BRIGHT YOUNG THINGS

From dragon-filled fantasy and historical romance to kitchen sink drama and Welsh language horror, this is a great time for British drama. We meet the men who are making it happen, and admire their new suits 

We’ve always been a theatrical bunch in Great Britain. Maybe it’s some cultural legacy of coming from the country of Shakespeare, Marlowe and the rest, but for a tiny island we’ve always punched well above our weight when it comes to treading the boards. From the historical hamming-it-up at Shakespeare’s Globe to the brutalist concrete of the National Theatre, ancient Mystery plays performed on the streets of York and Chester, or the countless amateur versions of the Mousetrap running in church halls nationwide, we’re all about the drama. This is the country of theatrical legends: John Hurt, Ian Mckellen and Michael Sheen, Tilda Swinton and Maggie Smith – a place where far-out artistic talents can become genuine household names and full-blown national treasures. 

And this isn’t just about our history. Because we’re quietly confident that right now - across television, film and stage - British acting is entering another golden age. Youthful talent like Oli Higginson, Steffan Cennydd and Jordan Luke Gage are shaping up as the stars of tomorrow, conquering America, drawing rave reviews and eyeing up the awards. 

So when we wanted to road test our new summer suits, we thought that the cream of Britain’s young acting talent would be the perfect people to wear them for us. They look great, they’ve all got a story to tell, and they’re used to donning a costume in front of an audience (and quite honestly, stepping into a perfectly fitting linen Pasmore or a sleek double breasted Northfield has got to be more fun than clambering into a pair of tights and a Shakespearean ruff, right?). Five minutes to curtain, gentlemen…