Graham Seed plays Sir Hugh Rosen in Tim Walker’s brand-new drama, Bloody Difficult Women, which sees the tumultuous political events of recent years played out in a power struggle between two determined women.
His intensely human account of the court case Mrs Miller brought against Mrs May makes for revealing and often very funny theatre, but ultimately it’s a tragedy, where there are no winners, only losers.
Walker brings the story bang up to date in a dramatic finale which says so much about the deep divisions we still have in our country.
Bloody Difficult Women is at Riverside Studios 24th February to 26th March 2022. Tickets are on sale here.
You’re appearing in Bloody Difficult Women at Riverside Studios, what can you tell us about the play?
It’s about the very public conflict that Theresa May, when she was Prime Minister, had with Gina Miller over the government attempting to use its’ prerogative powers to avoid a vote on Article 50. It’s also evoking the Brexit crisis and what an appalling mess parliament was at the time and continues to be so.
What were your first impressions when you initially read Tim Walker’s script?
I found it pacey, witty, and informing and like nothing I’d ever done before. It’s also a very good part for me. We originally workshopped the piece in January 2020 with the intention of putting the play on later that year. That didn’t happen for obvious reasons. Through lockdown it was reworked and updated and has now become more pertinent that it was then, which makes it even more exciting to be part of.
You play Sir Hugh Rosen, what do you enjoy most about the character?
Well, he is and urbane, confident and a very capable senior civil servant who has known May since working with her at the Foreign Office. The challenge is to communicate his competence and sadness, and at times, stupidity. I’m glad my character is not based on anyone true to life. As he is one of the two fictitious characters in the play. It gives me a freedom to create a persona of my own. I enjoy too, the sub plot, involving his fondness for his protégé Max, and playing that developing storyline.
Does it being based on relatively recent events, make it easier or more difficult to recreate the story on stage?
Not really in my case, because my character is fictional, but one does have a duty of care to those real-life people who are portrayed within the piece. Although, one must remember that this is a dramatisation of a real event and not a documentary.
How have rehearsals been going, and what are you enjoying most about the experience?
It’s been so exciting to think that we will be on stage again after the two years. Also, it’s so fabulous to work with our illustrious director Stephen Unwin and our brilliant cast, and to put this on at the Riverside, which is so convenient to my home. Win, win on all counts.
What would you say to anyone thinking of booking to see Bloody Difficult Women?
Please do. It’s funny, provocative, edgy, and our writer refers to it as ‘radical chic’. It’s also only ninety minutes long, so any news junkies out there, you can come and watch us, and be home for News at Ten.
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