8legs: Stewart laing

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Saint Joan review – urgency and drive in Stewart Laing’s modernist adaptation of George Bernard Shaw

Laing’s modernist Saint Joan is shorter than the original yet maintains Shaw’s earnest themes of faith and rebellion.
Mandipa Kabanda leads with rapid, urgent dialogue as the Maid of Orleans, matching pace with the rest of the cast.
Ear pieces on male actors suggest Joan’s voices are heard alongside those of her peers.
The ending juxtaposes modern protesters with Kabanda’s call for action, echoing contemporary urgency.
The Times critic’s concern about modern commentary mirrors the production’s reflective stance, not its irony.
Kabanda’s performance is described as tearing through dialogue with rare pace and urgency.
Laing uses film sequences and camera angles to integrate Shaw’s unproduced film vision into the stage.
The production is a Raw Material co-production, signaling a collaborative, contemporary approach.
Shaw’s themes of religious conviction and ecclesiastical power remain central to the reinterpretation.
The Guardian frames the piece as a timely, energetic exploration of Shaw’s drama.
The stage production explicitly connects Joan’s revolt to contemporary activism.

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