Rachel Pickup has recently finished her run playing Mrs Patrick Campbell in the two-hander play Dear Liar at London’s Jermyn Street Theatre, with the show exploring the relationship between George Bernard Shaw (played by Alan Turkington) and Mrs Patrick Campbell, which shaped the creation of Pygmalion. Previously, Rachel played Portia in The Merchant of Venice in New York City, at Shakespeare’s Globe and on the International Tour, working opposite Sir Jonathan Pryce as Shylock, and amongst her further theatre and screen work, Rachel was in the cast of Barefoot in the Park and played Miss André in Series 2 and 3 of The Gilded Age. We found out from Rachel about her recent run as Mrs Patrick Campbell in Dear Liar, her time as Portia in The Merchant of Venice and playing Miss André in The Gilded Age on screen.

You have recently finished your run as Mrs Patrick Campbell in Dear Liar at Jermyn Street Theatre in London, was there anything that drew you to the production?

Everything. I love Jermyn Street Theatre first of all and have always loved working here. Recently, I did a short workshop with our director Stella (Powell-Jones) and loved it, but it was so brief and I really wanted to have the opportunity to work with her on a full production. I saw that she was doing Dear Liar and I had read it a few years ago and just loved it, so I wrote to her about it. Then she offered it to me out of the blue and told me the divine Alan Turkington was playing Shaw – and there it was.

And the play – the words – they are extraordinary. I love the words of both of them. Mrs Pat is as great with words in her own special way as Shaw is, and their relationship endures so much. She is a powerhouse. Mrs Pat was a bit of a trailblazer in many ways, as well as being, by all accounts, a magnificent actress – THE actress of her day. She is not really known now, and that feels so wrong. So the opportunity to play her, to say those words, and to work with such a wonderful team was a glorious and completely seductive one.

With the play exploring the relationship between Mrs Patrick Campbell and George Bernard Shaw, which shaped the creation of Pygmalion, can you tell us more about the show and how did it feel to take on the role of Mrs Patrick Campbell?

It is no mean challenge trying to step into the shoes of such a one as Mrs P – “Stella Stellarum”, “Beatricissima”, as she is called by Shaw. The show follows the nearly 50 years of their writing to each other, years which chart so many changes in the world – the First World War, the beginning of the Second – and personal changes too: family losses, divorces, and general strife that comes with being a living, breathing human. And of course, art and the theatre.

The play is about this relationship and how it evolves: from passionate romantic love to collaborators, to tormentors, and finally to age-old friends. They seem to be able to say anything to each other, and there is a deep love there, a deep respect and understanding, as well as frustration and fury, mischief and grief, and profound friendship. I will miss it terribly, I must say.

How has it been working opposite Alan Turkington (as George Bernard Shaw) and what did you enjoy most about performing in a two-hander?

He is a GEM of a human and an actor. I have actually learned a lot from working with him too – he does not know that; I will tell him on the last night, when I have had a drink. I love his dedication, his ferocious honesty, and his focus and attention to detail. It seems to me that every night he finds something new or different.

I feel so present with him on stage – he is right there, blazingly full of energy and integrity, always with a twinkle in his eye and that magnificent voice. And I will tell you what else: he is an immensely kind person. The idea of doing a two-hander without that would be too awful, but Alan is the kindest and most generous man and actor, and I feel boundlessly grateful and lucky to have had the opportunity to meet and work with him.

It is strange that our paths had not crossed before, as we have so much in common – as is often the way. Anyway, lucky, lucky me. I feel he IS Shaw: glorious, witty, clever, strong and singular.

Having previously performed at Jermyn Street Theatre as Corrie in Barefoot in the Park (2000), Eva in For Services Rendered (2019), Narrator in The Odyssey (2021) and Miranda in The Tempest (2021); what is the venue like to perform at?

I adore the intimacy – and my goodness, it IS intimate – but that is a wonderful thing. It brings authenticity, I think. There is no hiding. It forces you to be real and present.

I also genuinely think that everyone in that building makes it what it is. The team is a lovely one and the audiences are too. It feels similar to one of my favourite theatres in NYC, the Irish Repertory Theatre… There is a family feel to both of these venues, and I think it creates a special atmosphere. I think it is the jewel box of the West End.

What are some of your favourite memories from playing Portia in The Merchant of Venice in New York City, at Shakespeare’s Globe and on the International Tour?

Walking around China on my own for five weeks was quite unexpected! But it was a mighty challenge, that job – and such a great privilege to try to meet it every show. I loved being in New York with the Globe – my two homes coming together, London and NYC, I mean.

I think the director, Jonathan Munby, did a magnificent job on that play – NOT an easy play – and I think he found something very brilliant in it. As did Sir Jonathan Pryce too, of course. His Shylock was stupendous and raw.

How was it developing the character of Miss André across Series 2 and 3 of The Gilded Age?

What a joy to be amongst all those top theatre actors of New York. I felt privileged to be a part of it. Most of what Miss André had to do happened off-screen, so I had a fantastic time filling in her story for myself.

I loved her honesty: “money is money”. She needed it, she wanted it, she took it. I would have adored to have had another season to play her and develop her further. I think Julian Fellowes is brilliant at plot and intrigue.

It too was a gorgeous team of folks, and I will love to think of them as they start shooting this next season… Maybe I will go and say hi – I am due a trip to my other home.