Polly Frame stars in the world premiere of Katherine Chandler’s Thick as Thieves at Theatr Clwyd, and joined us to tell us more about this first co-production between Theatr Clwyd and Clean Break.
Thick as Thieves is at Theatr Clwyd until 27th October 2018.
Thick as Thieves is coming to Theatr Clwyd, what can you tell us about it?
Thick as Thieves is a huge play in a tiny format! Part thriller part devastatingly raw confessional, the story focuses on two sisters brought up and mistreated in the care system who meet 25 years later, having being separated at an early age after a traumatic event that has remained hidden since. Their lives have taken very different directions and the play uses this to explore notions of care, parenting, identity, love and the forces of capitalism.
Why did you want to be involved in this production?
There were a number of massive draws about this project, the script was brilliant and very challenging, Roisin as a director and working with Clean Break, an organisation who’s work is vital and inspiring. We will also be touring the production to a number of women’s prisons and workshopping elements of the play with audiences there which I think will be really interesting and hopefully mutually beneficial.
How would you describe your character?
I play Gail, the scrappier of the two sisters when they were children, now a mother of two boys herself. Gail has spent her young life in a variety in care homes and has struggled as an adult to function under the stricture’s society imposes on her. She has ‘always been in bother’, but is a tremendous survivor with a huge capacity for both love and fury and a great sense of humour!
What do you like most about Katherine Chandler’s writing?
My first impression of her script was that it seemed effortlessly natural and I was immediately totally gripped and deeply unnerved! It is also deceptively simple. The more you read, the more complicated you realise it is which is a total joy for an actor!
What would you say to anyone thinking of coming to see Thick as Thieves?
Put your seat belts on, you’re in for a bumpy ride!
