Question TIME Shannon Denny quizzes actor and Brockley resident David Haig as he takes to the stage in Yes, Prime Minister PROFILE

Left: and David Haig in Yes, Prime the start of the rehearsals to the end,” Minister. Below: David Haig in Four Weddings and David reveals. “It was a completely new a Funeral (1994) with Sophie Thompson approach and a completely new attack.” He clearly is at home with such a challenge. “My original instincts are for theatre,” he affirms, “but nowadays I do as much writing as I do acting and as much telly and film as I do stage.” One constant in his long and varied career, however, has been his south London home. He and his wife moved to Brockley over 20 years ago, and remain devoted residents of the leafy quarter. He first came to the area in 1987: “It was a corner of London that people didn’t know existed; they’d mistake it for a vegetable, or a part of Kent!” Keen gardeners, the couple were attracted by the big houses with high ceilings and large outdoor spaces. “There are a lot of arty people in the conservation area,” he observes. “I love being part of a neighbourhood that’s as varied as it is.” When not rehearsing or performing, the t the time, I was pathologically dramatist spends his hours in the garden, lazy in all other occupations, It was a corner of London seated under an umbrella at a laptop upon “A and in this I was prepared to a teak table. He’s writing a new stage play, work really hard – but never perceived it as that people didn’t know as well as a work for television commissioned work,” says David Haig of his discovery at by Dawn French following the success of the age of 11 that he might just have a existed; they’d mistake (his play on future in acting. “Since then, as an adult it for a vegetable that was recreated as a film starring himself with five children, it’s certainly work now!” alongside , Carey Mulligan Just as well, then, that he’s incredibly and ). gifted at it. The son of a trained opera singer , the original writers of the Aside from the family home, he admits mother and a father who spent two decades classic TV series Yes, Minister and Yes, Prime another constant in his life has been his in the Army before becoming the first Minister, have reunited to create a stage trademark moustache. “In the last 20 years director of the Hayward Gallery, David version starring David as Prime Minister it’s hardly left the face! Occasionally possesses a natural artistic sensibility that Jim Hacker and Henry Goodman as something more fulsome evolves, ie, a beard. lends him a virtuosity in his chosen field. Sir Humphrey Appleby. There were a couple of clean-shaven years He recently featured in the latest series Of the record-breaking run in Chichester, in the Nineties,” he laughs, “but not many! of the award-winning BBC political comedy David offers his own reasons for the “I remember after the first read-through , while other screen credits production’s enthusiastic reception. “One for Four Weddings and a Funeral I went up include Mo, My Boy Jack, The Thin Blue Line is that the audiences, before they’d even seen to Mike Newell who was directing it and and Four Weddings and a Funeral. He directed or heard a word, loved these characters that I said, ‘So what about the moustache, do you a production of Private Lives by Noel Coward were established in the original series. There’s think that I should take it off?’ And he that toured nationally, while on stage the something universal about them. looked at me and he said, ‘I’m frightened that Olivier Award-winner has appeared in a host “Secondly, I think the Brits love a good if you remove it, it might leave a gaping hole of West End and Broadway productions such political satire, particularly if it’s well in your face!’ So that’s probably why it’s still as Donkey’s Years, “”, and written,” he continues. “But the biggest thing there.’” When I comment how trendy Hitchcock Blonde. of all I think is crucial – no matter how moustaches have become, “Are they!?” is the “I actually really enjoy long runs in clever you are politically, no matter how well incredulous response. “Oh good, I’m glad the West End,” he says. “A lot of people get you perform it or not – it is extremely funny.” I’ve finally become a fashion icon,” he jokes. very bored and I don’t; I love the challenge Rather than just replicating the TV show And so in spite of his “pathologically lazy” of keeping the freshness and spontaneity, for a different format, the stage play is start, the actor, playwright, director, and particularly if it’s a play that you know a complete comedy in its own right. The erstwhile prime minister can add another people are enjoying and is successful.” leading roles are far more compelling than bullet point to an already heaving CV. ● He’s currently gearing up for another mere mimicry. “To give Jonathan Lynn his West End show that’s already achieved due, I happen to know he admired and Yes, Prime Minister runs from unprecedented levels of enjoyment and adored both of those iconic performances 17 September at the . success during a debut at the Chichester of those two actors on telly, but he never, To book, call 0844 482 5130 or see

ELLIS PARRINDER / PICTORIAL PRESS LTD / ALAMY / PICTORIAL PRESS LTD ELLIS PARRINDER Festival this summer. and ever mentioned their performances from www.yesprimeminister.co.uk

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