The Stage

Thomas More

Published Wednesday 13 April 2005 at 13:00 by Peta David

This little known play appeared in the 1590s and is credited to more than one author, including Shakespeare. It was banned, however, by the Master of Revels and government censor, Sir Edmund Tilney, for its political content. Fortunately, no such censorship exists today, which means we can enjoy the ‘wit and wisdom’ that threads through this biography of Thomas More.

Nigel Cooke brings us the multi-faceted Thomas as the defender of the poor, a husband and father, a wit and a formidable intellect. Cooke grows in stature gradually through the performance until he truly sets himself apart from the rest of the cast, who merely pale into insignificance around him. He dominates and commands the stage.

Tim Treloar as the Earl of Shrewsbury and Michael Jenn as the Earl of Surrey are witness to More’s eventual downfall and execution, and are keen to distance themselves from his political stance. We see More’s family trying to understand the moral high ground he has chosen to take even though he knows he will be tried for treason. Teresa Banham is Lady More, the long-suffering wife who shares some highly charged emotional moments with him before his execution. Other memorable performances belong to David Hinton and Peter Bramhill in many different guises but always entertaining.

An emotional rollercoaster of a performance that grips you right to the end, which is only slightly marred by an unholy muddle of costumes, sometimes in long frock coats and then in Marks & Spencer and Man at Burton.