Interview | The stars of Spitting Image discuss snogs, the ’60s, and same-sex parenting
In ‘Spitting Image’, opening at London’s King’s Head Theatre next week (August 2), Gary is having a baby and long-term lover Tom is the father. We caught up with Neil Chinneck [Tom] and Alan Grant [Gary] to discuss snogs, the sixties and same-sex parenting…Is this your first on-stage gay kiss? Alan:
No, but it’s by far the best.
Neil: Thanks mate. Same, it’s not the first, I had a kiss in an all-male version of A Clockwork Orange, but this is much more…
A: Loving and tender.
N: Exactly!
A: No tongues though.
N: It’s coming, it’s coming… there’s a great big snog at the end!
How do you think society would really react if two men conceived naturally?
A: [laughs] I reckon they’d go on This Morning and talk to Phillip Scofield about it.
N: I think there’d be some mild hysteria. Nutters would start saying it was the end of the world. I’m sure that Westboro Baptist Church lot would have something to say about it.
A: It’d be amazing though.
N: Yeah, I think it would change everyone’s perspective on everything. The world would be a very different place. In a good way.
A: I hope in the end people would just accept it. At least I hope they would.
Is there anything you think is better about the sixties than today?
A: Loads of stuff. Music. Clothes. The English football team.
N: Though I was watching a documentary the other day about how the sixties was a bit crap, and not all that swinging…
A: Outside of Soho.
N: Right. I think it was maybe a more hopeful time. People did think the world was about to change quite radically.
A: And you really can’t compare bands like The Beatles and The Kinks with –
N: One Direction.
A: Hey, One Direction are good!
What’s been the best thing about rehearsals so far?
A: Nothing really.
N: No.
A: It’s been torture. Half the cast have had panic attacks!
N: Don’t forget the thumb screws and the whip.
A: No it’s been really fun… the dialogue is fast and smart and sassy.
N: And the rehearsal room is air conditioned.
A: I’m quite looking forward to wearing a prosthetic pregnancy bump too. The audience reaction should be interesting…
N: There’s a great mix of funny scenes and tender scenes and tense emotional scenes. The characters go on a real journey.
Are Gary and Tom good parents?
A: Oh my God. They’re dreadful parents.
N: [laughs] I don’t know, Gary’s a good parent. He’s good at cleaning.
A: Whereas Tom is a bit like –
N: Another child!
A: I think Gary had a very troubled upbringing, so he’s trying to compensate.
N: And they do love each other. They go through a lot together, with the baby.
A: Completely, and I think if you wanted were a gay couple in the sixties and you wanted to bring up a child with your partner, you couldn’t. It’s a really powerful and joyous symbol of equality.
Spitting Image is a London’s King’s Head Theatre production and will run from August 2nd to August 27th.
Purchase tickets here.
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