Inspired by the disturbing real-life case, An Interrogation is a gripping, claustrophobic thriller about power and deception, in which cameras manipulate the audience’s viewpoint and challenge prejudices about the kinds of people who commit crimes.
Rosie Sheehy, Jamie Ballard and Colm Gormley star in the debut play by Jamie Armitage, the co-director of SIX: The Musical.
When it played at the Edinburgh Fringe in 2023 critics hailed it “wonderfully twisty,” “a tense and thrilling interrogation of gender and power,” and “a chilling psychological play that has you on the edge of your seat.”
Jamie Armitage said: “One of my first assistant directing jobs was at Hampstead Downstairs, so it is very special to bring my first play to this beautiful venue.
“It is such an exciting opportunity to re-explore and expand this story, while taking the production to the next level with new design and technical elements. An Interrogation thrilled audiences in Edinburgh, so we hope that London audiences will have the same visceral response to this suspenseful story full of twists, turns and intrigue.”
An Interrogation is based on a real interview between Ontario Provincial Police Detective Staff Sergeant James Smith and the seemingly respectable Colonel Russell Williams.
In the show, a man agrees to a voluntarily assist police enquiries into the death of a young woman and the disappearance of another.
Armitage’s play depicts a conversation between detective and suspect which is polite on the surface but escalates into an interrogation of power and class.
While Cameron Andrews might initially seem unlikely to be connected to a murder investigation, a different story emerges moment by moment as he is questioned by an ambitious young detective.
Exploring societal biases, the production expertly shows how our perspective affects the way we interpret a moment: does someone seem more guilty or nervous when seen from a different angle?
Director Ellie Keel said: “I’m so delighted to be transferring Jamie’s brilliantly powerful and compelling play to the Hampstead Theatre, with a stellar cast.
“London audiences are going to love An Interrogation as much as Edinburgh audiences did — it’s fantastic to have the opportunity to be at the helm of such an acclaimed play.”
An Interrogation runs at Hampstead Theatre from January 16 until February 22.
