CULTURE: Shepherd Shines Light on British History; Actor and Writer Jack Shepherd Tells Terry Grimley Why He Believes Theatre Audiences Are Ready for Serious Plays about Revolution and Citizenship

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Byline: Terry Grimley

When Jack Shepherd's new play Through a Cloud opens at Birmingham Rep tonight, there is a sense in which it will be coming home.

It was partly written in the building last year, when Shepherd was appearing in the David Hare trilogy at the Rep and staying in a flat at the top of the theatre.

'The play was going through its final stages, and there was no distraction,' he recalls. 'It was a very odd feeling to get up in the morning, put the kettle on and walk about 15 paces to the rehearsal room.'

One of Britain's most recognisable actors, having served his time as a TV policeman in Wyclife among many other roles, Shepherd also has a substantial list of plays to his credit as an author. However,Through a Cloud provides a kind of companion piece to the first, In Lambeth.

Both focus on imaginary conversations between real historical figures. Where in the case of In Lambeth Tom Paine and William Blake were debating the revolution about to take place in France, in Through a Cloud Oliver …