Review: The Inquisitor - A Play, A Pie and A Pint

The final show of A Play, A Pie and A Pint's 2025 spring season is Peter Arnott's The Inquisitor which plays at Glasgow's Oran Mor from 23 - 28 June.

Review: Oran Mor, Glasgow 24 June 2025

Tom McGovern and Michael Guest in 'The Inquisitor' Tommy Ga-Ken Wan

The Inquisitor ★★★☆☆

To celebrate Peter Arnott's 40 years in Scottish theatre, and his 11th production at Oran Mor, A Play, A Pie and A Pint are this week staging his 2006 psychological drama The Inquisitor.

Darker in tone that the usual PPP lunchtime theatre shows, The Inquisitor sees a well dressed interrogator (Tom McGovern) cross-examine a bruised and restrained prisoner (Michael Guest.) We don't know why the prisoner is being held, or where for that matter. But the Inquisitor's office is lavishly furnished, complete with grand furniture, pot plants and even a fancy coffee machine. It's an unexpectedly comfortable setting for the interrogation of (what we come to understand is) some kind of terrorist.

The Inquisitor is a monologue. Despite two actors being present on stage, only McGovern, The Inquisitor, speaks. And as he says - once he starts, he can't stop. The prisoner, on the contrary, is completely still, completely silent. For the entire show.

Liz Carruthers' brave direction sees Michael Guest static, seated, unmoving for 99% of the play. But through subtle eye movements and facial expressions his acting is devastating. I've never seen anything like it. There is a strength in his stillness and a power in his silence. It's profound and fascinating.

Tom McGovern is incredible - he paces around the prisoner, questioning, tormenting, even breaking into song at times. It's a beautifully choreographed piece that fully showcases McGovern's jaw-dropping talents. And despite all of the activity coming from McGovern, I was so often drawn to Guest. The silent prisoner never disappears into the background of the play; he is never insignificant. It's unbelievable that someone can convey so much meaning to an audience with so little action. Stunning performances from both actors here, with exquisite direction from Carruthers.

Arnott's The Inquisitor is a one sided, almost spiritual, battle of wits. As the play progresses, and as the interrogator begins to look inwards and to question his judgement, so too we - the audience - must think about our own beliefs, our ability to see others perspectives, to sympathise. It's very clever. However the ending takes such an extreme, unbelievable deviation that I'll be the first to admit I don't understand what the intention was. It was just too implausible (though visually alluring!)

Arnott's book for The Inquisitor is intriguing, and the presentation of it here at a play, a pie and a pint is impeccable. It's a serious play with gorgeous performances, but it is weighty, and I'm not entirely sure that works in the PPP lunchtime theatre slot. I left full of admiration for everyone involved, but ultimately confused and in need of a hug ★★★☆☆

Peter Arnott said:

“I’m very proud of this play and don’t think it’s like anything anyone’s written. It has a real sense of journey, and it’s got a central theatrical trope that maps neatly onto the philosophical questions that it asks.

“Due to series of disasters the first time around, I ended up ‘starring’ in the play, so I am delighted that I’ll finally be able to see it from a seated position, and watch one of my favourite actors perform it with a real, discerning audience.

“I am grateful to Brian Logan at A Play, A Pie and A Pint for programming this revival, or ‘resuscitation’ as I like to call it, and to celebrate my being a playwright for longer than I care to think about. All with the disquieting thought that even after forty years, I have no real idea what happens next.”

The Inquisitor is at Oran Mor for one week only from Monday 23 - Saturday 28 June 2025.

Also playing in Glasgow this week:

Restless Natives: the musical Read my review of this new Scottish musical playing at Glasgow King's Theatre here

Douglas Maxwell's Man's Best Friend at the Tron. Read my review of this one-man playing starring River City's Jordan Young here

Michael Guest in 'The Inquisitor' Tommy Ga-Ken Wan

The Inquisitor - cast

Tom McGovern

Michael Guest

The Inquisitor - creative team

Writer: Peter Arnott

Director: Liz Carruthers

Designer: Heather Grace Currie

The Inquisitor - listings

Òran Mór, Glasgow, G12 8QX

Mon 23 - Sat 28 June 2025, 1pm

£15 - £19.50 (inc. food and drink)

Tickets: 0141 357 6200 (option 4) or via playpiepint.com