Hess story is complex and captivating

Taking on a one-man show is a challenging task for an actor.

But Derek Crawford Munn is relishing the role of playing Hitler’s right-hand man Rudolf Hess.

HESS visits the Tolbooth on Saturday, and looks at the Nazi politician’s later years locked in a jail cell.

“It’s different because the rehearsal process is different,” Derek told the Observer. “You are relying on yourself a lot of the time. It can be quite easy in a big show. You get in in the morning and there are lots of people there - you can have a chat and a coffee.

“But on your own you have to motivate yourself to go to a rehearsal and have to motivate yourself to stay there.

“It may sound a bit pompous, but as an actor there is not greater feeling than being on stage and having the audience’s attention on you.”

In May 1941 Rudolf Hess, Deputy Fuhrer of the German Reich, bailed out of a plane over Scotland on a self-appointed mission of peace. He was immediately imprisoned and later, at the Nuremberg Trials, sentenced to life imprisonment on charges of conspiracy for war and crimes against peace.

HESS is set years into Rudolf Hess’ incarceration in the infamous Spandau Prison. He supposes what he might say to an audience about himself, the Third Reich, and the world we have created since the downfall of the Nazis. Hitler’s Deputy asks the question – how much has really changed? Is it really a better place to live?

“There is a lot more about Hess that people do not know,” Derek said. “It can be argued that he was almost solely responsible for the Holocaust. The Hess Act, as it was called, was introduced in 1935 and was the blueprint for the Holocaust.”

Derek said he enjoys the challenge of playing such a complex character in the play, which is a revival of Michael Burrell’s award-winning show.

Tweaks have been made to the show to make it even more poignant and relative to the present day.

“The audience feel a range of emotions. Michael Burrell, who we lost in 2014, is a genius and has written a play that you instantly feel sympathy for an old man who has been in prison for 40 years. It makes it fascinating. There is the poignancy of it all, and then you get to show them the other side of Hess too.”

HESS takes place at the Tolbooth at 8pm on Saturday (May 20).