This compelling new drama by Ben Brown is a fascinating insight into the friendship between Kim Philby and Graham Greene.
Oliver Ford Davies as Graham Greene in A Splinter of Ice | Photo © James Findlay
As the cold war begins to thaw, Britain’s greatest living novelist Graham Greene meets with his old MI6 boss, Kim Philby, Britain’s greatest spy… and traitor.
It has been 30 years since they last met and much has happened to them both. Their meeting is a time for renewing that friendship which we find is as much about loyalty as deceit.
A fine script peppered with humour and fact; the central performances never falter and despite the lengthy duologues the sharp direction by Alan Strachan keeps everything flowing.
Stephen Boxer (Philby) and Oliver Ford Davies (Greene) hold the audience in the revelations of their friendship amidst the historical events alongside a fine cameo from Karen Ascoe as Philby’s wife, Rufa.
The quality of the cast is evident and much detail and precision of characterisation makes this a wholly believable meeting.
The tensions and friendship is evident whilst the personal revelation makes it a more sentimental journey.
It may be for a while that the smaller cast plays are popular and easier to deal with in the regeneration of theatre; however the quality of this production would be hard to beat under any circumstances.
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Reviewer: Petra Schofield
A Splinter of Ice is directed by Alan Strachan with Alastair Whatley.
It is showing at the Theatre Royal in Bath until Saturday 3rd July 2021.
