Art imitates life for LCC lecturer

by Matthew Sanderson

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

A lecturer from the London College of Communication (LCC) is starring in a play called Damages, set in a tabloid newspaper office.

Ian Hoare, a former news editor and reporter and now senior journalism lecturer at LCC is playing the part of ‘Howard’, a revise editor on a national newspaper.

The play is written by Stephen Thompson and was first performed in 2004, to extremely positive reviews.

It is set in the night office of a tabloid newspaper office and tackles ethical issues present in the media today.

It also asks important questions about the balance between freedom of the press and the right to privacy.

The director, Martin South, says: “The play is sharp, very funny and extremely topical”.

Scandalous pictures

The focus of the play is on four individuals who have to decide whether or not they should print scandalous photos of a children’s television presenter.

Hoare, who plays one of the four main characters in the play, says: “It is an entertaining way for people to come and think about some really important issues: I see theatre and journalism as quite closely related and I like theatre to be topical.”

The LCC lecturer and the character he plays in Damages share some similarities: Hoare has been an editor, and spent time reporting in Pakistan, a role that his character, Howard, had apparently filled in the late 1970s.

Hoare mentions that it was an “extraordinary coincidence” and remembers thinking, “Goodness me, this could be me. I have to play this part.”

Anniversary

The Tower Theatre Company - currently celebrating their 80th anniversary - are performing the play, having already performed one of Thompson’s previous plays, Whipping It Up.

The company’s current offices and venue for Damages - Bridewell Theatre - are all housed within the St Bride Foundation Institute, close to Fleet Street in London.

Director South mentions that “this is the closest thing Fleet Street has to a theatre.”

The St Bride Foundation Institute was the home of the London College of Printing before the college relocated to Elephant & Castle and was renamed the London College of Communication.

Damages runs from February 21 - 25 at the Bridewell Theatre and tickets are available from www.towertheatre.org.uk.