'Things I Know To Be True'

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Local actor Ewan Stewart discusses his role in a new production at The Lyric

Pic: Manual Harlan

Actor Ewan Stewart, who lives in Chiswick, is passionate about his latest stage role in a new production of Things I Know To Be True, which opens at the Lyric Hammersmith on January 11th.

Described as an intense study on marriage, love and family, the plot revolves around the lives of four grown siblings struggling to define themselves beyond their parents’ love and expectations. It has been described as 'beautifully touching, funny and bold.'

Ewan plays the character of Bob Price. He told our sister site ChiswickW4.com that the response to the play has been amazing. "I've never been in a play that's had so much reaction, particularly from young people. I can hear sniffling in the audience when the curtain comes down."

He is delighted to be returning to The Lyric, only a short commute from home, having been on the road for the past year, up and down the country. After the run in the Lyric, there is a week in Bristol's Old Vic, where he hasn't played in over 20 years, and then a well-earned rest.

Ewan pictured at a recent Chiswick Churches for Justice and Peace event with Clare

Ewan has lived with partner Clare Byam Shaw in Chiswick for about 30 years, where they raised their two children, Tom and Eleanor, both now grown up. He says he loves living in W4 and cannot imagine living anywhere else.

He had previously worked with Scott Graham of theatre company Frantic Assembly on Beautiful Burnout (UK tour) and this State Theatre Company South Australia production is a collaboration with Warwick Arts Centre in association with Chichester Festival Theatre and the Lyric Hammersmith.

"I love the dialogue in the play, it's very natural," he said. "It's quite dramatic, in that the members of the family all go through different traumas but then I think that's why people identify with it, everyone experiences some trauma in life."

Ewan was born in Glasgow, and is the son of the late famous Scottish folk singer Andy Stewart. He left Scotland to move to London in 1975 and started working in theatres as well as studying drama.

Ewan's first TV appearance was in an ad for Scottish Bluebell matches. His first major TV appearance was in 1979 in the TV remake of All Quiet on the Western Front (1979), with Richard Thomas, and Ernest Borgnine.

Ewan has also worked extensively with the National Theatre, appearing in The Pillowman, Sergeant Musgrave’s Dance, Major Barbara, The Murderer, Racing Demon, In The Blue, As I Lay Dying and A Month in the Country. Television credits include The Interceptor (BBC), P.O.W. (ITV) and Only Fools and Horses (BBC). But that is only part of the list of his long and varied career- including a role First Officer Murdoch in Titanic (1997) which he said was "hugely exciting." And a two-minute appearance in the Only Fools and Horses episode Sickness and Wealth, in 1989 where he played Dr Robbie Meadows who treats Del Boy in hospital, is still remembered by fans.

Ewan in his role in Titanic

Written by Andrew Bovell and co-directed by Scott Graham and Georgie Brookman, Some Things I Know to Be True also features Matthew Barker (Curious Incident, and Hamlet) and Kirsty Oswald, along with new cast members Cate Hamer, Selina Hizli (Margaret in Grantchester) and Arthur Wilson ( Man and Superman at The National, Call The Midwife) Cate Hamer is also in the latest production (Machinal, at the National Theatre).

Things I Know To Be True, the story of a family and marriage through the eyes of four grown siblings struggling to define themselves beyond their parents' love and expectations, is at the Lyric Hammersmith from 11 January till 3 February, and is suitable for ages 14 upwards. Find out more and book tickets here.

January 8, 2018