This play filled me with awe. It is awesome.
Ibsen tells the epic tale of emperor Julian, who struggles with his Christian faith and decides to overthrow his uncle as Emperor and return Rome to paganism.
Although an epic, this tragic Faustian tale is focussed on the internal struggle and destruction of one man. Andrew Scott gave a magnificently varied performance as Julian. A brilliantly rounded character he went from being a sad confused young man who we felt sorry for, to a mad tyrant blinding his friends and leading his soldiers to death. Watching him you recognise world leaders from the news, but you also recognise aspects of yourself. It was at times uncomfortable to watch but very realistic.
The use of projections of modern soldiers, helicopters and guns combined with the modern dress with hints at Roman armour gave the production a timeless quality. We could spot parallels with modern events but the play still felt like a classic tragedy.
A spectacular set with levels rising from the floor added to the grand scale of this production. I particularly liked an enormous gold ingot (representing the sun) hanging from the ceiling in Julian's palace which turned round for the next scene at the church to reveal the other side which was painted like a rock with a cross on it.
It is a brilliant play that makes you reconsider human relationships with each other and with their gods. And this is the UK première - a great Ibsen play and no-one has seen it before! I felt awe-struck and privileged to see it.
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