The world premiere of North by Northwest, opens at York Theatre Royal before embarking on a national tour in March 2025. Wise Children Artistic Director Emma Rice takes on film legend Alfred Hitchcock in this riotously funny reworking that turns the original thriller on its head.
North by Northwest is a co-production with York Theatre Royal, HOME Manchester, and Liverpool Everyman & Playhouse, opening on 26 March at York Theatre Royal, with previews from 18 March, before touring to HOME Manchester, Liverpool Playhouse, Bath Theatre Royal, Everyman Theatre Cheltenham, and concluding its run at Alexandra Palace Theatre on 22 June. (Brighton Festival Wed 14–Fri 16 May)
It would be strange, would it not, if, in a city of seven million people, one man were never mistaken for another…
But that is exactly what happens to Roger Thornhill, reluctant hero of North by Northwest, when a mistimed phone call to his mother lands him smack bang in the middle of a Cold War conspiracy. Now he’s on the run, dodging spies, airplanes and a femme fatale who might not be all she seems.
Mirabelle Gremaud returns to the company to play Anna and Others – she previously appeared in Blue Beard (UK tour), Wise Children (Old Vic Theatre/UK tour), Malory Towers (Bristol Passenger Shed/UK tour), and Wuthering Heights (Bristol Old Vic/National Theare/UK tour). Her theatre credits as an actress/dancer and contortionist include Le Conte des Contes (Théâtre Kléber-Mélau), Peter Pan (Birmingham Rep), Swan Lake (The Lost Estate), Acrojou (Roundhouse), Falling (Complicité), and her solo show Sombre Sloughing (UK and European tour).
Mirabelle took time out from her busy schedule to answer a few questions about North by Northwest.
Q: What were your first thoughts when you were told about this interpretation of North by Northwest?
Mirabelle: I was really excited to read the script the first time. Emma is a fabulous writer as well as director and adapts stories brilliantly. I loved the humour she added to it straight away, and also the depth to the stories of characters that don’t really have that in the movie.
Q: ‘Emma Rice takes on film legend Alfred Hitchcock in this riotously funny reworking…’
How can this possibly work?
Mirabelle: Emma often says the only way the re-tell a story is to make it your own. So, in other words, tell it differently. Staying faithful to the essence of the original writer’s intentions but link it to your world and to your time. It works because Hickock’s plot is great and suspenseful but quite mechanic, and Emma adds humanity to the story.
Q: Can you tell us about your work so far on the production?
Mirabelle: So far, we are dealing with the question: How on earth can practically 6 actors on stage tell this story with so many encounters and different characters, keeping truth as well as surprises? Which is an exciting challenge to be facing. The team is working well together. We work hard but we also laugh a lot. That is to me the perfect balance.
Q: You play the role of ‘Anna’ and ‘Others’ – can you tell us about the characters you play?
Mirabelle: Anna is a solid character. Silent, cold, fast, and still when needed but ready to jump into action at any given moment. She has been through a lot and is at a point of her life where she is actively looking at a brighter future for herself and her one and only love Valerian. She would do anything for her and her husband to have a corner of peace and deep love together someday.
Most of the other characters or figures I play are not talking much. They are physically stylised to portray the people that Roger Thornhill encounters. They are quite direct as well. I must focus on what these characters want in that precise moment, rather than knowing their life back story.
Q: What are you looking forward to most about being in the production?
Mirabelle: I am looking forward to all of it to be honest.
The rest of the rehearsals, the costumes, seeing the set for the first time, the panic of the first few shows, the audience’s reaction, the touring in many different cities with different audiences, getting to know my colleagues better, enjoying and loving the ones I know very well already, being tired after a long week of shows but grateful for the experience, ending the tour in Alexandra Palace in the beginning of summer, but mostly seeing Emma’s face after press night and giving her the biggest hug and celebrating her magic and my gratitude.
Q: Why should theatergoers get along to see the show?
Mirabelle: Wise Children actors and actresses are fabulous storytellers. They all have sets of very different skills. The cast is mixed, and for sure unusual, but works very well together. Complicity and fizziness.
If you want to see action, silly, funny, sexy, badies.
We are waiting for you on the other side. Come and have a brilliant evening with us.
You sure won’t regret it.
For tour details visit: North by Northwest
