The Caucasian Chalk Circle

If art, by its very nature, is political, then Mark Thomson’s revival of Bertolt Brecht’s 1944 parable for the ages, The Caucasian Chalk Circle, is perhaps the most perfectly-timed production on the Scottish theatrical calendar. Dealing with poverty, wealth, dissent, war and displacement, it’s the play’s message of justice and (most importantly) hope that ultimately speaks to us all.

Translated by Alistair Beaton, the show is a play within a play, beginning with disgruntled villagers in post WWII Soviet Union putting on a piece of theatre to settle a dispute over the issue of land ownership. Sarah Swire is the rock star narrator; a riot grrrl-esque explosion of feminine power and the antithesis of Amy Manson’s Grusha, the innocent servant girl who unwillingly rescues and raises the Governor’s child when his wife (John Kielty) leaves him behind, fleeing the war.

There’s something that’s so refreshing about Thomson’s revival; from the live music and the energy of the cast – who move through multiple characters, different times and extraordinary places with such ease – to Karen Tennent’s set, which is stripped bare, creating the perfect backdrop for a war-torn and treacherous landscape.

A tale not just for war, but also for peace, The Caucasian Chalk Circle highlights the differences and prejudices between the upper and lower classes. The ultimate tale of our times, the play sheds light onto the injustices that linger just beneath the surface of society and presents a tale of survival and triumph despite the odds.