Director Nicholas Hytner and writer Alan Bennett unite for the fourth time after their success with The Madness of King George III, The History Boys and The Lady in the Van. Their latest collaboration is set in Yorkshire in 1916. With its ranks depleted as men head off to war, a choral society is forced to change its entry rules to allow some unlikely teens to join for its annual performance. Also in need of a new chorus master, they recruit Dr Henry Guthrie (Ralph Fiennes) who has recently returned from a career in Germany.
After the misfire that was Allelujah, it is good to see Bennett back on top form. With its cast packed full of great British talent, with Fiennes giving a pained and nuanced performance. Along with him there are stalwarts like Roger Allam, Mark Addy and Alun Armstrong as well as newer talent, such as Lyndsey Marshal, Shaun Thomas and the wonderful Emily Fairn.
The script has some wonderfully witty lines, so on the one hand it is a comforting period piece. But, with the war in full swing, and with conscription about to start, there is a harder edge to the dramatic elements.
Rating: 8 out of 10