Fox family to make local return for Northern Aldborough FestivalFamous acting family set for play premiere in Harrogate

Members of an acting dynasty will be in Harrogate next month for the premiere of a play about their ancestor.

Samson Fox will be the focus for The Man Who Captured Sunlight at the Royal Hall, exploring the inventor’s life and his controversial legal battle with author Jerome K Jerome.

The play has been penned by Doctor Who writer Gavin Collinson and aims to celebrate the former mayor of Harrogate’s achievements – including building the Royal Hall.

It will be seen by Samson Fox’s great great grandson, the actor Freddie Fox, and his mother and fellow actor Joanna David, as well as other members of the famous family.

They will take part in a Q&A after the matinee on Friday, September 23, along with the actors and director Sian Murray.

Freddie, recently known for playing Mark Thatcher in Netflix series The Crown, said:

“Regardless of my connection with the Royal Hall, which I just think is the most amazing building anyway, I just think the notion of celebrating great new work, particularly as the story of Samson is so intrinsically tied to Harrogate, is utterly vital.”

Samson Fox grew up in poverty but went on to become a wealthy man and renowned inventor, responsible for revolutionising train travel, engine construction and street lighting.

On his death in 1903, King Edward VII sent a telegram of condolence to his adopted home town of Harrogate – but that, along with many of his other letters, medals and awards, were lost or destroyed over the years.

Read more:

The late Harrogate historian Malcolm Neesam found the royal telegram disintegrating in a skip when much of the former mayor’s heritage was ripped out in the 1970s.

Now, however, his story is being brought to life in a new play produced by Harrogate agency Cause UK. Director Clair Challenor-Chadwick said:

“Harrogate owes a great deal to Samson – as does the world, not just for his inventions and engineering legacy but his vital role in the arts.

“It’s fitting that the play has been written by Doctor Who writer Gavin Collinson, as it’s a bit of a time-bending scenario that without Samson, we wouldn’t have this incredible acting dynasty.

“As well as Freddie, Edward, James [and] Emilia, there’s also Robert Fox – the acclaimed theatre producer behind David Bowie’s last production, Lazarus.”

Freddie added:

“No-one would really know who Samson was, and yet if you trace the history of his inventions and the legacy of what they created now, he is probably one of the most important names in industry for this country.

“So yes, a bit of celebration of Samson’s genius is long overdue.”