#lucy bailey

Director Lucy Bailey

Iain Glen & Lucy Bailey

Lucy Bailey directed IG in two plays, Uncle Vanya in 2012 and Fortune’s Fool in 2014 and I am flabbergasted by what she has to say about the man. She is DEAD ON.

"I think Iain does not want to play by central casting rules. He wants to really challenge himself with characters you would not immediately assume were close to him. He comes across as quite a strong alpha male, Iain, in person, but his attraction is for characters who are everything but," said play's director Lucy Bailey. "This is an incredibly painful role and that is attractive to Iain too. He is a highly detailed actor, incredibly technical, does wonderfully intense preparation, but he suddenly lets go and goes into a places you cannot believe. He allows a very feminine soft side of his belly to be shown and that is so exciting, but he also brings intense dignity to the part. The man has - and I say it carefully - an almost Christ-like dignity in the face of adversity. He has enormous grace and Iain brings that out of the part in spades. You might be teetering on a laugh and the next moment he is magnificent and almost heroic."

http://www.thisistheatre.com/londonshows/fortunesfool.html

Last Saturday night I had the enormous privilege of seeing Gaslight (expertly directed by Lucy Bailey) on-stage at the Alexandra Theatre in Birmingham.

MATURE NONSPOILER REVIEW

This play was fantastic – I highly recommend going to see it if you are able. The set is beautifully realised and intricately designed; the play all takes place in this one room of this middle-class Victorian house, but they have transparent walls and ceilings so that you can see the actors moving beyond this room. This does wonders for the tension when you are aware of things that the characters are not. The sound designs were excellent as well, even if I was punched in the face three times by jump scares.

The cast are all excellent, for the most part. Bella Manning, played by Charlotte Emmerson, was probably the character I had the most difficulty believing; there were some strange acting choices in the vein of overly theatrical and large movements, but it was a gamble I think paid off as I was used to it and applauding by the end. James Wilby as Jack Manning was precisely as creepy and sinister in his movements as his character needed to be; I was genuinely afraid for the other characters when they were in his presence – particularly if they were alone (despite having been a huge fan of this play since I was a kid and therefore knowing the final outcome). However, I struggled occasionally to make out what he was saying as he tended towards speaking rather quickly. Martin Shaw as Inspector Rough was an absolute fucking delight even if, thankfully, his accent emigrated from Yorkshire to Ireland by the second act. He stole every single scene and added some much-needed levity to the proceedings. Mary Chater and Georgia Clarke-Day also performed admirably as Elizabeth the cook and Nancy the maid respectively and I was engaged totally whenever they appeared onstage.

The first two acts may progress a little slowly for some (I personally was a bit hesitant during the first one myself because of my hearing issues), but the third act brought its absolute A-game and was tense, funny, and cathartic to the extent that I left the theatre grinning ear-to-ear after gripping the railing so hard that my knuckles turned white.

So, I would highly, highly recommend seeing this show and – in my opinion – trying to see it before it gets to the West End because sometimes ironing out the kinks in a show makes for a more organic and entertaining experience. 

IMMATURE OUT-OF-CONTEXT SPOILER REVIEW

·       Five minutes in and I already am set to challenge Mr Manning to fisticuffs.

·       Manning, you are a bastard. Bella. Kill him.

·       BELLA KILL HIM.

·       IT TIS I, INSPECTOR ROUGH, YOUR LORD AND SAVIOUR IN A HALO OF LIGHT.

·       I’ll wait for you to pull yourself together. *waits dramatically*. *Waits dramatically*. *OK, it’s awkward now*.

·       Where the feck in Ireland are you from Rough?

·       NEVER MIND, HE’S A GODDAMN DELIGHT.

·       ROUGH IS FRIEND-SHAPED.

·       “Who the fuck are you and why are you in my house?” “Let me explain in the most convoluted manner I possibly can while stealing the remains of your tea.”

·       Rough has ADHD, there is no other explanation.

·       “I have medicine, but I hate it and it doesn’t work.” “You haven’t tried my medicine!” “What’s that?” “WHISKEY”

·       This was the first laugh from the audience and it was glorious.

·       Creepypasta reveal: “IT WAS THIS HOUSE ALL ALONG!”

·       Oh, good. He’s Irish now.

·       *Takes off his coat* Rough: Am I not a fine figure of a man? *strikes a pose* Bella: Self-love is great but concentrate ffs.

