The Truth About Harry Beck

Harry Beck is not a name that most of us will recognise but we will all be familiar with his legacy. As creator of the London Tube Map, he arguably made London’s most iconic work of art.

Writer and director Andy Burden spent 14 years writing and re-writing the play which is based on Ken Garland’s book "Mr Beck's Underground Map" striving to bring Harry Beck's story to public attention.

So, on the fiftieth anniversary of his death, we arrived at the perfect venue, London Transport’s Museum’s 110-seat Cubic Theatre, to watch the Natural Theatre Company’s stage version kick off a two-month run.

Beck's map or as he prefers ‘diagram’ was first introduced in 1933 and was an instant hit revolutionizing the system. Harry and Nora run us through the timeline which leads to the publication in well-worked dialogue skipping through the notable events at pace. Addressing both the audience and each other with humorous exchanges as the story unfolds.

Harry Beck is played by Simon Snashall and Nora Beck is played by Ashley Christmas who has a 20-year history with the Natural Theatre Company. This two hander offers us a brief glimpse into the inner musings of Harry Beck and his dutiful wife without whom the ‘diagram’ would probably not have been made. The map and its continuous updates soon consume Harry monopolizing all his time for which he never receives proper recognition or the compensation he was due during his lifetime.

Whilst sat on London Transport style seats, the intimate theatre brings you closer to the heart of the story. This 70-minute play is a salute to Harry Beck and his determination to ‘his baby’ despite personal struggles and the emotional toll it clearly took on him and his wife. The Truth About Harry Beck has brought to life something that I had just taken for granted my whole life. I’ll never look at tube map in the same way again. A well told and enlightening play for anyone that has ever used the London Underground.

The Truth About Harry Beck will play at London Transport Museum’s Cubic Theatre from 14 September to 10 November.


Photo credit: Mark Douet