WITH the threat of
extremism and terrorism ever present in our lives it is perhaps
timely for a play about such a subject to be staged.
Luce, written by JC
Lee, comes to the Southwark Playhouse next week where it will get its
UK premiere. Directed by former actor and teacher Simon Dormandy it
boasts a six-strong cast including Bake Off star Mel Giedroyc.
For Simon it is an
exciting prospect - not only to work with Mel and on a play which he
says is both thrilling and gripping, but also for it to receive its
UK premiere at the Elephant & Castle-based theatre which he
describes as "wonderful".
“It is very exciting
and I’m thrilled to be directing this fantastic play,” he tells
me in a break from rehearsals.
“It is disturbing,
thought provoking and a bit like a thriller as the audience is
presented with the story but really have no idea what’s going to
happen and how it's going to be resolved."
The play itself is set
in an ordinary American town and centres on a nice American family of
two white parents who adopted an African war orphan, Luce, when he
was seven.
Now 17, he is every
mother and teacher’s dream - he’s hard working, clever, a great
athlete and destined to go to a top university. In short he's an
inspiration and a role model for other students.
That is until one day
his teacher reads an essay he has written in praise of extremism and
terrorism and in which he extols the virtues of right wing European
nationalism.
His teacher is so
unnerved that unable to let it pass, she searches his locker and to
her dismay finds lethal explosives.
It is at this point
that the lives of those involved unravel.
"It's every parent
and teacher's nightmare," says Simon. "Throughout the play
it raises troubling questions about parenting, schooling, racism,
terrorism, extremism and growing up as a young black man in a mainly
white society.
“The audience will be
challenged by it and it will certainly resonate with anyone who is a
parent or teacher.
“A very big part of
it is about what happens when you put someone on a pedestal, live
your life through them and what damage it can cause – and how you
can kill someone with kindness.
"What the play
exposes is how teachers and parents put their expectations on young
people and create the pressures that lead to rebellion or that lead
them to do things to get some freedom.”
Despite its dark
storyline, Simon insists it's also very funny and bringing Mel
Giedroyc in to play Amy, Luce's mum, will bring the humour to the
fore.
"It's extremely
tightly and beautifully written," he enthuses. "I came
across it in 2012 after the events of 7/7 and before the atrocities
of San Bernadino and Boston. Of course since then there have been
other incidents such as the Paris attacks which make it even more
relevant.
"Apart from the
fact Mel's in it, and she's brilliant, there is a hairaising sense
that it is a play about something that not enough people are writing
about - seeing these things from the perspective of those who may or
may not be perpetrators in these dreadful atrocities.
"But the sheer
quality of the writing is what makes it. Every page is exciting to
read and to act. It’s fast paced, lean and witty and puts the
audience in an uncomfortable position. It definitely holds a mirror
up to our society.
"It was also
important to me to cast people who the audience can identify with,"
he adds. "Mel is a case in point. She plays Amy, a sweet,
lovely, funny and eccentric modern young mum and as the play evolves
she makes decisions which will make the audience sit up and think.”
Although Simon started
his career as an actor, performing with the Royal Shakespeare Company
and at The Old Vic among others, he says he has no desire to be on
the stage with the rest of the cast stressing his acting days are
very much behind him.
Instead he's very much
loving directing, a career that he's enjoying after a 15-year stint
as a teacher at Eton College.
It was here that he
taught the likes of actors Tom Hiddleston and Oscar winner Eddie
Redmayne although he dismisses any idea that he might have had
something to do with their successful careers.
"They were both
academically very able and I knew they were both extremely good
actors at school," he says.
"They are
phenomenal actors - the finesse and detail of their work is
incredible - but they would be so even if they’d never met me.
"I went into
teaching as I didn’t find acting completely satisfying and wanted
to work in a slightly different way.
"However, I had
always tended to think a bit like a director and was fascinated by
the structure of drama and how to make it.
"After about 15
years teaching I wanted to see what it was like working with
professionals again so I changed tack and moved into directing."
And he says he doesn't
regret his decision and is pleased to be working at the Southwark
Playhouse, a venue he's not worked at before.
"It's an exciting
place," he says. "It's one of those wonderful small venues
where they take on new writing and make brave decisions.
"I really admire
their programming and I'm thrilled to be here and directing such a
great piece of work with such a talented cast."
Luce is on at the
Southwark Playhouse between Wednesday, March 9 and Saturday, April 2.
Tickets cost £20. Visitwww.southwarkplayhouse.co.uk or call the box
office on 020 7407 0234
No comments:
Post a Comment