Three act structure

Split into three acts, An Inspector Calls has a very clear beginning, middle, and end. Whilst a fairly common structure for theatre, this allows Priestly to introduce and explore all of the characters and themes at play, culminating in a final act where characters are changed (or not changed) and have to come to terms with what has unfolded. The three act structure also lends itself to being performed with no interval: although each act ends with a cliffhanger, the action carries on without interruption. The continuous nature of the text allows the events of the play to unfold in real-time, giving the audience the chance to go on their journey with each character and simultaneously experience everything that they experience onstage, making their discoveries with them.