cassidy), was at the protests, and seems to be being hunted and punished via the apocalypse. The ‘reckoning’ is here.

I think a little more world-building is needed. As someone who hasn’t revisited or re-read this tale since university years ago (maybe I should have been more awake in those seminars), a clearer plotline would have aided audience understanding.

This production is ambitious as its transposition adds a double layer to the story. That’s double the company’s dramaturgical work. It’s a brave and clever way to make The War of the Worlds ultimately relevant to today’s sociopolitical climate, but it can be messy, rushed and feel like it’s being made to fit at points. Especially the end. I was asking too many questions, and not the philosophical kind. More, ‘Who is that?,’ ‘Why is this happening now?,’ ‘How does this fit?’

That being said, this production is an absolute feast for its lucky audience. It’s terrifying, horrible, tense and impressive. The sheer skill of the company on stage is awe-inspiring. The way they can act so viscerally, move so skillfully – all whilst filming themselves and streaming it live. I thought it must be pre-recorded at first. They really play into the nightmare of it all: glitching footage, eerie high-pitched sounds, haunting accents (despite the almost impossible-to-understand Scouse), and contorted faces. You’re on the edge of your seat throughout.

The cast are nothing short of stellar. Cassidy grounds the piece as terrified Travers and masters playing an insecure man brimming with hatred. Travers’ poignant answer to the question ‘What are you doing?,’ ‘I’m surviving’ is delivered in a way that makes your blood run cold, and you think of the many British men voting in this way today. Deluded by fear. Cassidy delivers.

Amy Dunn is striking as his wife Evie, whose attempts to be rational are brave but shattered by her husband’s intentions. Dunn portrays this nuanced character with brilliance.

Bonnie Baddoo and Morgan Bailey are electric and terrifying as they play Travers’ encounters fleeing London. They act with their entire bodies and master the horror. They multi-role so seamlessly – it’s as though you’re watching many different actors in segments, but it’s just two. They are the body of this production and play the nightmare masterfully. It’s a shame that the world building was not fully developed, as I feel like we missed out on the meaning behind their multiple characters and that is a shame.

The combination of fantastic acting and stage work with technology works to spectacular effect. This is innovative theatre and I urge you to see an imitating the dog production. I have never seen anything like it and will be going back for more.

War of the Worlds plays at Cast Doncaster until Saturday 07 February.

Grace Sansom is a freelance theatre critic and arts and cultural journalist based in Doncaster, covering productions in Doncaster, Sheffield, Leeds and York. She has been reviewing theatre for 7 years, published locally and nationally, for digital and in print publications. In 2023, Grace won a place on the prestigious Edinburgh Fringe Society’s Emerging Critic Scheme, reviewing and commentating for The Herald. Grace has worked in arts marketing and communications for 5 years, now working in Digital Content for the Booker Prizes. Grace also runs the Doncaster Creatives’ Book Club, writing and publishing book content on their popular Substack. You can find Grace on Instagram.