Director Of 'A Child's War' Reveals A Contagious Zest For The Theatre
Susan Stanley Carroll interviews Nick Bromley ahead of Tabard Theatre production
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On Monday 25th March, “A Child’s War” by Lotte Moore returns to the Tabard Theatre - a third run in under a year. In advance of the production I met with the director, Nick Bromley, who told me about his love of theatre and his instinctive approach to directing.
If you didn’t see the spring or autumn productions in 2018 then next week you have to see this wonderful child-friendly play about the Second World War.
The writer Lotte Moore was aged 4 when that war began and her story is ideal for children between the ages of 5 - 11 years as it helps them to empathise with a child during those perilous years. Nick has adapted the book clearly and imaginatively into an engaging drama.
The production is just great, and chatting to Nick Bromley, it is clear that its success lies in his relaxed approach to directing: “When I work with actors I suggest they find their own space to express themselves through the script and to each other as a group. I work instinctively with my team, and the shape and the flow of the play’s overall essence is released”
Nick’s approach to directing clearly hasn’t sprung out of thin air. He has had an exceptionally successful career as a West End company manager that stemmed from his training in Stage Management at the Central School of Speech and Drama.
His most recent West End credits include “No Man’s Land” with Ian McKellen and Patrick Stewart,” Tartuffe” with Audrey Fleurot and the St. Petersburg’s Maly Theatre Company when they played at the Theatre Royal Haymarket with “Life & Fate” and ‘Uncle Vanya”.
Since his success with a “A Child’s War” and “Meet The Teaspoons” (also produced at the Tabard) he has been tapping vigorously on his keyboard and has adapted two books into plays, “The Prisoner of Zenda” and “The Hound of the Baskervilles”.
Even more fascinating is his latest innovative idea - a drama based in a luggage shop. However, my curiosity, to find out more about his plot was firmly thwarted by Nick, “Anything and everything about my play is wrapped in sheafs of brown paper and sealed by metres of sellotape!”
Quite right too, you never quite know who is reading W4.com!
Nick Bromley’s innate zest for theatre really is contagious. BUT the real question is now that he has found The Tabard Theatre and The Tabard Theatre has discovered Nick, what happens next? We will just have to wait and see if Nick goes on to direct “Travellers’ Trunks” at The Tabard?
Contact the Box Office or Book Tickets Online for “A Child’s War’. If runs from 25th - 28th March directed by Nick Bromley. Definitely a play to be seen for a second time and bliss to see your little ones revel in this appealing story.
Susan Stanley-Carroll
March 20, 2019
