'It's a fluid, surreal moment in someone's life'

The excellent Ralph Fiennes season at Bath Theatre Royal goes out with a compelling new drama from Rebecca Lenkiewicz - Small Hotel - JEFFREY DAVIES chats to one of its stars Francesca Annis

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THE Ralph Fiennes/Theatre Royal Bath Season draws to a close with the world premiere production of Rebecca Lenkiewicz's powerful new drama Small Hotel starring Ralph Fiennes, Francesca Annis, Rosalind Eleazar and Rachel Tucker.

Ralph Fiennes plays Larry, an acclaimed TV celebrity whose life and career are rapidly unravelling. As he is forced to unpick his past and confront his future, the audience are introduced to a collection of unforgettable characters including his troubled twin brother Richard, his unpredictable former lover Marianne, and his domineering mother Athena who is played by Francesca Annis.

"This is a first in my life Jeffrey; the first telephone interview I've ever done," a most friendly Francesca Annis told me with a laugh, ahead of our chat about Small Hotel which opens today (Friday). So what appealed to Francesca about the much-acclaimed playwright's new drama.

"Firstly, it's unlike anything I've done before which is a challenge. I've also been in a Bec's [Rebecca Lenkiewicz] play before called Shoreditch Madonna which I loved doing. I love the way she writes. It's very colloquial and easy and contemporary and imaginative. So that's what attracted me to Small Hotel," the London-born actress explained, adding that the play itself is very surreal.

"A fluid, surreal moment in someone's life. It has got a linear line through it. And I just thought it was very interesting when I picked it up and read it. Hopefully that will transmit to how people see it. They'll be kept on their toes that's for sure!

"I play Athena who is actually Larry's mother. Larry, played by Ralph [Fiennes], is the main protagonist. Athena is a very feisty, imaginative poetic woman and, through circumstances beyond her control, her life is coming to an end. So I thought that would be an interesting role to play."

A challenging part?