·       I aspire to have as much fun as Shaw is having oh my god.

·       “It is my great regret in life that I never became one of two things. The first being a gardener and the second –“ *produces a set of lockpicks* - “A burglar!”

·       Like, mood.

·       (About to break into a secret compartment inside the locked drawer) “This always makes me feel like a dentist.” *cue wild arm movements no dentist should ever do*

·       His elbow was briefly possessed. Hysterics.

·       Rough you need a new dentist. Please. Change dentists. 

Did I mention that Martin Shaw is a delight?

·       Bella *long speech about how she knows her husband is upstairs because of the light changes* *light changes* Bella: The lights! Rough: Wait, I was supposed to remember something about the lights?? Bella: ROUGH YOU’RE USELESS.

·       Elizabeth the cook is the only person who can keep her head.

·       Rough: ELIZABETH HIDE ME. I FUCKED UP.

·       Rough hides in a closet. Three times. He keeps reappearing to give instructions and to move chairs.

·       White-knuckle time.

·       Manning: I only returned to change my linen. Elizabeth: CAN I FETCH YOU ONE SIR. TOTALLY NOT BECAUSE I’M HIDING AN EX-POLICEMAN IN YOUR CLOSET.

·       Two dudes in a walk-in wardrobe five feet apart ‘cause they’re not gay.

·       Manning: Oh, I don’t like this one. I’ll get another. *Walks back into the closet*

·       ELIZABETH SWEATING

·       Elizabeth is the real hero here.

·       Manning: Would you testify to the police, Elizabeth? Elizabeth: With fucking pleasure, sir.

·       Martin Shaw: I have made an acting choice for frustration! *fondles the air at crotch height*

·       Sir. You made a choice. It was… a choice.

·       Never do that again.

·       It’s a meme among my friends now for frustration.

·       Bella finds the evidence by following logic and I love her.

·       Rough: Have you ever been embraced by an old detective? Bella: … no? Rough: Well, get ready, this is your immediate future.

·       GIGGLES.

·       Wholesome content

·       Jack Manning and Nancy necking somewhat randomly – saucy…?

·       I felt like he was going to strangle her at any moment.

·       No! Bella! DON’T BE ALONE WITH HIM

·       Also, I was promised a dog. No good bois.

·       ROUGH EMERGES FROM THE CLOSET – I WON’T SAY SYMBOLISM BUT SYMBOLISM.

·       How did he get in there? Like, it’s explained, but I don’t like the explanation.

·       Hi, I’m a ghost. I’m running with this theme.

·       WOULD YOU LIKE A CIGURR??

·       Yes, show the murderous villain the jewels he’s been searching twenty years for while (apparently) alone. Balls, man. Balls.

Based on Philippa Gregory's internationally best-selling novel, Mike Poulton's The Other Boleyn Girl is a brilliant recreation of intrigue at the Tudor court - a racy and riveting drama of events that changed the course of English history, directed by Lucy Bailey.

The cast includes Alex Kingston (Doctor Who, The Tempest RSC) as Lady Elizabeth, Freya Mavor (Industry, Skins) as Anne Boleyn, Lucy Phelps (Much Ado About Nothing Shakespeare's Globe, Measure for Measure RSC) as Mary Boleyn and Andrew Woodall (South Downs/The Browning Version, Fracked! CFT) as the Duke of Norfolk.

Catherine Steadman, best known for her role as Mabel Fox in Downton Abbey and nominated for an Olivier Award for her performance in Oppenheimer plays the role of Romaine, while rising star Jack McMullen, whose recent work includes hard-hitting TV drama Little Boy Blue, Waterloo Road and Noel Clarke’s Brotherhood plays Leonard Vole.  David Yelland (The Crown, Foyle’s War) plays Sir Wilfrid Robarts, Philip Franks (Art, Noises Off) plays Mr Myers, Patrick Godfrey (Half Life, Mr Turner) plays Mr Justice Wainwright and Roger Ringrose (Broadchurch, Mr Selfridge) plays Mr Mayhew. The cast will also include Richard Attlee, Elliot Balchin, Alexandra Guelff, Miranda Horn, Jon House, Jules Melvin, Hywel Simons and Alex Stedman.

Witness for the Prosecution will run from 6 October – 11 March with Press Night on 23 October.  The production will be designed by William Dudley, with lighting by Chris Davey and sound design by Mic Pool.