November 26th, 2024 no comments

We earn a commission for products purchased through some links in this article.

New Theatre Production Explores the life of John Nathan-Turner

New theatre production explores the life and legacy of Doctor Who’s flamboyant Producer, John Nathan-Turner

Room 5064 Productions is proud to be bringing to the stage Stephen Wyatt’s Me and Him and Who, a touching and honest portrait of Doctor Who’s most flamboyant behind the scenes creative force: John Nathan-Turner. Nathan-Turner presided over three distinct eras of classic Doctor Who, as the producer incarnate. But his ability to juggle budgets, actors, and egos brought about his perceived downfall as he struggled to channel his talents after the BBC cancelled the show in 1989.

With his partner, Gary Downie, unwell with cancer, and his own health sliding downhill due to drink, this is the story of the final three acts of John Nathan-Turner’s life as he attempts to write a ‘tell-all’ autobiography of his time on the show that came to define him.

Me and Him and Who is written by the acclaimed Stephen Wyatt whose TV credits include Doctor Who, Casualty, and The House of Elliott. Theatre credits include The Standard Bearer, Told Look Younger and Look Up at the Stars, and as a radio writer he has won the Tinniswood Award for best original radio script twice – the only writer to have done so.

Stephen explains: “I wanted to try to do justice to the complexity of their characters and their relationship. I wanted to show them warts and all, yet behind the camp and the bickering, there was real deep affection between them and a courage in facing adversity which is very much part of the story.”

Playing John Nathan-Turner on stage is Richard Unwin, who as an actor has spent six summer seasons performing open-air with the Cambridge Shakespeare Company, toured Australia with The Chemsex Monologues, and has played a variety of roles in BBC-licensed Doctor Who audio dramas for Big Finish Productions. Most recently he appeared opposite Zoe actress Wendy Padbury as Tommy in ‘Companion Chronicle’ title The Deepest Tragedian.

Richard comments: “I’m a child of the ‘JNT’ era of Doctor Who. I grew up watching the Seventh Doctor and Ace, played by Sylvester McCoy and Sophie Aldred – sometimes in stories written by Stephen Wyatt. So to now find myself cast as the ringleader of that fantasy world, in a play written by Stephen, is more than a little surreal. I’m surprised and delighted!”

Originally produced as an audio drama by AUK Productions, Stephen adds: “Originally, the script was planned to be a solo piece, featuring only John’s voice. Discussing this with Barnaby [Eaton-Jones], Producer of the audio drama, it became clear it would work much better as a two-hander with Gary’s voice and the powerful dynamic that was developing between the two characters.”

Room 5064 Producer Gareth Kavanagh comments: “John Nathan-Turner’s story is intrinsically a story of a man ahead of his time, but there’s so much more to him – and his complex relationship with Gary Downie. Seeing this on stage is going to be electrifying, and heartbreaking at the same time.”

Premiering in Manchester in January 2025, Me and Him and Who forms a key part of Room 5064’s upcoming festival of new writing which also includes the premiere of Philip Larkin: Masterspy, and a return to the stage of Sherica (“The sign of a writer committed to his craft” – British Theatre Guide) during the two-week festival.

Me and Him and Who will run in Manchester from January 30th – 2nd February 2025 with a special day and performance celebrating John Nathan-Turner at Manchester’s Anthony Burgess Institute on Saturday 1st February. Special guests will include Stephen Wyatt and Stephen Gallagher – more to be confirmed.

Categorised under: Events, Retail