The river runs deep
- Publication: Boyz
- Date: 2019-05-16
- Author:
- Page:
- Language: English
Louise Jameson has starred in some of the biggest shows on British TV including Doctor Who, Eastenders, Tenko and Bergerac. Alongside Thomas Mahy she is now starring in Robert Chevara's production of Philip Ridley's Vincent River about a horrific gay hate crime and its aftermath at Trafalgar Studios. Dave Cross caught up with Louise to find out more.
Hi Louise, what's the basic story and set up of Vincent River?
The play begins with my character Anita, a grieving mother whose son has been murdered, inviting her young stalker into her new apartment. It's a dangerous, visceral encounter.... I'm not sure I would like Anita if I met her - I think she would frighten me. But as an actress, my empathy with her is consuming. And that is the brilliance of this play. The theme is 'hate crime' and even though it was written a generation ago, it premiered at Hampstead Theatre in 2000, and was a West End smash at Trafalgar Studios in 2007.
Were you aware of the play and Philip Ridley's work before you got the part?
I'm ashamed to say I only knew of it by reputation, but when I read it I knew I had to play her. Only one in every 10 scripts that land on the doormat make your heart race. This is one of them.
The play premiered in 2000 with a powerful exploration of hate crime, do you think the messages are more important now than ever especially given the massive rise in hate crimes recorded against the LGBTQ+ community?
Sadly, it's depressingly, heart-rendingly relevant.
You and your co-star were both nominated for Best Actress/Actor Offie awards for the run at Park Theatre, how does it feel getting another chance to play this character?
I thought the play hadn't quite lived its full life (I'm secretly hoping Broadway might take it further) and I couldn't be more thrilled that we have another chance to breathe life into it.
Most of us know you from TV, you've been in some of the biggest shows in the history of British TV, do you prefer TV or stage?
It is entirely dependent on the script.
Do you get recognised most for Doctor Who or EastEnders?
Bergerac.
What else do you have planned for 2019?
I am writing a Doctor Who audio script for Big Finish, they produce award-winning original audio dramas from the worlds of Doctor Who, Torchwood and Blake's 7 for myself and Tom Baker where we meet a very famous scientist. I don't think I'm allowed to say any more than that. They have also commissioned me to write two more episodes of ATA Girl a BBC highly commended drama series that I created about WW2 female pilots inspired by the real women of the Air Transport Auxiliary. I co-write it with Helen Goldwyn. I am waiting on news of a childrens' TV series and my life is filled with Roxie, a beautiful rescue dog, and my three grandsons. I couldn't ask for more.
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- APA 6th ed.: (2019-05-16). The river runs deep. Boyz .
- MLA 7th ed.: "The river runs deep." Boyz [add city] 2019-05-16. Print.
- Chicago 15th ed.: "The river runs deep." Boyz, edition, sec., 2019-05-16
- Turabian: "The river runs deep." Boyz, 2019-05-16, section, edition.
- Wikipedia (this article): <ref>{{cite news| title=The river runs deep | url=http://cuttingsarchive.org/index.php/The_river_runs_deep | work=Boyz | pages= | date=2019-05-16 | via=Doctor Who Cuttings Archive | accessdate=30 March 2025 }}</ref>
- Wikipedia (this page): <ref>{{cite web | title=The river runs deep | url=http://cuttingsarchive.org/index.php/The_river_runs_deep | work=Doctor Who Cuttings Archive | accessdate=30 March 2025}}</ref>
