Many would wonder how Miles Richardson has time for theatre when he is forever popping up on our TV and cinema screens, but he is about to play Mr Myers QC when Witness for the Prosecution returns to London County Hall, writes Michael Holland.
With two actor parents there was a good chance that Miles would make his own entrance on to the stage, and, in fact, he first acted aged 6. His father, Ian Richardson, explained the ‘many pitfalls of the profession’ but both parents were always supportive. He jokes that ‘they probably thought I wouldn’t be much good at anything else’.
Of course, all actors can be found ‘resting’ and Miles took up the usual jobs to fill in: ‘barman, waiter, location catering and short order chef, plus the more interesting like vintner, tea merchant and cheese monger.’ Having been born in Battersea (‘when it was a less glamorous address than it is now’), the budding actor remembers one particularly dry period ‘working at three separate businesses in the Northcote Road at the same time’.
These days, however, he can report that with work being more regular he can ‘afford to wait for the next job’. Adding, with a smile, ‘Also, ageism is a thing in the workplace and not many part-time jobs are available to people in their 50s.’
Regular employment has seen Miles performing in some of the country’s best theatres as well as appearances in many of our most iconic TV shows, creating years of experience that led to his own film and radio scripts being produced, plus, taking a turn at directing: ‘The secret is to be able to see the strengths and weaknesses of your cast and being able to exploit the strong points and hide the weak ones while not embarrassing the actors by making your intervention obvious.’
I asked Miles which writers he liked and he promptly run off the names of two who were ‘a bit hit and miss’ and another whose ‘full length plays can be a trial’ before answering the original question with, ‘Mike Bartlett is very diverse and James Graham is brilliant.’ His honesty will remain my secret.
And what roles would you like to play? ‘Every part is a challenge and you often don’t know what they are until you get into rehearsal… I would love to do Henry IV and Lord Capulet. Shakespeare is a genius in exploring the parent/child relationship. In fact, you don’t get anything that gets as close until Arthur Miller.’
I was surprised to hear that this is the first Agatha Christie play Miles has performed in, but already he is hooked: ‘What makes her writing so special is her sense of period. You can find yourself, within one page, back 70 years and yet it’s not an effort to enter that world… A wonderful coincidence is that I saw Donald Pleasance playing Mr Myers QC in a TV adaptation in the 80s and thinking – that’s the part for me!’
For some this is the first part they have had since Covid first struck, Miles included: ‘The last 18 months have been a challenge for all of us. One of the ways I kept myself sane was to keep up standards. So I always had a clean, ironed shirt, polished shoes and I washed and shaved everyday. I have also become quite adept at cutting my own hair.’ But not everyone took that stance. He explains: ‘Some took the opportunity to explore the mountain man look. This was in evidence on the first day of rehearsal, with some very splendid locks and beards on show. One of the first things Lucy Bailey, the director, said was that as this was a period piece, no long hair, no beards… There were some long faces but soon after, no long beards.’
I asked about his character: ‘Barrister’s are performers like actors,’ he says, sounding very much like a performer. ‘What is going to be interesting is the balance between myself and Jonathan Firth who is playing the other QC. It should be like the Williams sisters playing tennis.’ And for this battle Mr Richardson holds an advantage because his partner is a solicitor who has instructed many a barrister…
And Witness for the Prosecution will be performed in County Hall where political battles were fought for years. Miles says, ‘It is an amazing building and you can get a tingle just walking into the debating chamber. With costume, lights and, most importantly, an audience, it’s going to be electric.’
He claims that ‘the audience can expect to be very surprised. Not only by the space but also by how much they themselves are part of the play. The jury, which are very much in evidence, are audience members and actually get to decide the verdict. The audience who are not in the jury can also put in their thoughts on the verdict at the interval.’
With all that in mind, my first thoughts were to get tickets. Especially when it is supporting a fellow South Londoner in his next on-stage battle. One who says, ‘I’ll always be a South Londoner. I’ve been north of the river….it’s very overrated.’
I’ll be there trying to nobble the jury.
London County Hall, Belvedere Road, SE1 7PB from 14th September – March 20th 2022. Times: Tues – Sat 7.30pm; Thus & Sat matinees: 2.30pm. Admission: £18.50 – £42.50.
Booking: https://witnesscountyhall.com/
Trailer: https://we.tl/t-ctRyOwg6cz
