Review: The Truth About Harry Beck, Cubic Theatre at the London Transport Museum

The Tube map – sorry diagram – is one of those iconic images of London known worldwide, but the story of its original creator Harry Beck is much less known. Playing in London’s newest theatre, the Cubic Theatre within the London Transport Museum (where all the seats are, of course, upholstered in TFL colours), The Truth About Harry Beck is a new play by Andy Burden that seeks to shine a light on this story.

Years into their retirement, Harry (Simon Snashall) and his wife Nora (Ashley Christmas) reflect on Harry’s pivotal moments of rejection that ended up changing the face of London transport. Together they tell us how Harry, with Nora’s support, devised the groundbreaking diagram (and it is a diagram, not a map!) that would revolutionise how people navigate the city. Early maps stuck too closely to geographical accuracy, leaving commuters unaware of their ability to switch lines. Imagine trying to travel around London without the ease of changing lines – an almost unthinkable challenge today!

Burden’s script and direction are smartly pitched, remaining warm throughout. There are moments that give Londoners an extra chuckle — those with a bit of insider knowledge of the Tube — but no prior familiarity is needed to enjoy the humour. The lovely chemistry between Snashall and Christmas shows the Beck’s relationship as warm and loving. There is a lot of comedy here too, both in their relationship and then about the Tube itself. There is a whimsy to Harry and Nora, a clear storytelling mood where the characters are aware of their role as narrators, often breaking the fourth wall to address the audience directly, sharing a witty line or indulging in a groan-worthy pun with a knowing look. These puns can be deliberately dreadful/brilliant (select as appropriate depending on your taste) leading to both laughs and good natured groans from the audience. Yes, of course Cockfosters makes an appearance!

The set, based on the original production’s set design by Sue Condie, is simple: a drafting table and sitting room, but the creation of the core of the iconic Tube map using ribbons is elegant and beautiful in its simplicity; a gorgeous visual with the famous line colours springing to life before us. There are light touches of audience participation as our overall knowledge of the Tube is gently tested and we are encouraged to shout out answers as to where lines intersect and where stations should be whilst the map gradually and beautifully takes shape.

In his day, Beck was not recognised for his revolutionary work, and the play explores how his obsession with every update to the map took a toll, gradually pulling him away from Nora, as his diagram became the most important part of this life. When another designer provides a version based on Beck’s map but without the agreed credit for him, it sends him in a downward spiral. There is a little loss of focus towards the end of the play and when Harry’s creation is taken away from him and credited to others we don’t get to find out more about how the story ends. The ending relies on the audience knowing that later, years after his death, Harry Beck was credited and that his name is immortalised on the map you can see all over London today.

Appealing to both Londoners and tourists alike, this production is a wonderful complement to the London Transport Museum, offering an opportunity to watch the performance, learn more about Harry Beck and the evolution of the iconic map, then explore the museum’s exhibits to see how the London Underground has transformed over the last 120 years.

Produced by Natural Theatre Company
Written and Directed by Andy Burden
Set design based on the original set design by Sue Condie

The Truth About Harry Beck plays at Cubic Theatre, London Transport Museum until 10th November. Further information and booking are available here.