By Kat Mokrynski

The Circle, a comedy written by W. Somerset Maugham and first staged in 1921, is currently playing at the Orange Tree Theatre in Richmond. Starring Jane Asher, the play tells the story of Lady Kitty, a woman who has left her husband (Clive Francis) to elope with a lord (Nicholas Le Pevost). History seems to repeat itself when Lady Kitty’s son (Pete Ashmore) must try to stop his own wife (Olivia Vinall) from eloping with a young man (Chriag Benedict Lobo), but will the circle be broken? 

Recently, I had the chance to speak with Chirag Benedict Lobo about playing Teddie Luton in The Circle. We discussed

In your own words, what is The Circle about?

Combining humour with pain, The Circle by Somerset Maugham tells the story of a group of people from two different generations and their relationship with love whilst navigating society’s expectations of marriage, infidelity and status.

What made you want to be involved in The Circle?

There were several reasons. Firstly, I have always wanted to be stretched as a performer and that’s with new writing as well as classics. So when an opportunity for a person like me, from India to be part of Maugham’s world comes up, it’s tasty because it’s not only rare but actually pretty amazing. Plus, how many times do you get to see a brown man play a person of desire on our stages? It’s giving audience members a chance to see us in a different light especially considering we did exist in those times as well.

Then there is the Orange Tree as a venue to perform in which is so incredibly intimate and exciting you are switched on to play differently in that space. Also, the fact that I did a reading of this very play and role for Tom Littler [Artistic Director of Orange Tree Theatre] over Zoom in my final year at Guildhall [School of Music & Drama] in 2020 and then for him to offer it to me and trust me in his first production as Artistic Director of Orange Tree means the world to me. If someone can believe in me like that then I’m all in.

Can you tell us more about your character, Teddie Luton?

Teddie Luton in our version of The Circle is reimagined as an Indian businessman, who having studied at Oxford is now a manager of a rubber plantation in the Federated Malay States. He has just been demobilised after serving the British Empire in the First World War and has found his heart for the first time overcome with love for Elizabeth. He has a bird’s eye view of life, seeking the soul in what he does and knows how to manage himself around the superficiality of upper-class society while going for what he wants. He’s a charmer who prides himself on not being a “gentleman”.

 

What is it like performing in a comedy that premiered over 100 years ago?

It’s actually been a big learning curve for me. The research to reimagine Teddie as an Indian man led me to learn so much more about my people at that time. It’s incredible how little information is there about us. But going through personal letters of Indians in that period shed a lot of light on how we were perceived as well as how we went about existing in a white society. Plus the fact that we did fight in the First World War for the British Empire and we have very little taught to us is common knowledge, but honestly is really wild.

I also forget that sometimes we are in that period while performing and I think that’s to do with Tom’s direction of our production. He has really focused on us telling the truth of our characters from our point of view rather than getting trapped in the fact that it is from a certain time. Of course, don’t get me wrong, text and costumes and even behaviour has elements of that time, but human nature is human nature, no?

 

How do you think The Circle can be interpreted in the modern world?

I think there has definitely been a massive change in the approach to relationships across the board from when the play was written to now. 1920s England is not the England of 2023. But I feel that although there is this change, there is a larger part of world society that hasn’t completely broken off the shackles of patriarchy and the control that the institution of marriage can have, especially on women. It is very evident that there are people who are trapped in unhappy relationships and fear what their respective communities would say if they have to call it quits. The play also questions how society treats a woman when it comes to the possibility of divorce and starting over again. And when you consider Maugham and the parallels that this story has to his personal life then you will realise that this covers a wider group of people irrespective of gender, race and sexual orientation.

 

What do you hope audiences take away from The Circle?

Depending on where you are in life you will see yours or the lives of people you might know playing out on stage. It will be funny but also exhilarating and heart breaking. And that leads me to the incredible cast I feel so blessed to be part of. Jane, Clive and Nick who have such legendary careers are at the top of their game here. Robert as Murray has his own charm and truth that is so pleasing to watch. And then, of course, Pete is a genius in this play and Olivia is of a different class altogether. If anything, just come for them and I am sure you will be treated to a lovely evening at the Orange Tree.

 

How would you describe The Circle in one word?

As Teddie Luton would say, “ripping”!

Thank you to Chirag Benedict Lobo for the insightful interview and to Alice James and Rebecca Bullmore for arranging it!

The Circle runs at the Orange Treet Theatre until 17 June. Tickets can be purchased here.