Captivating audiences since 1945, An Inspector Calls embarks on an exciting new UK tour in 2024. We had the pleasure of speaking with Tim Treloar, who steps into the pivotal role of the Inspector in this powerful production.
Tim Treloar in An Inspector Calls' rehearsals. Photo by Mark Douet
Written by J.B. Priestley, An Inspector Calls masterfully weaves together mystery, social commentary, and suspense in a timeless exploration of responsibility and class. Launching its tour at London’s Alexandra Palace this month, the production will then visit major venues in Liverpool, Southampton, and Norwich. In today’s interview, we chat with Tim Treloar to delve into this iconic play’s return to the stage and hear his thoughts on bringing the Inspector to life.
1. You are playing the lead role of the Inspector in An Inspector Calls, can you tell us a little bit about this character and what is your favourite part about playing him?
Inspector Goole announces himself at the Birling household as a police officer but doesn’t behave like one from the outset. He is described by various members of the Birling family as rude, offensive, impertinent, assertive, strange and aggressive. He is a man of principle, however, with great resilience, and won’t leave the house until his mission is complete. I hugely enjoy playing this character. The fact that each of the Birling family are so resistant to him in differing ways means he has to improvise and use various tactics with each personality.
2. For those who don’t know a lot about the show, can you give us a quick overview of what it is about?
The Birling family, headed by a rich industrialist, are celebrating the engagement of their daughter to the son of another factory owner when a police inspector arrives to tell them a young woman has committed suicide and wishes to question them all. Throughout the play, we learn how the actions of each family member contributed to the poor woman's demise.
3. What drew you to the role of Inspector Goole in An Inspector Calls?
It's a wonderful part and a gift for any actor. This is a seminal production and the prospect of working with the likes of Stephen Daldry was mouthwatering. I leapt at the opportunity. I've also worked with Charlotte Peters, the associate director, several times and it's always a joy working with her as she's such a talent.
4. How do you interpret the character of the Inspector? Do you see him as a moral guide, a supernatural force, or something else?
The inspector’s job is to help create a kinder, more equitable future by trying to make the Birling family examine their own selves and their behaviours. The play was written at the end of the Second World War and set just before the First World War. British society was still constructed very much in terms of social and economic class. I believe JB Priestly was reflecting on how this rigidity contributed to the mechanised slaughter of millions of ordinary people during the two world wars, caused to a great extent by a few hundred people holding industrial, political and economic power. I think Priestly was using the Inspector as a beacon of hope for the future, one where we are all equal members of one society.
5. What is your favourite part about this show and what is the most challenging?
I love this part. It's such a buzz exploring different parts of my range as an actor. Because the Inspector drives a large part of the production, I really have to ensure I'm on top of the script, and I have to keep the ball in the air at all times.
6. Before you worked on this production, did you know a lot about An Inspector Calls from studying it at school? Does that have an impact on how you interpret the writing?
I didn't really know the play at all to be honest. I saw the Alastair Sim film years ago, but I never studied it in school. Not having any preconceived ideas about the play can be very helpful to an actor because you can embark on the journey with an empty canvas.
7. What makes An Inspector Calls a brilliant production to go and watch at the theatre?
The staging and production itself is epic. I can’t quite put into words how astonishing the show is as a visual spectacle. There's a reason this particular production has been going for more than 30 years. It's directed by the three times Oscar-nominated Stephen Daldry, and the music is by Oscar winner Stephen Warbeck. Also, the play itself has been made more accessible to modern audiences. I have met so many people who have seen this production and tell me how it either changed them, or affected them, or how they've never ever forgotten it.
8. What is it about An Inspector Calls that gives it a timeless appeal to audiences?
It's because we all understand the themes in the piece. It's so easy to turn our heads away from unpleasant things and just carry on with our lives. But one kind word can change someone's life. One unkind word can also do the same.
9. Why should people book tickets to see An Inspector Calls?
Because whether you're a regular theatre-goer or this is your first time, this is a production you will never forget. And if you're a first-timer I defy you not to come away unaffected.
Catch Tim Treloar in An Inspector Calls across the UK until 31 May 2025.
