Ink (Duke of York’s Theatre, London) by James Graham #inktheplay

Ink is, at its heart, a relationship story.  Primarily it is about the relationship between Rupert Murdoch, wonderfully portrayed by Bertie Carvel as clipped, intense, in-your-face and not terribly likeable and Larry Lamb, the first editor of Murdoch’s tabloid paper, The Sun; divinely done as a driven, reaching, all-or-nothing type by Richard Coyle.  What starts as a courtship rapidly becomes a dysfunctional union in which Murdoch prods, pleads and berates Lamb to take the circulation of The Sun out of the gutter into the stratosphere.  Like someone trying to win the love and approval of a standoffish mate, Lamb drives himself and those around him as though the devil is on his tail, dispensing with, not only established mores, but often decency and any semblance of good taste.  They prove to be a match made in newspaper heaven, each willing to sacrifice all to the gods of commerce.

Lamb’s hastily gathered and somewhat motley crew of writers, editors and photogs are a terrific ensemble in which Sophie Stanton, Tim Steed, Rachel Caffrey and Jack Holden shine.  His relationships with them are at times cajoling, reasoning, fraternal and threatening.  There is a feeling that they are all in the same lifeboat and whether they make it to shore or not will be a result of their group efforts.

Other relationships that are examined are those between Murdoch and his wife and the contentious union of the paper’s executives and the lads who are doing the actual printing. 

In the end the relationship that was, at the time, and remains the most relevant is that between the paper and its readers.  A terrific question to ask then, as well as now, is ‘what is news/newsworthy’?  Turns out that a huge chunk of the population likes its news to be bold, brash, in-your-face and more than slightly titillating.  Was Murdoch prescient or the mid-wife of a new era in reporting? 

However you feel about the written press or The Sun, in particular, Ink is a theatrical rocket-ship ride of clever, fast-paced dialogue and great acting and Bunny Christie’s brilliant bi-level set is worth going to see in and of itself.