The National Theatre's Lyttelton stage currently hosts one of the most emotionally resonant productions of the season, bringing together two celebrated actors in a powerful exploration of love and mortality.
A Triumphant Stage Reunion
Clive Owen and Saskia Reeves reunite for the first time in over three decades in David Eldridge's critically acclaimed play End, completing his trilogy about relationships at different life stages. The production, which runs until 17 January, sees the actors portraying Alfie and Julie, a couple confronting a cancer diagnosis after decades together.
Under Rachel O'Riordan's tender direction, the play examines how this long-term partnership weathers the storm of serious illness, with both actors bringing remarkable depth to their characters. The casting proves particularly poignant given the actors' shared history, creating layers of meaning that enrich the theatrical experience.
Echoes of Close My Eyes
The reunion carries significant emotional weight for audiences familiar with Owen and Reeves' previous collaboration in Stephen Poliakoff's controversial 1991 film Close My Eyes. In that work, they portrayed siblings engaged in an incestuous relationship that caused considerable tabloid frenzy upon its release.
The memory of their earlier roles as Natalie and Richard adds profound resonance to their current performances. Where their previous characters represented forbidden passion and youthful intensity, their current roles showcase the comfortable intimacy and complex dynamics of a long-established partnership facing its greatest challenge.
Masterful Physical Storytelling
Both actors demonstrate exceptional physical artistry in their portrayals. Owen's Alfie moves with the awkwardness of illness, relying on a crutch, while Reeves' Julie maintains a playful energy that contrasts with their circumstances. In one particularly moving scene, Alfie stands motionless playing house music for his funeral playlist while Julie dances seductively around him.
The production features what might be described as one of theatre's rarest authentic sex scenes, with intimacy direction by Bethan Clark. Unlike the explicit nature of their earlier film work, this moment is quick, almost fully dressed, and beautifully captures both the vulnerability and enduring connection between the characters.
End represents the culmination of Eldridge's trilogy, which began with Beginning (charting the drunken start of a romance) and continued with Middle (exploring a marriage in crisis). While each play stands independently, seeing them together reveals Eldridge's masterful exploration of love across different life stages.
The play is set against the backdrop of summer 2016, just before the Brexit referendum, though the political turmoil serves as background to the more personal crisis unfolding between the characters. Alfie's preoccupation with West Ham's departure from Upton Park after a century provides another layer of endings and transitions.
For theatre enthusiasts and fans of both actors, this production offers a rare opportunity to witness two masters of their craft reuniting in material that perfectly showcases their talents. The National Theatre continues its tradition of presenting works that challenge, move, and ultimately illuminate the human condition.
