1st Night Photos: Old Times brings Pinter home

A revival of Harold Pinter’s Old Times starring Kristin Scott Thomas, Lia Williams and Rufus Sewell opened at the Harold Pinter Theatre last night (31 January 2013, previews from 12 January) – the first of the Nobel Prize-winning writer’s plays to be staged at the venue since it was renamed in his honour.

Directed by Ian Rickson, the darkly erotic drama focuses on Kate and her husband Deeley, who are visited in their converted farmhouse home by Kate’s old college roommate Anna, sparking off a war in which memories – and different versions of the past – are the weapons.

The production sees Thomas and Williams alternating the roles of Kate and Anna, and runs until 6 April.

Our chief critic Michael Coveney saw Thomas as Anna and Williams as Kate, while editor Theo Bosanquet saw the reverse. He commented: “Having read Michael’s lucid assessment I can only add that the opposite arrangement is equally effective – Kristin Scott Thomas brings a depressed vulnerability to the role of Kate while Lia Williams, although somewhat playing against type as Anna, proves mesmerising.”

Guests at the first night party. which was held at Mint Leaf, included Sam Taylor-Wood, Bill Paterson, Hildegard Bechtler and Pinter’s widow Antonia Fraser.

PHOTOS BY DAN WOOLLER FOR WHATSONSTAGE.COM