THE FIFTH STEP | NATIONAL THEATRE LIVE @ A CINEMA NEAR YOU FROM 27 NOVEMBER
★★★★
“An absorbing, laughter filled, 90 minutes of captured theatre…”
Theatre on the big screen is an anathema to many, but while nothing will ever beat the frisson of excitement felt ahead of a live performance, that awareness of being there, in the moment, the actors just feet away, National Theatre Live (NTLive) have now honed the capture of live performances to a fine art.
Their latest release, National Theatre of Scotland’s (NTS) The Fifth Step, is NTLive’s first collaboration with NTS and the first to receive its Global Premiere in Scotland, at Edinburgh’s Filmhouse, ahead of its general release on 27 November.
The Fifth Step, by playwright David Ireland, was first seen in Dundee, previewing there before transferring to the 2024 Edinburgh International Festival, with Slow Horses’ Jack Lowden starring as young alcoholic, Luka, alongside Sean Gilder as James. The NTLive capture, however, was filmed during the West End run of the production earlier this year at London’s @sohoplace, which was reworked with a new ending and BAFTA and Emmy Award winner Martin Freeman playing opposite Lowden.
The story remains the same; Luka has a drink problem. Alcoholics Anonymous’ 12 Steps Programme, which provides ‘a structured and gradual process of recovery’, is his chosen path to sobriety. All he needs now is a sponsor to help him get, and more importantly, stay sober. Enter James, 25 years alcohol free. And so we follow Luka and James as they work their way towards the all important Fifth Step. With little in common except a mutual admiration of Robert De Niro, they build a fragile friendship, one that is threatened by the approach of step five, a moment of confession which sees dangerous truths emerge, jeopardising the trust both men’s recoveries depend upon.
Played in-the-round (in a rectangular space), director Finn Den Hertog’s light touch empowers his actors to let their characters breathe and own the space around them. With just four collapsable chairs, a small table with coffee and biscuits and a smattering of props, set designer Milla Clarke’s minimalist approach focuses the attention on Ireland’s words, while Lizzie Powell and Mark Melville’s dynamic lighting and sound designs are equally concentrating.
As Luka, Lowden is a nervy, twitching, pent up ball of anger and hurt. It’s a layered performance of a man masking his pain, betrayal and hope, unable to trust himself, let alone anyone else. In contrast, Freeman brings a calm to proceedings, his James is concerned, controlling and sharp. Both performances come together to produce a piece of intense, often wickedly funny, but always spell-binding theatre.
Ireland’s razor sharp script, which soars high when delivered by two actors who know how to relish its challenges, is bitingly witty, and dark. As Luka and James debate addiction, God, bunny rabbits and Willem Dafoe, Ireland’s themes range from sexuality to loneliness, suicide and much more. It’s also unashamedly adult and starkly honest.
Its transfer to screen is skilfully executed. Filmed with the theatre audience in shot throughout, the immersive nature of the NTLive capture is subtle yet evocative and never intrusive. On screen audience laughter merges seamlessly with that of those viewing the screen while the expertly crafted camera angles and close-ups retain the intimacy of the piece, bringing it to the fore while never losing the delicate balance between theatrical and cinematic experiences.
Perfect subject matter for NTLive series, The Fifth Step makes for an absorbing, laughter filled 90 minutes of ‘captured’ theatre that deserves the extended life it has been given. Don’t miss it.
National Theatre Live: The Fifth Step comes to cinemas across the UK on 27 November. Tickets here.
