Clever perspective throws new light on a familiar story

9 hours ago
2 min read

Esther Atkin and Matthew Rutherford, Night Falls. Photo credit Riding Lights Theatre Company.

Night Falls. Performed at The Bear Pit Theatre, Stratford-upon-Avon, from 31 March to 1 April 2026 by Riding Lights Theatre Company. Directed by Paul Birch.

Review by Charles Essex.

Although the story is around 2000 years old, Night Falls is a new look at the days leading up to Jesus’ crucifixion written and directed by Paul Birch. Riding Lights did a marvellous job to tour with this production when their van containing all their props, equipment and programmes was stolen less than three weeks ago.

The story of Holy Week was told from the perspective of two strangers who had an unusual commonality. Jairus’s daughter, Dvora (Esther Atkin), had died as a young child but Jesus raised her from the dead very quickly, whereas Jesus did not revive his friend Lazarus (Matthew Rutherford) until four days after he died. Dvora broke into Lazarus’s property, where Jesus was staying, because she desperately wanted to learn more from Jesus whom Lazarus was desperate to protect and keep hidden because of Lazarus’s fear that Jesus would be arrested and killed. He suspected Dvora was a spy for the Romans or the Pharisees.

Esther and Matthew conveyed frustration and desperation in the clever verbal sparring between Dvora and Lazarus as each tries to persuade the other of their agenda. Dvora challenged Lazarus that he should have been more open in proclaiming the life in all its fullness that Jesus offered, but Lazarus defended himself, claiming that he was a friend of Jesus, not a disciple. Each gave fascinating monologues of what they felt when dead and then revived. Esther was particularly effective recreating the scenes of her becoming ill and dying in her mother’s arms.

Throughout Matthew portrayed Lazarus’ love for Jesus and fear of his death and persecution from the authorities. It was unclear who Matthew was depicting when he cried out in distress in Aramaic after the crucifixion, as they were not Jesus’ last words on the cross.

There was an astute reversal of roles after the crucifixion. Dvora, who beforehand believed that Jesus had a plan, then had doubts, whereas Lazarus, who wanted to prevent Jesus’s death, developed hope and optimism and his fears were dispelled.

This clever two-hander never became preachy, nor did it introduce any other characters apart from these two figures who, relatively speaking, only get a very brief mention in the Bible. All the action took place in Lazarus’s barn, with the sound of cicadas chirruping in the background. The set was simple planking with a few tools and soiled dustsheets. The director wisely never tried to recreate the crucifixion or have an image of Jesus, the disciples or other well-known figures in the background. Rather, through the thoughts of these two eye-witnesses the optimism, disappointment and ultimately hope that the Easter story brought and still brings to a weary world is told.

Discover more from Riding Lights Theatre Company: https://www.ridinglights.org/

See what’s next at The Bear Pit: https://www.thebearpit.org.uk/