Brian Cox Recalls the Time he saw Tom Stoppard's Rock'n'Roll and Met Mick Jagger
A decade or so ago, I found myself cast alongside Rufus Sewell in Tom Stoppard's play Rock'n'Roll at London's Royal Court Theatre. It was an incredibly engaging experience, as we performed alongside two plays: Sappho and the Soviet takeover in Czechoslovakia - two themes that were central to Tom's vision for this theatrical piece.
My character, Max, a Marxist academic, was loosely based on Eric Hobsbawm, but what distinguished our performances was how Tom prioritised his main ideas over character development. I once asked him about my character and he said: 'Because you are' - a simple yet compelling statement that revealed the essence of Stoppard's approach to writing.
The first night of Rock'n'Roll was particularly memorable - it featured Václav Havel, Timothy Garton Ash, Dave Gilmour of Pink Floyd, and even Mick Jagger in attendance. While we performed well critically, what truly amazed me was Tom's ability to gauge the audience's needs without compromising his vision. He brought a level of elegance to every aspect of the production.
In fact, I recall encountering Tom at one point during rehearsals - he had been waiting patiently for the meter to reach 12 pm so that he could pay for parking. His comment on this matter was that 'it's all about elegance'. This anecdote encapsulates his approach to life and theatre: a blend of intellectual curiosity and refined sensibility.
Meeting Tom Stoppard was always a thrilling experience, but it is memories like these that highlight the complexity and charisma of this extraordinary playwright.
A decade or so ago, I found myself cast alongside Rufus Sewell in Tom Stoppard's play Rock'n'Roll at London's Royal Court Theatre. It was an incredibly engaging experience, as we performed alongside two plays: Sappho and the Soviet takeover in Czechoslovakia - two themes that were central to Tom's vision for this theatrical piece.
My character, Max, a Marxist academic, was loosely based on Eric Hobsbawm, but what distinguished our performances was how Tom prioritised his main ideas over character development. I once asked him about my character and he said: 'Because you are' - a simple yet compelling statement that revealed the essence of Stoppard's approach to writing.
The first night of Rock'n'Roll was particularly memorable - it featured Václav Havel, Timothy Garton Ash, Dave Gilmour of Pink Floyd, and even Mick Jagger in attendance. While we performed well critically, what truly amazed me was Tom's ability to gauge the audience's needs without compromising his vision. He brought a level of elegance to every aspect of the production.
In fact, I recall encountering Tom at one point during rehearsals - he had been waiting patiently for the meter to reach 12 pm so that he could pay for parking. His comment on this matter was that 'it's all about elegance'. This anecdote encapsulates his approach to life and theatre: a blend of intellectual curiosity and refined sensibility.
Meeting Tom Stoppard was always a thrilling experience, but it is memories like these that highlight the complexity and charisma of this extraordinary playwright.
I mean, what's next? Waiting for the sun to rise so you can start your day? 
, and I love how he prioritized his ideas over character development - it's like he was saying "Hey, let's focus on the big picture here". 
And can we talk about how cool it was to have Mick Jagger at the premiere? 
i've seen rock'n'roll a few times now and it never fails to impress me, the way he weaves together different themes and ideas is pure mastermind 
... But honestly, isn't it cool how Tom prioritized his artistic vision over people's needs? It's like he was saying, just because something works doesn't mean it's elegant. What I think is really beautiful about this story is that elegance comes from within - it's not always easy to achieve, but when you do, it can be truly captivating 
...
. Can we get some sources on this story? I need to see some pics or vids of Brian Cox and Mick Jagger together at the play 
The way he describes Tom's approach to theatre is so 
Those backstage moments with Václav Havel, Timothy Garton Ash, and Mick Jagger are like straight out of a dream movie 
And the fact that Tom was all about precision, from timing his parking payment to 12 pm 
is just too relatable for me 
I can totally see why Brian Cox had such a memorable experience with Tom Stoppard 
. Can we please get some mobile optimization already?! I tried to read Brian Cox's interview about Tom Stoppard's Rock'n'Roll and my phone had to zoom in on like 10 pages of text just to see the actual article 
. It's like, hello, we live in 2025, can't you guys adapt a bit? 
. And who can forget a playwright being so down-to-earth about paying for parking? 
.
IT'S SO INTERESTING TO SEE HOW TOM PPrioritised HIS BIG IDEAS OVER CHARACTER DEVELOPMENT IN ROCK'N'ROLL - IT REVEALS SO MUCH ABOUT HIS WRITING STYLE AND PERSONALITY! 
IT'S LIKE, WHO WOULDN'T WANT TO SEE HIM ON STAGE?! 
, i mean who waits for parking meters to pay? 
this anecdote about him waiting for the meter to hit 12 pm is everything - the man is so refreshingly humble 
anyway, im more of a rock music guy myself, never been a fan of theatre unless its got some sick beats 
