LondonTheatre1

London Theatre: Tickets Reviews | News | West End | Off-West End | UK Touring Productions

View All Shows Booking Now
  • Home
  • Top Selling Shows
    • Musicals
    • Plays
      • A Christmas Carol
      • Harry Potter and the Cursed Child
      • The Mousetrap
      • The Woman in Black
      • Witness for the Prosecution
    • & Juliet
    • Back To The Future
    • Cabaret at the Kit Kat Club
    • Come From Away
    • Dirty Dancing
    • Frozen The Musical
    • Heathers
    • Jersey Boys
    • Les Misérables
    • Mamma Mia
    • Matilda the Musical
    • My Fair Lady
    • Moulin Rouge
    • Only Fools and Horses
    • Pretty Woman the Musical
    • The Book of Mormon
    • The Drifters Girl
    • The Lion King
    • The Phantom of the Opera
    • Tina the Musical
    • Wicked
    • London Theatres
      • Seating Plans
      • Adelphi Theatre
      • Ambassadors Theatre
      • Apollo Theatre
      • Duke of York’s Theatre
      • Fortune Theatre
      • Gillian Lynne Theatre
      • Harold Pinter Theatre
      • Lyceum Theatre
      • New Wimbledon Theatre
      • New Wimbledon Theatre Studio
      • Piccadilly Theatre
      • Richmond Theatre
      • Savoy Theatre
      • Trafalgar Theatre
  • News
    • Interviews
  • Reviews
  • UK Shows
    • Alexandra Theatre
    • Aylesbury Waterside Theatre
    • Brighton Theatre Royal
    • Bristol Hippodrome
      • Bristol Theatre Seating Plan
    • Edinburgh Playhouse
    • Glasgow Theatre Royal
    • Grand Opera House York
    • King’s Theatre Glasgow
    • Kit Kat Club London
    • Leas Cliff Hall
    • Liverpool Empire
    • Manchester Opera House
    • Manchester Palace Theatre
    • Milton Keynes Theatre
    • New Theatre Oxford
    • New Victoria Theatre Woking
    • New Wimbledon Theatre
    • New Wimbledon Theatre Studio
    • Princess Theatre Torquay
    • Regent Theatre Stoke
    • Rhoda McGaw Theatre
    • Richmond Theatre
    • Stockton Globe
    • Sunderland Empire
    • Swansea Arena
    • Victoria Hall Hanley Stoke
  • Dancewear
  • Newsletter
Home » London Theatre News » Mike Bartlett’s Not Talking at the Arcola Theatre

Mike Bartlett’s Not Talking at the Arcola Theatre

April 17, 2018 Last updated: May 7, 2018 2:03 pm By Thomas Froy

Not Talking at Arcola Theatre. Kika Markham (Lucy), David Horovitch (James) photo credit Lidia Crisafulli
Not Talking at Arcola Theatre. Kika Markham (Lucy), David Horovitch (James) photo credit Lidia Crisafulli

LondonTheatre1 were invited to watch a rehearsal of Defibrillator Theatre Company’s new adaptation of Not Talking, written by Mike Bartlett (Albion, Doctor Foster, King Charles III).

Afterwards we had a quick chat with the team behind the process. Not Talking was originally written in 2005 and performed as a radio play on BBC Radio 3, but the themes of communication and power seem even more prescient in 2018. The narrative follows two, separate storylines, which deal with social structures and institutions which discourage communication and connection.

The cast were rehearsing two scenes when characters, via direct address were telling a story about an experience they both had; but both characters told very different accounts of the story, and they didn’t seem to interact in the telling. Themes of missed messages, communication breakdowns and frustrated relationships seemed to reveal themselves.

The team were very careful not to reveal too many details (the show opens 25th April 2018), but ideas of power and its corrupting influence seemed to be very much at the front of the creative process.

Tom Froy spoke to James Hillier (director), David Horowitch (as ‘James’) and Gemma Lawrence (as ‘Amanda’)
TF: What is Not Talking About?
David: Well, I think if we answer we’ll get totally different answers. You go first, then I’ll say what I think.
Gemma: I think it’s about relationships where it becomes impossible to talk, and what that does to the individuals.
David: That was what I was going to say!
Gemma: It’s also about the dangers of being in a silencing environment and then the liberating feeling of escaping it.
James Hillier: In the performance, although the characters narrate many of the same events, simultaneously, they don’t actually interact with each other very much. In fact, the two storylines only cross once. And it’s also about the power of memory: who remembers what, and who has the power to tell that story.
David: And what you remember reflects on you. But this isn’t a play about the good guys and the bad guys. It’s about how people respond to difficult situations. No-one gets it right. It’s really tricky.

Not Talking runs 25th April – 2nd June 2018 at the Arcola Theatre.

*******

Lucy knows James has avoided the battle. Mark knows Amanda has fought for her life. But speaking the truth could bring everything crashing down.
What happens if we live a life of not talking?
In his gripping and lyrical first play Olivier Award-winning, Mike Bartlett, unlocks a culture of silence, and gives voice to the human casualties when things are easier done than said.
Not Talking was first broadcast as a radio play on BBC Radio3 in 2007 and went on to win the Imison and Tinniswood Awards.

Defibrillator and Arcola Theatre presents
NOT TALKING
By Mike Bartlett
Arcola Theatre
24 Ashwin St, Dalston, London E8 3DL
https://www.arcolatheatre.com/

Director: James Hillier; Designer: Amy Cook; Lights: Zoe Spurr; Composer/Sound: Simon Slater Movement: Jack Murphy; Assistant Director: Sara Amini; Associate Producer: Epsilon Productions

Cast: David Horovitch (James); Gemma Lawrence (Amanda); Kika Markham (Lucy) and Lawrence Walker (Mark).

Tagged With: ArcolaTheatre

Search for Tickets

Full Cast Announced for ANNIE UK and Ireland Tour

Michael Harrison and David Ian are delighted to announce full casting for the forthcoming UK and Ireland tour of their smash hit production of the … [Read More...]

West End closing date for Only Fools and Horses The Musical

The smash-hit Only Fools and Horses The Musical is to close at London’s Theatre Royal Haymarket on Saturday 29 April after four incredible years – … [Read More...]

Full Cast Announced for Bonnie & Clyde The Musical

DLAP Group are thrilled to announce the full casting for the BONNIE & CLYDE THE MUSICAL at The Garrick Theatre reuniting stars Frances Mayli … [Read More...]

Earth – A Children’s Story for Adults at Bridewell Theatre

After creating the “absorbing and provocative” Version 2.0 and the “eminently lovable” Letters, Kashyap Raja returns to London with his new play Earth … [Read More...]

Casting Announced for Blood Brothers at Richmond Theatre

Bill Kenwright's legendary, award-winning production of the international smash hit musical, Blood Brothers returns to Richmond Theatre in February … [Read More...]

London Theatre 1 and London Theatre One are Registered Trademarks Copyright 2023 www.LondonTheatre1.com
By using our website you’re confirming that you’re happy to accept our use of cookies.
Privacy Policy & Cookies - Advertising - About Us - Newsletter - Contact Us

As an Amazon Associate our website receives a commission from qualifying purchases from Amazon.