Sam Hoare on Press – Theatre Bubble

We spoke to Sam Hoare about his upcoming production of Press that’s taking part in Park Theatre’s Make Mine A Double programme.

Tell us a bit about your show

It’s about truth and it’s about change. We live in a world with so much news and working out who you can or should trust is difficult. The show follows a tabloid journalist as he goes through his shady past, the ups and the downs and some surprising turns!

Tell us a bit about you and your company

Doing a one man show is pretty scary. It seemed like a great idea when I wrote it but now it’s actually happening I feel somewhere between incredibly excited and absolutely terrified. My last play was on stage at the Hampstead about 5 years ago so it’s great to feel like a playwright again. And the last thing acted in was Leopoldstadt in the West End last year, Tom Stoppard is a tough act to follow!

What brought the differences in press freedoms across the world to your attention?

The Leveson enquiry was something that surprised me a lot when it happened, I remember thinking that a lot of people seemed to get away with a lot of things. And then more recently I read an article about the plight of some imprisoned journalists in Myanmar that really moved me. The contrast felt quite striking.

What would you like the audience to take away from the show?

I hope the audience might think to be more careful about what they read and what they trust, and also to possibly be slower to make judgements, especially negative ones.

What does taking part in Make Mine A Double mean to you?

It’s massive. So much writing is done in faith and expectation. It can be a lonely and challenging process so to have work actually produced means so much. To give emerging artists a proper platform, a chance to exhibit their work is so crucial; it’s a gift.

Tell us about the other show you’re paired with

I honestly know very little about Tunnels so far. But I’ve heard amazing things and I can’t wait to see it and to meet Oliver and the Further Theatre team.

Press will be performed between 28 November – 10 December at Park Theatre, more information and tickets here.