A new theatrical adaptation of HG Wells' War of the Worlds has been reimagined as a fever dream of fear and xenophobia, set against the backdrop of Enoch Powell-era Britain. The production, by Lancaster-based company Imitating the Dog, trades Martians for internal threats, exploring themes of distrust, suspicion of foreigners and selfish survival instincts.
The play, directed by Pete Brooks, Andrew Quick and Simon Wainwright, abandons Wells' original narrator in favour of William Travers, a right-wing acolyte of Enoch Powell. Travers, played by Gareth Cassidy, suffers a heart attack after being knocked down by a horse at a Powell rally, then wakes in hospital to an apocalypse. Wandering through a charred landscape, he encounters crumbling buildings, food shortages and corpses, while a fictional Daily Mail headline declares a 'national emergency to repel invaders'.
Despite the political message, the production is visually dazzling but dramaturgically confusing. It is unclear whether London is actually dealing with Martian invaders or if the apocalypse is purely metaphorical. The four actors have little dialogue, relying on implied emotions, leaving Travers' psychology a mystery. He moves from fear to anger without clear motivation.
Technically, the show is a triumph, using handheld cameras, back projections and miniature props to create a filmic odyssey projected above the actors' heads. Abby Clarke's sets use a claustrophobic palette of dirty greens and fiery ochres, while James Hamilton's score swells with symphonic waves and electronic pulses. However, the emotional impact remains on another planet.
