Following sell-out runs at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe and the legendary Old Red Lion Theatre, darkly hilarious The Grim descends on Southwark Playhouse this Winter.
From award-winning writer Edmund Morris (You’re Dead, Mate; UK Tour), this spine-tingling comedy delves into the bizarre world of dead bodies, before unwittingly taking a terrifying turn into the supernatural.
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| Photo by Molly Jackson-French. |
Set in 1964, the show takes place as Shaun is trying to get through another dull day as the proprietor of his family’s undertakers alongside his hopeless and superstitious assistant Robert.
On the night they are due to fit the notorious Jackie Gallager for his coffin, this exhilarating farce follows their journey as they hold out against the horrifying reanimated corpse of Britain’s most violent criminal. Audiences can expect a fast-paced and action-packed show that is equal parts hilarious and heart-rending.
The cast comprises of writer Edmund Morris (You’re Dead, Mate, UK Tour; Macbeth, UK Tour; The Grim, Underbelly Edinburgh) as Shaun, Louis Davison (Poltergeist, Arcola Theatre; Vikings Valhalla, Netflix; Poldark, BBC) as Robert, and Harry Carter (Magic Mike’s Last Dance, Warner Bros, Mamma Mia! Here We Go Again, Universal Pictures) as Jack.
We caught up writer and performer Edmund Morris to learn more about the play.
Edmund, your writing has a reputation for blending dark humour with gripping narratives. What inspired you to create The Grim?
I’ll be honest, the genesis of this story is quite hard to pin point, but what I do know is that it was a time in my life where I was listening to a lot of The Beatles and I had this funny idea about a conversation between two undertakers; my grandad was Irish and my old man’s a Cockney, so those voices somehow emerged quite quickly, then I thought: ‘what would really ruin their day?’ And thus, The Grim was born!
How did you approach the development of the story?
Same as always, let the characters do the work. Gradually I’ll start to get an understanding of where the story is headed, but I can’t force anything, it needs to flow organically.
The setting of 1964 is quite pivotal for the storyline. How does it influence the dynamics between the characters?
My main reasoning for this was because London was in the throws of a cultural revolution at the time, but they hadn’t yet reached the whole Summer of Love thing. It was about transporting people back to a time that feels tangible, but is far enough removed from the modern day for it to feel like a different world.
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| Photo by Molly Jackson-French. |
You also play Shaun in the production, what can you tell me about the role?
He’s a man trying his best to follow in his father's footsteps, but he just can’t seem to get anything right! He’s a joy to play really; he’s arrogant, naive, and actually quite sensitive deep-down. He’s a perfect mixture of contradictions!
You mentioned the character of Jackie Gallagher, a notorious criminal. What does his presence bring to the story?
Jack is very a much a looming threat that hangs over the first act of the show. He’s a semi-legendary figure, and uttering his name alone is enough to silence a room. It’s Jack that takes the play from a spooky comedy to a full-blown thriller and it’s such a thrill to be a part of!
How do you approach being both the writer and a cast member?
I treat it just the same as any other acting job. I’m there to work with my fellow castmates and produce something real. I try to keep myself free in my choices and allow myself to be guided by the director, the other characters and my intuition as much as possible. That being said, there’s a bit more behind the scenes work that I’m required to do!
What was the first piece of theatre you remember having a big impact on you?
It wasn’t the first piece of theatre I ever saw, but the piece that had the most profound impact on me to this day was Summer & Smoke by Tennessee Williams. The cast was led by Patsy Ferran and Matthew Needham who are just another level. It’s this brutally human story about unrequited love and it just broke my heart. It really was one of those pieces that made me go YES, THIS I WHAT I WANT TO DO!
I treat it just the same as any other acting job. I’m there to work with my fellow castmates and produce something real. I try to keep myself free in my choices and allow myself to be guided by the director, the other characters and my intuition as much as possible. That being said, there’s a bit more behind the scenes work that I’m required to do!
What was the first piece of theatre you remember having a big impact on you?
It wasn’t the first piece of theatre I ever saw, but the piece that had the most profound impact on me to this day was Summer & Smoke by Tennessee Williams. The cast was led by Patsy Ferran and Matthew Needham who are just another level. It’s this brutally human story about unrequited love and it just broke my heart. It really was one of those pieces that made me go YES, THIS I WHAT I WANT TO DO!
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| Photo by Molly Jackson-French. |
What keeps you inspired?
Music. Without music I don’t know where I would be.
What do you hope someone takes away from seeing The Grim?
Their jaw, it having hopefully been left on the floor!
The Grim runs at Southwark Playhouse Borough from Wednesday 26th November until Saturday 6th December. Tickets are available from https://southwarkplayhouse.co.uk/productions/the-grim/
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