Julian Sands in a Celebration of Harold Pinter
Initially one wonders if this talk by Julian Sands – part lecture,
part eulogy, part recitation – would be better suited to the Book
Festival than one of the larger Pleasance spaces. Of course not.
playwright of the last century, and although it’s his poetry and prose
which Sands concentrates on, it feels apposite for us to be listening
to it in the kind of pros arch theatre in which so much of his work
played.
Sands first experienced Pinter at drama school before later becoming
his friend. He even incurred the great man’s infamous wrath when Sands
thought he spotted a misplaced word. “Just read it. One day you might
understand it” Pinter growled.
Sands himself brings the spirit of
Pinter’s rage to some of his readings, such as the short poem
Democracy, as well as the romance of Nocturne or his
final poem to Antonia Fraser.
Sands rounds off this fascinating hour by saying “On Christmas Eve
2008, Harold’s voice fell silent. Thank you for listening.” How
appropriate for the last line to have a double meaning. Pinter would
have liked that.
– Benet Catty
