The Real Thing - unedited

That most intellectual of playwrights, Tom Stoppard, first got personal and let the feelings show in this 1982 domestic drama about marriage, infidelity and living with an actress – all things he knew more than a little about.

Using a clever “play within a play structure” which finally comes full circle, he lays bare the emotions which successful dramatist Henry – perhaps even unknown to himself - conceals behind his articulate wit. Inextricably in love with Hattie Morahan’s teasing thespian Annie (who broke up his first marriage and is now being unfaithful to him) Toby Stephens’ excellent Henry shows just how deep the hurt can go in a fine revival which is both a paean to the dexterous use of language and a dissection of what it means to be in love.