Clement (Luke Rollason) and Aspinall (Paul Adeyefa) escape the raging storm inside the church belfry. Can they save the world by joining forces with the neighbouring villages to ring out the storm with the church bells? Or does God have another plan for them? Although it’s never fully explained.

At first, everything appears to be two friends/monks escaping into the sanctuary of the Church to save themselves from the elements raging outside. Which anyone would do in a similar situation, wouldn’t they? Yet, as the conversation evolves and they discuss friends and family who have deceased the audience become aware that something more sinister is happening.

Rollason and Adeyefa have a strong stage presence and excellent rapport. Towards the end as the reality of their situation takes hold there are a couple of silent moments of reflection which they deliver perfectly holding the entire audience with them.

Director Jessica Lazar brings the dystopian dark tale to life inside a belfry. With the atmosphere alive and electric raging outside there are times that I was engrossed in the storyline and the sudden flash of lightning made me jump. Although everything takes place within the small bell-ringing area the audience gets a strong sense that the world is at war with the elements outside.

The combination of designer Natalie Johnson, lighting designer David Doyle and sound designer Holly Kahn has created a superb and atmospheric setting for Bellringers. The lighting effects of the glowing “fungi/mushrooms” under the stone flooring offer a “creepy” atmosphere and suggest that things are working in mysterious ways and perhaps the end is nigh well for Aspinall and Clement anyway.

Bells ringing often symbolise a life-changing event from deaths and marriages to coronations. However, when other communication methods are taken away the bells have been a way throughout history which communities have used to let each other know that people are still alive and can still hear one another against all the odds!

For more information about Bellringers please visit the link below.

Four Stars.

Photo credit Alex Brenner.

https://www.hampsteadtheatre.com/

Performance running dates:

September 27, 2024 7:45PM – November 2, 2024 7:45PM

Artistic team
WRITER
DAISY HALL

DIRECTOR
JESSICA LAZAR

DESIGNER
NATALIE JOHNSON

LIGHTING DESIGNER
DAVID DOYLE

INTIMACY DIRECTOR
IMOGEN FRANCES

SOUND DESIGNER
HOLLY KHAN

CASTING DIRECTOR
SARAH JONES

Cast

ASPINALL
Paul Adeyefa


CLEMENT
Luke Rollason