White Rabbit Red Rabbit The Duchess Theatre

Last week it was David Tennant’s Turn to perform the play

Nassim Soleimanpour’s experimental theatre play White Rabbit Red Rabbit is currently on a fresh run at The Duchess Theatre in London.

The play was written in 2010, one of Soleimanpour’s first in English.

An actor receives the script in a sealed envelope on stage. From there, they must perform it for the first time with no preparation.

Because a different actor takes part at each performance, what you see on stage will vary hugely according to whose turn it is.

It’s a play that has attracted Jodie Whittaker, Luke Thompson, David Harewood and Riz Ahmed in this run.

Last week, it was the turn of David Tennant. The actor performed to a sold out house.

Tennant is a real joy to watch on stage. Though famed for his TV and film performances for which he has a huge range as an actor, on stage his is funny, charismatic and connects instantly with the audience.

Soleimanpour’s play is as much a thought experiment as live theatre. It explores the depths that both performer and audience will go to. It’s hugely philosophical as well as metaphorical but an easy follow.

Whilst there are moments of tension and discomfort, Tennant leans towards the comedy, making it feel a safe space for his diverse range of theatre-goers. There were times he had to stress that the words he was saying were very much those of the playwrights.

The deeper Iranian context of the play is malleable and can fit into the changing nature of political backgrounds everywhere. But having known an Iranian person some thirty years ago who came to Britain as a refugee, it provided a richer backdrop to his story.

White Rabbit Red Rabbit runs until September 2026

For more information: https://theduchesstheatre.co.uk/tickets/white-rabbit-red-rabbit/

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