Alumni Theatre Careers Combine   

The careers of two Alleyn’s alumni have collided in a happy coincidence as actor Nick Day (Dutton’s 1966) stars in a brand-new production of Michael Hastings’s (Brading’s 1953) forgotten gem Don’t Destroy Me.   

Two's Company which is acclaimed for bringing forgotten masterpieces to London theatres in sparkling new productions is staging Don’t Destroy Me by pioneering Jewish author and playwright, Michael Hastings (Brading’s 1953) in the new year. 

Don't Destroy Me is a tender and insightful story about a tailor's apprentice growing up in a rackety Jewish household. It was the first play that Michael wrote and it was produced when he was 18. It captured the attention of the founder of the English Stage Company at the Royal Court, George Devine, who adopted Hastings as a protégé after seeing the play.   

The play is hitting the stage of London’s Arcola Theatre from 10 January and will run until 3 February 2024. In an amazing alumni coincidence, the plays fantastic cast includes another successful Alleyn’s Alumnus, Nick Day. Nick will play the role of The Rabbi. 

Nick’s acting career includes many well-known and successful theatre, TV and film appearances, including among others, The Crown, Poirot, Midsomer Murders, Foyle’s War and Inspector Lynley. In 2017 he also published a book about Shakespeare and the RSC, On Bard Duty.   

Tickets for Don’t Destroy Me and more information about Nick Day can be found on the Arcola Theatre website.  

Michael was the winner of two Emmy Awards, two BAFTAs, the Somerset Maugham Award and was nominated for an Oscar. You can find out more about the life and career of Michael Hastings in an obituary on The Guardian website and in a recent Guardian article, 'Seeking Michael Hastings, the missing man of British theatre' published on 5 January 2024.