Evening at the Talk House, National Theatre ****

Firstly, it is a weird experience to sit in a theatre and, without expecting it, to hear a voice from your childhood. This is exactly what happened when I sat in the Dorfman to see an Evening at the Talk House. When an old man starts speaking and suddenly Rex from Toy Story is talking about how he wasn't a great actor, you become slightly scared, especially when there is no mention of the part in the programme (which, like most Dorfman programmes, is a pathetic excuse of a programme and is a rip-off at £3). However, it is not Rex but in fact Wallace Shawn in his own play which has premiered at the Dorfman theatre. It follows the character of Robert, played by Josh Hamilton, who meets with the crew of an old play at an old haunt called 'The Talk House'. Everything feels amiable enough until, piece by piece you start to understand the world they're in and the space and the play becomes more and more claustrophobic. The only production comparable to Ian Rickson's staging of Shawn's play is the hit of Hangmen at the Royal Court earlier in the year. Both McDonagh and Shawn have a similar aesthetic and both achieve the effect of making an audience feels incredibly uncomfortable. Shawn's play seems to be a critical standpoint on the role the privileged have in the decision making in the West. The characters in this play are very happy to sit around and discuss morality. Some are even happy to make decisions that make a large impact on people's lives. But it is left to those lower down the hierarchy to carry out the deeds. It addresses issues of scapegoating and it is incredibly powerful in the light of the recent atrocities in France. The Quay Brothers have created a set that alludes to the past and looks to the future whilst Neil Austin's lighting design creates a dim and grimy effect of a club fallen on hard times. Hamilton gives a wonderfully engaging opening monologue about the theatre at the beginning, playing almost a Nick Carraway- style role in the play, and his unreliability is fascinating to watch throughout. Performances are good across the board, notably Shawn as the not-quite-defeated Dick and Sinead Matthews as the mysterious waitress. This is an intriguing piece of theatre that is uncomfortable yet compelling to watch.