Talking Theatre: Nigel Havers, Denis Lawson & Stephen Tompkinson Discuss ART

David Pugh and Dafydd Rogers UK & Ireland Tour of  ART, translated by Christopher
Hampton comes to Wales Millennium Centre from May 28 to June 2.

Starring Nigel Havers, Denis Lawson and Stephen Tompkinson. ART is one of the most successful plays ever. Having opened in 1996, it took both the West End and Broadway by storm, won Olivier, Tony, Moliere and every other major theatre award, and has been packing in audiences worldwide for more than twenty years.

When Serge spends an extortionate amount of money on an all white modernist painting, his close friends Marc and Yvan are baffled. But does their violent reaction to this provocative canvas mirror more dangerous antagonisms towards each other?

Vicki Edwards meets the cast of the production

Waiting to chat to Nigel Havers, Stephen Tompkinson and Denis Lawson on the first day of rehearsals for ART I overhear a waitress detailing the ingredients of the soup of the day. It occurs to me that the producers of Yasmina Reza’s award winning play might have had a similar approach: 

Take one of the most successful comedies of all time; cast three of our best-loved and most experienced stars and mix well with a talented director. Garnish with marketing and serve at some of the UK’s finest theatres. Voilà! One smash-hit. With a clutch of heavyweight credits between them, all three actors agree that ART is the theatrical equivalent of European white truffles. 

“First of all it’s very short. I’m very keen on short theatre,” twinkles Nigel, famous for roles in hit movies such as Chariots of Fire and A Passage to India and a plethora of prime-time television shows including The Charmer, Coronation Street and Downton Abbey.

Returning to ART with relish having done previous stints in the play (“740 performances, but not for a few years”) the dapper Mr Havers first saw the play at a preview at the Wyndham’s Theatre when it first opened. “As yet I have not found a better modern play,” he tells me. “It’s intellectual, witty and about things I understand, like friendship and art. For me it’s an absolute godsend.”

Stephen (DCI Banks, Trollied, Wild at Heart, Drop the Dead Donkey and Ballykissangel) nods in agreement. “I also saw the first night at Wyndham’s and it was an incredible night. When I was offered the role of Ivan later in the run I jumped at it.  She [playwright Yasmina Reza] has beautifully observed this male friendship and it is constantly amusing. I haven’t done the play for 18 years but it is lovely to come back to.”

He may not have been in the play before, but Denis (Bleak House, New Tricks and Star Wars) is nevertheless delighting in learning his lines. “I had seen it but had never read it and it is such a pleasure to dig into. The comedy is just wonderful,” he sighs. 

Winner of just about every prestigious theatre award going, ART tells the story of Serge, a divorced doctor who buys an abstract painting. Serge’s friend Marc is outraged that anyone would pay such a vast sum of money for a completely white canvas and dismisses it as tosh. Mutual friend Yvan tries to reconcile the pair, but before long finds himself in the line of fire. Laugh-out-loud funny, it is undoubtedly the exploration of friendship within the sparkling writing that gives ART truly universal appeal, so what, I ask, are the qualities Nigel, Stephen and Denis appreciate in their friends?

“Tolerance and malleability,” quips Stephen. 

Denis ponders. With a mix of pride and affection, he eventually responds: “I still have friends from school. We see each other regularly and it is a wonderful thing to have friendships with people you have known since you were 11 or 12. We all have very different lives but our friendship is very easy. That’s special and I really value it.”

Nodding in agreement and smiling warmly, Stephen tells us he shares a birthday with one of his oldest friends. “We’re still very close and he’ll be along in Manchester.”  

Nigel also still has strong links with friends from childhood. “It is a good feeling and they are like family in a way,” he observes. 

But out on tour the triumvirate will become their own family. How do they amuse themselves when they’re not performing?

 “You arrive on Monday, so that’s taken care of, Tuesday usually includes some sort of publicity for the play, Wednesday is probably a matinee, Thursday you might visit a gallery, Friday you sleep in and then on Saturday you go home,” offers Nigel, explaining that even living out of a suitcase and being somewhere different every week has its own rhythm. 

“I’ve not toured for a while but if there’s one of those hop-on-hop-off buses then I’ll be on it,” admits Stephen. “You learn all sorts and they’re very good for finding your bearings,” he insists.
Agreeing that there will be “a lot of epicurean feasting” along the way, eating out seems to be a popular cast activity, with all the towns and cities on the tour schedule getting the collective thumbs up for restaurants and pubs.

As well as great dining opportunities, the mention of touring to Cardiff elicits a chorus of approval. “I haven’t played the Millennium Centre before so I am really looking forward to it,” says Denis, adding: “I filmed a Sci-fi movie in Cardiff three years ago and loved the place.”
Twenty years since David Pugh & Dafydd Rogers first produced ART in the West End, the original post-London tour played for 78 weeks.  Aiming to break their own record, Pugh & Rogers have every faith that such a top-notch cast gives them every chance of success. 
“It doesn’t date; it still feels fresh,” promises Denis. 

“You’ll love it,” urges Stephen. “It’s not just a play about three men because it’s from a woman’s point of view.” 

Finishing his espresso, Nigel adds: “And because it’s short you’ll be in the pub afterwards in time to order food.” 

Before I leave I explain that my Nan is beyond excited that I’m meeting (in her words) ‘Silver Fox thespian royalty.’ They oblige with a selfie, giving Nan her own work of art to treasure.  As for me, I make a mental note to book tickets to see these glorious old masters in action sooner rather than later. I’ve a hunch that tickets will sell faster than a looted Rembrandt.   

• ART runs at Wales Millennium Centre from 28 May – 2 June

• Call 029 2063 6464 or visit http://www.wmc.org.uk for booking details.