Pinter to star with Gambon and West in R3’s The Homecoming

Published Thursday 22 February 2007 at 17:20 by Liz Thomas

Harold Pinter will lead a cast that includes Michael Gambon, Sam West, Rupert Graves and EastEnders’ star James Alexandrou in a new Radio 3 production of his 1964 play The Homecoming.

This is the first time the Nobel Prize-winning playwright has played Max, the domineering father at the heart of the darkly comic dysfunctional family play. Gambon takes the role of his brother Sam, while West, Graves and Alexandrou play his sons. Gina McKee also stars as daughter-in-law Ruth.

Pinter revealed: “I’m very much looking forward to it. I’m playing the old man. Since I’m now an elderly man, I’m ready for it.”

The first production of The Homecoming, directed by Peter Hall, was staged in 1965 and Pinter later played the character of Lenny in a 1969 production. 

Abigail Appleton, head of speech programmes at the station, added: “Radio 3 is delighted to be able to bring audiences this modern classic in what promises to be a landmark production and to continue the station’s long relationship with one of the major cultural figures of our time.”