Beyond Belief (Manchester)

Harold Shipman, Britain’s most prolific serial killer was found guilty of
murdering 15 of the patients in his Hyde doctor’s practice, although he is
thought to have killed over 200 people. Nobody really knows what his motive
was and in January this year, Shipman took his secrets to the grave
following his suicide.

Dame Janet Smith’s Inquiry of 2001 attempted to
explain how Shipman was able to escape detection. Dame Janet intends to
submit her final report later this year. In the meantime, audiences in
Manchester are able to debate the case all over again via this compelling
piece of documentary theatre.

Dennis Woolf who has painstakingly edited the details of the inquiry
acknowledges that we may never know the ‘why’ element of the case. But
his play does highlight the flaws within the system which led to Shipman
literally getting away with murder for such a long period of time.

Director Chris Honer coaxes such natural performances from his
excellent cast that you could be forgiven for believing that you are
watching the ‘actual’ inquiry. Romy Baskerville exudes authority as the
seeker of truth, Dame Janet Smith. Cate Hamer rarely off stage as Caroline
Swift QC also gives a wonderfully rich performance – remembering every
minute detail of her character’s case file. Joan Kempson gives a
sympathetic portrayal of Primrose Shipman; shaking in disbelief on the
stand, remaining completely loyal to her husband. The entire cast give
faultless performances which lift this play, thus providing an emotional
core to the detailed verbatim style of the piece.

At times it may seem dry but this is because we are
used to the TV style docudrama which adds dramatic tension via
music and montage editing at the cost of the facts. The play is full of powerful and shocking revelations like when you hear that Shipman used to print the names of his dead
patients in the surgery newsletter. The freshness of the
delivery enables you to feel that the material itself is indeed ‘new.’

Like David Hare‘s Permanent Way this wonderful play lifts the lid
on a reported event and looks at what lies beneath, providing the many
people affected with a voice.

– Glenn Meads