Everything Theatre Reviews, interviews and news for theatre lovers, London and beyond
Stephen Smith and Scott Le Crass on Harry’s Christmas
Our guests this week on our Runn Radio show were Stephen Smith (from ThreeDumb Theatre) and Scott Le Crass. Stephen and Scott are currently putting the finishing touches to their production of Steven Berkoff‘s Harry’s Christmas, which will open at King’s Head Theatre from 6 December (playing thru to 24 December).
Stephen is someone we know well at Everything Theatre having picked up a catelogue of 4 and 5 star reviews for his previous work. He has now teamed up with director Scott to put on this Steven Berkoff play about lonliness and isolation. It’s a play that, as we discuss, is as timely now as ever as it explores something that can be so easily overlooked at Christmas time, those people who spend it alone.
As well as talking about such themes and why the past couple of years has made this play even more relevant, we also chat about working together, and how easy it is for Stephen to hand over the directing to someone else, having self-directed much of his recent works.
The show plays at King’s Head theatre throughout December, more info here.
Harry’s Christmas
King’s head Theatre
6 – 24 December 2022
Harry sits alone in his London flat, counting his cards, waiting for anyone to call him; perhaps for an old friend to knock on the door, or for an old lover to appear or just for someone to have a drink with. Waiting for anyone, really. Anyone. As the dreaded Christmas Day nears his sense of isolation deepens and he falls further into the trough of despair.
This portrait of loneliness and isolation confronts the huge, often unspoken issues that affect many people for whom the end of December, rather than being a festive season, is a time when emotional pressures are at their highest.
Harry’s Christmas is a searingly dark comedy that was originally performed at The Donmar Warehouse in 1985, yet the ideas explored through the life of one man in this complex and microscopic examination of society’s hypocrisy are as relevant today as they were then, if not more so and they affect millions of people.
Tickets from just £10 (previews). Further information and bookings here.
