QR Theatre Review: Judgement

“Do you judge me?”, the difficult question posed by the intense and entrancing one man showJudgement from Derry actor, Stephen Bradley. In this horrific tale based on real events, Bradley takes on the role of Soviet prisoner of war, Andrei Vukhov who is one of only two survivors of a ghastly 60 days imprisonment which pushes both men to the limits in the name of survival.

Judgement is a unique experience. The show is staged in an intimate venue with Bradley sitting level with the audience in the same lighting, inviting us to be as much a part of the story as he is. The audience takes on the role of a jury of sorts, with Stephen providing the testimony of the only sane survivor of the incarceration. Whilst based on true events, the script used is based on a three hour long original written by Barry Collins, which was briefly staged by the National theatre in the 1970s with Colin Blakely performing the solitary role and then revived in New York in the late 1980s, but beyond this it has not received huge exposure. With Collins’ blessing, Bradley has stripped that mammoth three hour original down to a tight and intense hour long performance.

A table and chair are all that accompany Bradley in terms of props. This stark staging focuses all attention on Bradley, his electric performance, and his relationship with the audience. Upon entering the venue Bradley sits silently in front of the audience prior to delivering his testimony, this alone creates a powerful and involving atmosphere which any traditional show would struggle to evoke. Bradley then effortlessly slips into the role of Andrei Vukhov, his performance complimented by an excellent script which masterfully employs provocative and grotesque language at key moments, bringing this story and its characters to life. We never meet Vukhov’s six comrades but by the end of the show we are well acquainted with them all through the detailed life-like descriptions of each man. The script is also suitably restrained, the language never lingers on the finer details of the violence as to disgust or shock but instead describes it in a workman-like way, in line with the necessity of these men’s savage, desperate actions.

Bradley’s performance is exceptional and profound, he makes excellent use of the small venue to make individual eye contact with the audience at key moments. He directs his questions of judgement to the audience, fixing the emotional weight of the narrative on you, as a viewer. There may have been a temptation to play this role with an air of arrogance, questioning whether anyone is to judge the survivors given the situation they found themselves in. Instead, the evident shame and survivor’s guilt Vukhov feels invites the audience to understand his story and the extreme and difficult scenario they were forced into. This pulls the audience out of their own comfort zone and from there we are judged as much as asked to judge. By not judging Vukhov and his fellow survivor Ruben one way or another the show ends with Bradley questioning “Do you Judge me?” and as an audience we are left struggling with the moral quandaries explored in the play.

Ultimately, Judgement is about the desperate and monstrous things humans can do in the name of survival and the moral debate surrounding these acts. From the outset, the audience understands Vukhov’s fate. However, it is a testament to the script-writing and Bradley’s phenomenal performance about the macabre tale of these men sliding into madness and savagery, which takes on an air of tragic inevitability. This is a truly powerful tale and fuelled by an outstanding performance and script which should not be missed. I would implore anyone in Edinburgh for the Fringe festival to seek out this other-worldly experience.

5/5 Stars

Follow the link below to hear some initial audience reactions to the judgement preview performance at McHugh's on August 9th:

https://soundcloud.com/user-266044688/sets/judgemenr

Judgement will be staged at the Natural Food Kafe from Sunday August 19th to Saturday August 25th @ 7:25PM each night

This review is based on an Edinburgh Fringe preview performance of Judgement staged in McHugh’s Bar, Belfast on Thursday August 9th 2018.

By Sean Hughes