THEATRE | Feature
GOING FOR THE JUGULAR
Yasmin Sulaiman speaks to John Tiffany about his adaptation of the cult Scandinavian fi lm Let the Right One In, which looks set to be his farewell to the NTS
T heir screen-to-stage adaptation of Once won eight Tony Awards in 2012. Now, John Tiffany and Steven Hoggett are giving another cult film a theatrical makeover: Swedish vampire romance Let the Right One In. Adapted by John Ajvide Lindqvist from his own novel, Tomas Alfredson’s 2008 film won over critics worldwide – and Matt Reeves’ llywood remake, Let Me In, was 2010 Hollywood remake, Let Me In, was praised. But while Reeves transposed similarly praised. But while Reeves transposed ’s story to the USA, this National Lindqvist’s story to the USA, this National of Scotland production retains the Theatre of Scotland production retains the Swedish setting, although Tiffany original’s Swedish setting, although Tiffany llels between their landscape and sees parallels between their landscape and ours.
st thought was that it would ‘My first thought was that it would ell in Dundee,’ he says. work well in Dundee,’ he says. ir Forest and the beach ‘Tentsmuir Forest and the beach here has always struck round there has always struck ery Scandinavian. So I me as very Scandinavian. So I oned Jack Thorne to commissioned Jack Thorne to nd got Steven Hoggett adapt it, and got Steven Hoggett and here we are.’ on board and here we are.’ ght and screenwriter Playwright and screenwriter also had a streak Thorne also had a streak d-wins last year, of award-wins last year, BAFTAs for the receiving BAFTAs for the upernatural teen BBC’s supernatural teen he Fades and This drama The Fades and This and ’88, which is England ’88, which rote with Shane he co-wrote with Shane . But he’s still in Meadows. But he’s still in ffany, who was the awe of Tiffany, who was the on to take a meeting first person to take a meeting when he started with him when he started . his career. ly, I’d says yes ‘Honestly, I’d says yes ng John asked me to anything John asked me cause I think he’s to do because I think he’s e,’ says Thorne. ‘I incredible,’ says Thorne. ‘I hn casts his writers think John casts his writers me way he casts his in the same way he casts his So with Once, he’d actors. So with Once, he’d person to do this is go “The person to do this is
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Enda [Walsh, who wrote the book] who’s musical, lyrical, Irish and sees the world in this extraordinary way.” And then he thought “I’m doing this play about loneliness, weirdness and self-hatred – Jack is probably right for this.”’
Loneliness is at the core of Let the Right One In, which centres on the blossoming relationship between Oskar – a young boy who’s neglected by his parents and bullied by who’s neglected by his parents and bullied by his peers – and Eli, the vampire who moves his peers – and Eli, the vampire who moves in next door. Both and and in next door. Both Thorne Thorne
Tiffany have a deep reverence for the tale in its many forms. ‘I just think Lindqvist found a way to tell a contemporary fairy story about difference that no-one had considered before,’ explains Thorne. ‘It fits in with the mythology of vampires but it does so in such an extraordinary and different way that I think it hit a lot of people between the eyes.’ For now, Let the Right One In lo For now, Let the Right One In looks like Tiffany’s last show with the NTS. This Tiffany’s last show with the NTS. This summer, the former associate director – who dir the former associate director – who directed the company’s biggest hit to date, Bla company’s biggest hit to date, Black Watch – leaves Scotland to join ex-NTS – leaves Scotland to join ex-NTS Artistic Director Vicky Featherstone at Londo Director Vicky Featherstone at London’s Royal Court. But he’s assembled a ste Court. But he’s assembled a stellar team for his swan song. In addition t for his swan song. In addition to Thorne and Hoggett, Broadway set and Hoggett, Broadway set designer Christine Jones (who’s wo Christine Jones (who’s worked on Spring Awakening and A Spring Awakening and American Idiot) and Icelandic c Idiot) and Icelandic composer Olafur Arnalds (who Olafur Arnalds (who recently wrote the score for hit IT wrote the score for hit ITV drama Broadchurch) are also Broadchurch) are also on board, while Deacon Blue while Deacon Blue singer- turned-actress Lorr turned-actress Lorraine M McIntosh will play McIntosh will play Oskar’s mother. mother.
‘I’ve been in Glasg ‘I’ve been in Glasgow since I was 18, on and I was 18, on and off,’ says Tiffany, ‘and I’m Tiffany, ‘and I’m accepting that I need to be in that I need to be in London now. But I’ll alwa now. But I’ll always come back. Macbeth’s g back. Macbeth’s got a life, Black Watch isn’t Black Watch isn’t showing any sign of disa any sign of disappearing, Let the Right On Let the Right One In may have a future an have a future and there’s potentially new pr potentially new projects as well. So I’ll alway well. So I’ll always have a relationship with Sc relationship with Scotland.’
Let the Right One In, Let the Right One In Dundee Rep, Wed Dundee Rep, Wed
5–Sat 29 Jun. 5–Sat 29 Jun.
‘I’ll always have a relationship with Scotland’