Trevor Nunn celebrates miracles as Identical comes to Lowry

In a career spanning seven decades he has been responsible for some of the most popular, most successful and most ground-breaking works of theatre. From Cats to Chess and from Shakespeare to Sondheim he has been a constant source of quality and innovation.

So when you can hear the genuine excitement he has for his latest musical, Identical, which comes to The Lowry next week, you know you should sit up and take notice.

Identical is based on the novel The Parent Trap written in 1949 by Erich Kästner about twin girls separated at birth who are reunited at a summer camp 10 years later and decide to swap parents to see how each other’s lives have panned out. The novel spawned two films of the same name - the first in 1961 starring Hayley Mills and the second in 1998 featuring Lindsay Lohan.

Emme Patrick and Eden Patrick in Identical. Photography by Pamela Raith

“Our piece of work is very much based on the novel,” said Sir Trevor. “He set the book in Vienna and Munich in 1950 and that’s what we have adapted.

“Most people know the Parent Trap as a movie and the girls in those films are just about to be teenage around 12 soon to be 13. But I think his book about two 10-year-olds is so much more sensitive and that is what we have adapted.”

Given the number of offers that Sir Trevor must receives on an almost daily basis to get involved in one project or another, what was it about Identical which got him on board?

“I have always been fascinated with the comedies and plays and dramas about twins,” he said. “I am in a long and great tradition which can be traced back to the ancient world. People been fascinated with the miracle of twins, with the oddity and wonderfully comedic mix ups that can happen with twins.”

Having directed every one of William Shakespeare’s 37 plays during his career, Sir Trevor shares the Bard’s great interest in twins in drama.

He wrote two plays featuring identical twins - the Comedy of Errors and Twelfth Night which Sir Trevor describes as “the greatest comedy in any language that has ever been written”.

Emme Patrick and Eden Patrick in Identical (Photography by Pamela Raith)

“What William Shakespeare did at the climax of that play demonstrates that it’s wonderfully possible for an audience to be laughing and crying at the same time,” said Sir Trevor. “That’s something very special for a writer to discover.

“When Identical came along I was instantly fascinated and wanted to be involved in that possibility that at the climax of this work that an audience could be laughing and crying at the same time.”

And the signs are that he has succeeded. Identical had its world premiere in Nottingham last week to great reviews.

“In our experience so far, that is exactly what has been happening,” he said.

There is an old adage that in theatre you should never work with animals or children. It’s clearly not something that shapes Sir Trevor’s thinking - Identical has three sets of identical twins sharing the lead roles on rotation, a crowd of youngsters playing their friends and at each venue a further group of local youngsters to augment some of the summer camp scenes. Then there’s also a loveable little dog in the mix too.

“Oh, I am just in awe of those kids” said Sir Trevor. “The twins have been totally dedicated, totally up for every challenge, totally able to stay concentrated through huge, long, difficult rehearsal periods. Honestly it’s just been a joy. I can’t contribute to that stuff about don’t work with children or animals. I’m absolutely happy to do that.”

The Parent Trap was adapted for the stage by Stuart Paterson and features music by George Stiles and lyrics by Anthony Drewe.

Trevor Nunn

“I have worked with Stuart before,” said Sir Trevor. “We actually worked on something that had quite big impact on BBC a few months ago. We did a project Oscar Wilde in Reading jail called Prisoner C333 with brilliant the Toby Stephens.

“When you’re aided and abetted by a beautiful score and a brilliantly witty and moving set of lyrics, it’s a wonderful combination.”

Identical’s use of hi-tech backdrops has been singled out for praise by many critics and Sir Trevor was equally full of praise for his design team.

“I’m going to push my luck and say what they have done is ahead of the game,” he said. “It’s revolutionary. People have not been able to achieve what they have before. Honestly, it’s one hell of a thing.”

With Identical Sr Trevor appears to have pulled off the difficult task making a production that’s hugely enjoyable and thought provoking at the same time; a production which sparks a discussion on the way back to the car after the curtain falls.

“Oh, I really do hope so,” he said. “I think it is about something miraculous in human nature. When you’re in the audience and watching real 10-year-old twins, there’s absolutely no denying that miracle can exist.”

Identical, The Lowry, Salford Quays, Friday, August 19 to Saturday, September 3. Details from www.thelowry.com