I would like to take the opportunity to invite you to play the part of Sheila Birling in our upcoming production of, 'An Inspector calls'.
             Before I inform you of how to play your part it is crucial that I contextualise 1912 society and the concerns of J.B Priestley.
             In 1912 society things were very different to contemporary times. Basically, the men were in charge and the women were expected to be subservient. I feel that it is very important that you understand this, as Sheila Birling was not a typical 1912 girl, as any audience would observe from the moment she first speaks on stage. Sheila Birling is an upper class capitalist. In 1912 the upper class society were strongly capitalist, they were very materialistic and were only contented with money and power. This was accentuated in the play when Sheila receives the ring off Eric and instantly becomes more 'in love' with him. Throughout this play you, playing Sheila Birling, will become less capitalist and slowly move towards socialist side as she begins to care for others and not just wealth.
             J.B Priestley was trying to inform the capitalist society of 1945 not to become, once again, like the 1912 society. Priestley tires to warn people of the consequences of not making the social changes that natural justice demanded. He believed that "a writer should create character and situations based on his own experience." Therefore it is logical that this play includes a very strong socialist theme.
             I will now inform you how to play the part of Sheila Birling according to six critical moments of the play. It is essential that you pay attention to the way in which Sheila would appear not only to the people around her but to the people in the audience. This will enable the audience to view how Sheila changes from a capitalist to a socialist throughout the play.
             When the audience first meets Sheila she wi...