Richard ‘Thorin Oakenshield’ Armitage gave the performance of a lifetime this summer in Yaël Farber’s epochal Old Vic production of ‘
The Crucible’, Arthur Miller’s tragedy about the Salem witch trials. Now a recorded version of ‘The Crucible’ will have two screenings nationwide on December 4 and 7.
Presumably the cinema release of ‘The Crucible’ is happening because it was such a big hit? ‘Yeah, it was something that came together towards the end of the run. I’m really into it – I’ve seen live opera in the cinema, primarily because I can’t afford the good seats, and it’s absolutely fantastic, the close-ups and camera angles make it a different experience.’
It’s been 12 years since you last did a play – why ‘The Crucible’ for your comeback? ‘I played Proctor’s final scene at drama school, and it was the first time I really connected to a character. I finished the act and didn’t really know how I’d gotten to the end and the teachers were all… we all knew something had happened. It’s the moment I became an actor, that’s the reason I wanted to do it.’
People might be surprised at the northern accent – is that how the real John Proctor spoke? ‘We know they were colonists, so probably came from the UK. Proctor was an educated farmer, so Lancashire felt like a good fit.’
Your performance was shattering to watch – presumably it was pretty knackering to actually do it? ‘I’d get into the shower to wash off the blood, then go and meet fans at the stage door and I was dazed, a bit like coming out of the boxing ring. I felt I had to be smiling but I just wanted to curl up in a ball and cry.’
Any plans for more theatre? ‘Yes, now that I’ve broken the taboo of not being on stage for 12 years. Yaël and I will definitely work together again, because we both got such a kick out of each other. It might be 2016, but it certainly won’t be too long.’
‘The Crucible’ is in cinemas Thur Dec 4 and Sun Dec 7. See www.thecrucibleonscreen.com.
