WALKING THROUGH WIRE BY GARY KITTLE

 

Published:  13 November, 2014

 

by ANNA CROFT SAWA of the Camden Review

 

GARY Kittle’s new play tackles the tough themes of sexual prejudice and homophobia during the First World War.

Hans, a gay prisoner of war in Nazi Germany, faces the twisted wrath of Joseph Kramer (excellently played by Ian Recordon), “beast” of the Bergen-Belsen concentration camp. 

While nearer to home in 1950s post-war Britain we meet legendary Bletchley code-breaker Alan Turing in the throes of tortuous chemical castration, having been convicted of homosexuality.

This poignant three-act play highlights how far we have come in the battle for gay rights, and proves how hard won it has been.

Through the lens of the 20th century, home or abroad, whether pauper or national hero, both men were viewed as immoral criminals for the simple expression of their sexuality. 

This is a sharply acted, stripped-back play that lays bare some difficult questions about the barbarism of human nature.

 

 

Published: 14th November, 2014.

 

By David Hennessy of the Irish World

 

Benedict Cumberbatch can currently be seen playing code breaker Alan Turing in The Imitation Game but another portrayal can be seen at the Hen and Chickens theatre bar. Alan Turing is a character in Gary Kittle’s new play Walking Through Wire, presented by The Irish Network of Dramatic Arts, which explores homophobia on both sides of the second world war.

The film begins with a sadistic German officer calling two Jewish prisoners to his office. Gifting them with chocolate and then telling them it is poisoned, it is clear from the off that Joseph Kramer intends to play with them.

Kramer is a beast who has taken it upon himself to play God with these two unfortunate prisoners just because he is intolerant of Hans being gay and knows he can dominate the weak-willed Ernest. Kramer is excellently played by Ian Recordon.

The action boils to a tense end of the first act when the most awful action takes place offstage.

The next portion of the play is closer to home and finds Alan Turing talking to a fortune teller. Code-breaker Alan Turing, who should have been a national hero, is in the throes of tortuous chemical castration, having been convicted of homosexuality.

Through the conversation, the audience learns about his hardship but also why it touches a nerve with the reader. Susan Cummins plays the reader and although she faces away from the audience for most of her speech, she turns around when delivering the most hard hitting lines which let the audience in while also displaying her inability to look at Alan. Susan has an impressive list of credits and is also co-founder of the Irish Network of Dramatic Arts.

For the finale, the action returns to Nazi Germany where there may be a twist that it is not just his dominant officer that can not tolerate what Hans is.

With minimal set dressing and other distractions, this is a performance with the emphasis on performance and such productions are always enjoyable.

Directed by Tom Begley, the director of the short film Tax City and the award-winning Cold, this film highlights how far gay rights and acceptance has come.

Walking Through Wire is at The Hen and Chickens Theatre Bar until November 15.

 

4 Stars