Review: FALKLAND SOUND, RSC Swan Theatre

Photo credit: Ellie Kurttz

Falkland Sound begins with the cast asking the audience to imagine a town, referring to the minimal setting. Very quickly, this strong, dependable cast create a tight knit community within the Falkland Islands. As they begin to talk, we learn about each character, their routines and their individual contributions towards their self sufficient farming lives.

Mrs Hargreaves (the town elder) claims: “Gossip done good is a great form of exercise”, implying (in case we hadn’t understood the first time round) that there was not much to do, but she liked it that way. The war doesn’t reach the town until the end of Act One and is represented in the lowering of rifles, which hang menacingly throughout the rest of the performance.

Falkland Sound has many wonderful textures and light within its staging. Though a simple set of model houses represent the small and tight community of the town, the use of moving images across the backdrop give a modern and relevant feel. The inclusion of live music and vocals throughout the piece adds depth and atmosphere. The closing of the first act is concluded with a haunting and moving acapella piece that prepares you for the coming war.

Unsurprisingly, this play at the RSC is leaning towards the left and depicts Margaret Thatcher, as a politician under pressure and making rash decisions. Alongside this, it was very clear that those living through the times of the Falklands war were somewhat captivated by political agendas and sought to remind the audience that they are proud to be British.

The first act is strong and leaves the audience wanting more and rooting for the small community. However, as the second act begins, it is clear that the 74 days of the war is represented through a slower pace than the first half. As a play that is 2 hours and 50 minutes (including interval), this can be quite draining as an audience member. There is talk of death throughout this act but when we see this in action, it feels detached due to the amount of characters and their continual speech on stage throughout. This made it feel impersonal at times and a little anti climatic.

For a play that is focused on a relatively recent war, it needs to be more emotive and allow its audience to connect to the individual characters. Despite this, Falkland Sound invites and welcomes you into its exclusive community and time in history. A witty and, at times, humorous script is delivered by a talented and well-versed cast. This wartime story reflects history repeating itself and needs to be told again and again.

*** Three stars

Reviewed by: Sophie Eaton

Falkland Sound plays at the RSC in Stratford upon Avon until 16 September, with further information here.