Sir Alan and wife debut play at home

VETERANS Alan & Heather

SIR Alan Ayckbourn has performed the world premiere of his 84th play with his wife – by treading the boards in his sitting room.

The British playwright, 81, and actress Heather Stoney, 79, recorded Anno Domino – about the breakdown of a long-established marriage – for the Stephen Joseph Theatre.

The couple, who took on four parts each in the play, last shared the stage in 1964 before Sir Alan committed himself fully to writing.

Paul Robinson, Artistic Director of the SJT, said Sir Alan “pulled one out of the bag” after the theatre had to cancel their summer programme due to Covid-19.

The play, filmed at the writer’s home in Scarborough, North Yorkshire, is available to watch on the SJT website until June 25.

NAZANIN Zaghari-Ratcliffe is clinging to the hope she could be home for her daughter’s sixth birthday as she waits to hear if she will be pardoned by Iran today.

The British mum, on temporary release from prison in Tehran and under lockdown at her parents’ home, hoped she would hear on Wednesday if she had been granted clemency.

Iran’s supreme leader announced last week there would be more than 3,000 prisoners pardoned to coincide with Eid, but the news she was free to return to daughter Gabriella and husband Richard in London failed to come.

Charity worker Nazanin, 42, will call officials today to discover whether her lawyer or father should report to the prosecutor’s office to learn if she is to be released after four years in prison.

Mr Ratcliffe said: “Nazanin’s having lots of dreams of being lost and unable to get home, unable to reach out to people nearby who walk away. This is a really practised game of cat and mouse they play with prisoners, I hope we really are at the end of it.

“Gabriella isn’t so aware, there’s hope for her birthday.”

Nazanin was at Tehran’s Imam Khomeini Airport with Gabriella, who turns six on June 11, when she was held under false spying charges in April 2016. She was sentenced to five years, but was released temporarily on March 17 to her parents’ home after Covid-19 hit Evin prison.

But she can video-call her family who returned to Britain so Gabriella could start school. Mr Ratcliffe said: “By law, they have to grant it. But the law hasn’t been so binding for IRGC [Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps] actions in our case.

“I suspect it’s a stand-off with parts of the judiciary who want to uphold the law, and the IRGC who haven’t finished using her as a bargaining chip.”

Nazanin’s supporters claim she is being held because of historical unpaid arms debts of £400million by the UK.

If good news does not come, Mr Ratcliffe wants the British ambassador to visit her. He has refused to do so far. He added: “It’s a really weak signal the Government will actually stand up for Nazanin or others.”

This is a game of cat and mouse they play, I hope we are at the end

RICHARD RATCLIFFE ON WIFE’S POSSIBLE RELEASE