Natalie is back on the boards (From Croydon Guardian)

Natalie is back on the boards

3:56pm Thursday 26th August 2010 in

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A revival of Arthur Wing Pinero’s play The Thunderbolt opens The Orange Tree Theatre’s new season on Wednesday. For actress Natalie Ogle the production represents a huge challenge, as it will see her perform on stage for the first time in more than a decade, writes Will Gore.

Ogle is known for television roles in We’ll Meet Again and costume dramas such as David Copperfield and Pride and Prejudice, but she took a break from acting on the stage 16 years ago to raise her two children.

Yet when The Orange Tree’s artistic director Sam Walter offered her a part in his produ-ction of The Thunderbolt, a play which moves away from Pinero’s home turf of London society and tells the story of the Mortimore family who are at war over an estranged brother’s will, she jumped at the chance to tread the boards again.

Ogle, who plays the part of Phyllis, a woman who has married into the Mortimore family, says: “Sixteen years ago I was leaving home to do a play at the Croydon Warehouse and my kids were sick. I had to leave them with a babysitter but I couldn’t stand it – I made a decision to stop until they were old enough to cope without me.

“For years I’ve said I’d love to get back into theatre by doing a show at the Orange Tree as it is not too big or frightening, so when I was offered a chance to be in this production it was just right. My children are 18 and 20 and are completely self-sufficient. I don’t have to worry about them – they can take their own Lemsip now.”

Ogle is married to fellow actor and current president of artsrichmond Clive Francis. By sheer coincidence they will both be performing in Richmond simultaneously as the run of The Thunderbolt overlaps for a week with Richmond Theatre’s hosting of the touring production of Enron, in which Francis stars.

The couple live in Hampton and Ogle says they are looking forward to performing close to home and to each other.

“Clive and I met working together many years ago and haven’t done it again since,” she adds. We are obviously not in the same show now but it will be very nice that we will be able to meet up for a drink after our performances.”

The Thunderbolt, Orange Tree Theatre, September 1 - October 2, for more information and to book tickets, visit orangetreetheatre.co.uk.