Theatre

Review: Harold Pinter’s The Homecoming makes a triumphant West End return

‘Home comforts’ is a discarded term in Harold Pinter’s The Homecoming. In fact, when Teddy returns home with wife, Ruth, to his father, uncle and brothers, we discover that it’s a home of absolute discomfort.

With unsettling themes throughout, The Homecoming well and truly tears apart the humble family image of man, wife and children, and Jamie Lloyd’s production at Trafalgar Studios doesn’t shy away from the ugly soul of the tale.

The Homecoming

Full with prolonged silences and subtle actions, the story is more often than not built upon the unspoken. So much is left open to interpretation; there’s an overruling air of ambiguity that leaves you with a handful of unanswered questions.

And as with the script is at times, the set is completely stripped bare. Its simplicity; a skeleton of a home, leaves ample amount of space for the inventive use of sound and lighting, allowing Pinter’s sinister charm to shine bright. The awkward comedy is so dark in places, you find yourself with a confused distaste towards almost every character.

The Homecoming

In the spirit of the play, maybe it’s best I leave it at that and invite you to determine an opinion of your own.

You can watch The Homecoming at Trafalgar Studio 1 until Saturday 13 February 2016. Tickets available at Ticketmaster.co.uk.