Actor's life experience helps shape Alan Turing play

An actor says he has been able to draw on his own life experiences to connect with a the role of Alan Turing in a new stage production.

Mark Edel-Hunt takes the lead role in Breaking the Code, Hugh Whitemore's acclaimed play about the mathematician and World War Two codebreaker which opens at Northampton's Royal & Derngate before touring nationwide.

The play, based on the book Alan Turing, The Enigma, by Andrew Hodges, examines how society's attitude towards Turing's sexuality changed the course of his life.

Mr Edel-Hunt said: "He was gay, I'm gay. He experienced homophobia, I've experienced homophobia. He had a quite biting sense of humour… I think I can be a bit like that."

Turing's work helped accelerate Allied efforts to read German Naval messages enciphered with the Enigma encryption machine.

Turing died in June 1954 from cyanide poisoning and an inquest decided that he had committed suicide.

However, biographers, friends and other students of his life dispute the finding and suggest his death was an accident.

His later life was overshadowed by his conviction and it was almost 60 years before he was pardoned.

Mr Edel-Hunt added: "It's a mixed blessing playing someone who existed because there's this wealth of material.

£But then you have to leave some of that behind and just do the play as if it was a character."

The revival will feature new material, including an epilogue addressing Turing's lasting legacy and his posthumous pardon in 2013.

Artistic Director Jesse Jones, who is directing the production, said the story felt more urgent than ever.

"The play speaks surprisingly about AI and intelligent machines, and Alan's theories and birthing of some of that thought," he said.

"That feels really pertinent to today."

The production runs from 11 to 27 September before touring to Barnstaple, Oxford, Peterborough, Liverpool and Manchester.

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