Leeds Playhouse – until 8 February 2025
Reviewed by Dawn Smallwood
4****
Shellshocked is Philip Stokes’ new drama set after the Second World War but told to a 21st Century audience. Produced collaboratively by Richard Jordan, 412, Harrogate Theatre, Lawrence Batley Theatre, King Brilliant and Pleasance Theatre. It tells the story of Wesley (Jack Stokes), a young war veteran who has recently returned home, and Mr Lupine (Lee Bainbridge), an eccentric but troubled artist.
Wesley responds to an artistic apprentice with Mr Lupine and only to relive the horror and trauma of the war and how his shellshocked state of mind have an impact on himself and his surrounding environment. The impact unravels throughout and feeds into Mr Lupine’s delusional mind, Mr Lupine feels hurt, jealous and resentful because his health didn’t permit him to play an active part in the war and he feels he has missed out on the heroic and victorious experiences. Mr Lupine feels the exclusion has affected his artistic ability to authentically create and experiences feelings of emptiness. Wesley’s plight and heroism fuels further his jealously and manipulation with the young man’s vulnerability and obviously is unsympathetic to his trauma.
The play has its many unpredictable twists and turns, and nobody can exactly anticipate what happens next and its eventual outcomes that the characters face in the story. Dark driven themes and deep emotions run very deep throughout, and this builds up to an explosive crescendo where both characters reach their breaking points where there is no return.
The play explores the themes of post traumatic stress, wartime experiences, psychological disorders, vulnerability, loneliness and other similarities. It does remind one how much stigma there was to those attributes at that time, especially with men, and still this is experienced today worldwide.
Craig Lomas intimate staging is perfectly staged in the Playhouse’s Bramall Rock Void for its 2-man 70-minute play. Both Stokes and Bainbridge deliver excellent portrayals of both the troubled characters, Wesley and Mr Lupine respectively, living in a somewhat complex Post War World. Shellshocked offers plenty to evaluate and reflect on.