A View From The Bridge @ Tron Theatre, Glasgow

Few writers, past or present, have captured the complexities of the embittered male psyche quite as well as Arthur Miller. His heroes are working men, ravaged as much by their inner demons as they are by the societal structures that constrict them. Eddie Carbone, the tragic anti-hero of Miller’s 1956 play A View From The Bridge, is a case in point.

Eddie is a Brooklyn longshoreman who takes pride in his sense of honour and decency. He’s raised his orphaned niece as his own and, as the play begins, is preparing to generously open his home to distant Italian relatives who have arrived in pursuit of the American Dream. But Eddie is also consumed by a secret desire that he refuses to admit, even to himself. It’s his refusal to confront these feelings, rather than the feelings themselves, that ultimately lead to his downfall. 

Director Jemima Levick and designer Alex Lowde’s light-touch approach to this weighty classic is a smart move – it allows the raw material to really sing. A revival of a Miller play in 2025 could have felt dated, or, if updated in a conspicuous way, gimmicky. This production is neither. Instead, Lowde’s sparse shipping-container set feels like a liminal space floating across generational lines; the costumes are modern but the characters still sway to 1950s dance tunes. The effect is fresh and eclectic, and emphasizes the timeless nature of Miller’s themes and characters. Whether in 1950s New York or 2020s Glasgow, we can all recognize these characters and their struggles – and the image of a life lived precariously remains the same. 

Levick’s casting choices are clever, too. Mark Holgate is a brilliant choice for a swaggering, still-virile version of Eddie, a refreshing departure from the older, fatherly types who have traditionally taken on the role. Newcomer Holly Howden Gilchrist is perfectly cast as Eddie’s niece Catherine, her youth adding a layer of authenticity and contributing to the uneasy dynamic at play. Both Holgate and Gilchrist are exceptional. Holgate’s charismatic obstinance as Eddie is pitch-perfect, and Gilchrist plays Catherine with a sweetness and naivety that is almost heart-breaking to watch.

Nicole Cooper is fantastic, too, as Eddie’s long-suffering spouse Bea, and both Reuben Joseph and Michael Guest deliver strong performances as Marco and Rodolpho, the two Italian brothers taking refuge in the Carbone home. Guest delivers Rodolpho’s funniest lines with aplomb and, when a betrayal occurs, Joseph plays Marco with a keen sense of wounded integrity. Overall, it’s a sharp, fresh take on a modern classic, and a great start to Jemima Levick’s tenure as the Tron’s Artistic Director.

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A View from the Bridge, Tron Theatre, Glasgow, until 15 Mar, £14.50-25