Director Richard Beecham returns to Watford Palace Theatre to bring a fresh theatrical energy to this gripping and suspenseful thriller.
Gaslight by Patrick Hamilton is at Watford Palace Theatre from 2nd to 26th of October.
Described by the Daily Mail as “Electrifying” and The Stage as a “Smart and moving update of Patrick Hamilton’s play“, this classic thriller Gaslight is reimagined with a modern twist.
This powerful psychological drama tells the story of a young woman, Bella Manningham, who starts to question her own sanity. She has a handsome charismatic husband. Is he responsible for this? She is faced with putting her trust in a helpful stranger but can she trust this person? Will she find the strength to break free?
Hamilton’s original text is translated into a 21st century safe house, where a group of women, fleeing domestic abuse, re-enact the 1938 smash-hit play.
Thought to be ahead of its time in 1938, the play explores coercive control – the intimate and subtle form of abuse recently highlighted in Radio 4’s The Archers. The title gave rise to the modern concept of ‘gaslighting’.
The Artiscape spoke to Sally Tatum who plays Bella Manningham on her role in the play.
We asked Sally what attracted her to the script?
Tatum: I love the play. I played Nancy in a production at The Old Vic in 2007 with Rosamund Pike playing Bella so I knew the play quite well. That was a fairly traditional production though so Richards reimagining of it was really intriguing to me. I was also really keen to work with Richard again. We did a play called Red Light Winter in 2009 and I adore him!
How, as an actor did Sally prepare for this role? How did she research it?
Tatum: With a role like this I think research is incredibly important. I wanted to honour all the women who have ever and are still suffering abuse. Before rehearsals started I read a lot of accounts of women who managed to escape their relationships and the stories of those who didn’t survive them. I read up a lot on coercive control and manipulation and the many faces of domestic abuse.
During rehearsals we spent time with the most wonderful woman, Alison Thomas from The Watford Women’s Centre. She took us through a course she runs to help women take the first steps towards leaving an abusive relationship. We also spent the afternoon with an incredible group of women who had taken her course and managed to leave their relationships. Hearing their stories was incredible and an experience I’ll never forget. I’m so grateful to all of them and I feel them on stage with me every night.
And what about the character she plays?
Tatum: I play Bella Manningham who is married to a vile human being named Jack. He manipulates and controls Bella and tries to drive her out of the mind. He underestimates her however, she’s more fight in her than he ever could have imagined!
What were the challenges in playing this character?
Tatum: It’s an emotionally challenging role that’s for sure. I’m pretty exhausted when I come off stage. Bella goes through so much through the course of the play and as an actor you have to commit to it 100%. Doing a show surrounding this subject makes you take stock of things though and I feel very fortunate that I get to go home to a very happy relationship. Another challenge comes in the morning however when I have to get up to do the school run!
What will the audience will take away this production?
Tatum: I hope people will think about their own preconceived ideas about domestic abuse. Its transcends race and class. It can happen to anyone and what appears to the outside world as a healthy relationship might be anything but behind closed doors. If people are more sensitive to the signs, then hopefully more people can be supported in leaving awful situations and that could ultimately save lives.
