Bertie Carvel and his fellow The Hairy Ape co-stars claim to be in rehearsals for Richard Jones’ new production of Eugene O’Neill’s iconic masterpiece, but having seen Manuel Harlan’s rehearsal room images, we’re not so sure.
With a suspicious number of empty bottles – Jack Daniels, vodka, gin – lying around, if it weren’t for the proliferation of scripts and focused expressions on the performers’ faces, it would look more like a boozy party.
It isn’t, of course. Carvel, Steffan Rhodri and co are hard at work preparing for the production’s run at The Old Vic next month.
While it seems to be his fellow cast members sporting impressive amounts facial hair in these images, it is Olivier Award winner and Jonathan Strange & Mr Norrell star Carvel who takes on the title character in O’Neill’s tale of a labourer’s awakening of consciousness and his resulting search for a way to belong.
Take a look at all the rehearsal room action in our galley above and if it tempts you into seeing the production, you can book tickets for The Hairy Ape through us.