The Hothouse

Simm and Russell Beale firing on all cylinders

John Simm (Doctor Who, Life on Mars) and the pre-eminent Simon Russell Beale star side by side, in Jamie Lloyd's full-blooded production of Harold Pinter's The Hothouse. Begun but discarded in 1958, Pinter resurrected the play in 1980, and it has come to be known as a prime example of his signature darkly comedic, wholly damning satirical style.

Simm as the conniving Gibbs is terrific, and builds on his fast-growing reputation as one of the finest villain actors of today. Russell Beale meanwhile plays Roote, and his portrayal of the self-destruction of a neurotic leader is sinister yet hilarious, in true Pinter fashion.

This is a vibrant, modern production of a play which retains its relevance; Pinter's subtle brilliance is retained, and done full justice by a spellbinding cast.

What is The Hothouse about?

Set in an institution of ambiguous nature, The Hothouse concerns the institution's director, Roote, and his subordinates. Referred to as a 'rest home', or a 'sanitorium', the institution and its staff is disrupted with the news that one of its numerically identified -patients' has been murdered, and another given birth.

Roote must handle the situation, but his colleagues see his position weakening and seek to topple him. The play explores the predatory nature of institutional hierarchy in a scathing satirical style, whose message will still resound today and for a long time to come.