Guests including actors Martin Freeman, John Heffernan and Danny Dyer, who are currently appearing in Pinter Seven, and Pinter at the Pinter Artistic Director Jamie Lloyd, gathered at the Harold Pinter Theatre last week as Lady Antonia Fraser bestowed a painting of the celebrated playwright by artist Amy Shuckburgh to the theatre, where it will be on permanent display.
Lady Fraser entrusted the portrait to the theatre to celebrate the historic season, which has featured over thirty different pieces by the playwright, including his short plays and works first written for radio, television, revue nights, as well as poetry and prose.
Amy Shuckburgh is a fine artist based in west London. Her work encompasses landscape, still life, as well as figures, and is notable for its expressive painterly style as well as its interest in abstraction. She said of the commission ‘It was a huge privilege to paint Harold Pinter and to know that he liked the portrait. I am delighted that Lady Antonia Fraser has given the portrait to the theatre named in his honour, which feels like its rightful home.’
Sarah Sideras, Theatre Manager at the Harold Pinter theatre said, ‘It brings me such joy to see this incredible portrait of Harold hanging pride of place in our Moonlight Bar. Not only will it serve as a reminder of the magic and history that has been created by the season, it also means Harold is part of the fabric of the theatre more than ever. It makes the team at the Harold Pinter Theatre and ATG very proud.’
