“A commanding and deeply unsettling performance that lays bare the enduring dangers of political fanaticism.”
Derek Crawford Munn brings Hess to the Gilded Balloon’s Billiard Room this Edinburgh Festival Fringe, giving us a stark and unflinching insight into the mind of one of the architects of the German Reich. This one-man play from writer Michael Burrell holds an eerie contemporary resonance as it examines political fanaticism and the cruelly defiant mind of the oppressor.
From his cell in Spandau Prison, Rudolf Hess, the second-in-command and Deputy to the Führer, reflects on what he deems to be his unjust imprisonment. Recounting his role in WWII, his capture in the United Kingdom and time in prisoner of war camps, to his ultimate trial at Nuremberg and subsequent life sentence in Spandau, the ageing Nazi reveals his observations on the state of the world and his plans for Germany had he succeeded Hitler.
Burrell’s Hess examines the human face of fascism, with the former Deputy indignant in his imprisonment and clouded by his own defiant political fanaticism. Lifting the lid on the mindset of a Nazi and architect of many of the National Socialists’ most harrowing and repugnant policies, Hess delves into the unrelenting psychology of the man as he attempts to justify many of these heinous acts.
Originally written in 1976, Hess has an unsettling contemporary resonance, and this is something that performer Derek Crawford Munn is undeniably aware of. Hess draws awareness to Britain’s role in horrors such as the slave trade, atrocities committed against Ukrainians, and the state of Palestine, giving the play added impact and unflinching power. The cyclical and recurrent nature of extremism feels concerning prescient when these references are brought to the fore.
To fully understand Hess’s unwavering commitment to fascism and the actions of the Nazi regime, the audience is given historical insight into the Deputy Führer’s role in the war. These events are presented through Hess’s own distorted perspective, one draped in self-pity and grievance rather than remorse. He denies wrongdoing, instead choosing to self-mythologise his tarnished legacy, remaining embittered by the terms of his imprisonment and separation from his family.
There’s an inherent skill and complexity in the lead performance of Derek Crawford Munn, the actor capturing the jaded frustration and manic conviction behind Hess’s ideals, with small glimmers of some form of humanity beneath the monstrous politics. With a physicality that captures the ageing Hess’s world-weary anger, and dialogue delivery that cements Hess’s defiant conviction, the actor is a compelling force. As the sole performer on stage, with limited stage gimmicks, visual flair or sound cues, Derek Crawford Munn grips the audience’s attention with this mighty turn.
Michael Burrell’s script and Derek Crawford Munn’s commanding performance combine to create an unsettling and thought-provoking piece of theatre that forces audiences to confront the enduring recurrence of political fanaticism and the importance of remembering where it can lead.
Hess runs until August 31st at the Gilded Balloon Teviot. Get tickets here.
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