Clive Owen and Saskia Reeves's screen history makes their stage reunion all the more emotional | Chris Wiegand

"Reunion of Love and Loss: Clive Owen and Saskia Reeves Bring Close My Eyes to Life in End"

David Eldridge's trilogy, which concludes with End at London's National Theatre, is a poignant exploration of love, loss, and the human experience. The play reunites Clive Owen and Saskia Reeves, who previously starred together in Stephen Poliakoff's 1991 film Close My Eyes. As they navigate Alfie's cancer diagnosis, their on-screen chemistry still crackles, making their reunion all the more emotional.

Inspired by Poliakoff's 1975 play Hitting Town, Close My Eyes tells a haunting tale of doomed love between Natalie (Reeves) and her younger brother Richard (Owen). The film's explicit depiction of an incestuous affair caused a tabloid frenzy upon its release. Eldridge's End expertly captures the same sense of foreboding, as Alfie and Julie confront their own mortality.

The memory of Close My Eyes lingers throughout End, particularly in scenes where Owen and Reeves' characters are consumed by passion. Their dance was a highlight of the original film, with Natalie (Reeves) insisting Richard (Owen) stay on one side of the room to subdue their desire for each other. In End, this spark is still palpable, but it's tempered by the knowledge that Alfie's illness will eventually extinguish it.

Eldridge cleverly exploits the actors' previous roles, making their characters feel more nuanced and authentic. When Alfie reminisces about his carefree past, Owen's screen presence – from Chancer in TV shows like Band of Gold to smooth-talking suave – lingers, underscoring the dishevelment of his current state.

The parallels between Close My Eyes and End are striking. Both play with the blurred lines between love and siblinghood, making it impossible to untangle their complex relationships. Eldridge's writing masterfully navigates these paradoxes, creating a poignant exploration of the human experience.

In this powerful new play, Owen and Reeves continue to weave an effortless spell on stage. They bring their characters' vulnerabilities, ease with each other, love, and fear into sharp focus, infusing End with humor, melancholy, and authenticity.

This reunion is all the more compelling due to Eldridge's expert handling of the actors' past roles. The end result is a play that feels both familiar – as if you've seen their previous performances before – and fresh, its emotional resonance heightened by the weight of Clive Owen and Saskia Reeves' shared screen history.

End at the National Theatre, London, runs until 17 January.

I'm literally so invested in this reunion already! The way Eldridge weaves together their past performances is pure genius it's like they're reading from a shared diary or something and the chemistry between Owen and Reeves is still giving me LIFE their dance scenes are basically the highlight of my week the way they convey vulnerability, love, and fear... *chef's kiss* the play feels both familiar and fresh at the same time what more can you ask for?

I'm totally swooning over this reunion ! Clive Owen and Saskia Reeves have this insane chemistry on stage that's still crackling with passion even after all these years . It's like they're re-living their characters' torrid affair, but this time it's so much more nuanced and layered. David Eldridge's script is pure perfection, it expertly weaves together the complexities of love, loss, and family dynamics to create this masterful exploration of human vulnerability .

I mean, what's even more impressive is how they're able to tap into their past roles and make them feel so authentic on stage. It's like you can see Clive Owen's smooth-talking suave lingering beneath Alfie's current state of dishevelment , and Saskia Reeves' presence is just so commanding as the complex and vulnerable Julie.

It's a really special reunion that feels both familiar and fresh at the same time. I'm definitely going to check out this play at the National Theatre, it sounds like an emotional rollercoaster ride !

I gotta say, I'm intrigued by this reunion of Clive Owen and Saskia Reeves in End... It's like they're tapping into a deep well of emotional chemistry that was already there from their first collaboration in Close My Eyes all those years ago. But what really caught my attention is how the play exploits that history to create something new and nuanced - it's not just a rehashing of old material, but a masterful weaving of past and present into a cohesive whole. The way Eldridge handles Owen's character, for example, using his smooth-talking persona from Band of Gold to contrast with Alfie's current vulnerability... it's pure magic. And Reeves' presence on stage is just as compelling - she brings this sense of quiet strength and intensity that makes the entire production feel authentic and heartfelt. I'm definitely adding End to my watchlist!

omg u gotta see this play!!! clive owen & saskia reeves together again is like a dream come true they're like two peas in a pod on stage, their chemistry still crackles and it's so sad to see them as these characters who are literally dying of cancer but at the same time, u can't help but be drawn into their world because they're just so good together

i love how the play makes you feel like u r right there with alfie & julie, experiencing all their emotions it's not just a pretty face (no pun intended) - the writing is top-notch and eldridge knows exactly how to make u laugh and cry in equal measure

the fact that clive owen gets to show off his smooth-talking skills from band of gold is just the best and saskia reeves is just so vulnerable & heartbreaking as julie what a reunion!

I'm still shook after watching Close My Eyes and End back to back . The way Clive Owen and Saskia Reeves bring their characters to life is just wow . Their chemistry on screen is still so strong even after all these years . It's like they're meant to be together, but fate had other plans. I love how the play explores the blurred lines between love and siblinghood - it's like you can't help but feel for Alfie and Julie .

I'm also loving Clive Owen's range as an actor . From smooth-talking suave in Band of Gold to vulnerable in End, he just nails it . And Saskia Reeves' performance is equally impressive - she's like the queen of emotional depth . The way they navigate Alfie's illness and their complex relationship is just so heart-wrenching .

You can watch Close My Eyes on Amazon Prime .

This reunion between Clive Owen and Saskia Reeves is like a déjà vu for audiences who've seen their on-screen chemistry in Close My Eyes back in '91 . It's like they're picking up right where they left off, but now with the added complexity of adulthood and mortality . I think it's a testament to their acting chops that we can still feel that spark between them, even as Alfie's illness threatens to extinguish it .

But what I find really interesting is how this reunion highlights the politics of aging in our society . We're living in an era where ageism is becoming more mainstream, and older actors are being pushed out of the spotlight . It's refreshing to see Clive Owen and Saskia Reeves getting to revisit their characters, but it also makes me wonder what this says about our broader societal values .

I mean, think about it: we're living in a world where youth is worshipped, and aging is seen as a liability . And yet, here's Clive Owen and Saskia Reeves, who've been around the block a few times, bringing depth and nuance to their characters . It's a reminder that age is just a number, and it's our experiences that truly matter .

So, while End at the National Theatre might be a poignant exploration of love and loss, I think it's also a powerful commentary on the state of aging in our society . And that's something we should be talking about .

I'm not sure I buy all this fuss about a reunion of an old film. I mean, Clive Owen and Saskia Reeves are still great actors, but is it really worth revisiting this super dark and complicated love story? The incestuous theme was a bit too much for me back then... Still, I guess if they can make it work on stage with the same chemistry they had in the film, that's all well. But I'm still not convinced about all these "reunions" being celebrated like they're some sort of Hollywood awards . It just feels a bit too manufactured for my taste...