An extension has been announced for The Truth About Harry Beck, a new play exploring the life of the designer behind the iconic London Tube map. The play, which premiered to critical acclaim at the Cubic Theatre located within the London Transport Museum in Covent Garden, is now running until 5th January with tickets are on sale now here.

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Produced by the Natural Theatre Company, The Truth About Harry Beck is penned and directed by Andy Burden. The production features set design by Sue Condie, with Simon Snashall portraying ‘Harry Beck’ and Ashley Christmas as ‘Nora Beck.’

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Expressing his enthusiasm, writer and director Andy Burden stated, “We’re absolutely thrilled with the incredible response since our opening, and we’re even more excited to bring Harry Beck’s story to life for a whole new audience in this wonderful museum setting!”

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Harry Beck is the visionary behind the London Tube Map.

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While the London Underground might seem purely utilitarian to most, for Harry Beck, it became a lifelong obsession—one that involved the quest for a perfect Tube map. But how did he craft the iconic diagram we know today, and what did it cost him? To find out, audiences are invited to meet Harry and his wife, Nora.

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Embark on a journey filled with passion, a wife’s unwavering support, and the dynamic energy of London’s underground network. Transport enthusiasts and curious minds alike will enjoy a blend of historical accounts, surprising anecdotes, and seemingly unrelated facts—all spiced up with a touch of fictional storytelling.

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The Natural Theatre Company invites you to experience this whimsical exploration of design, transportation, modern history, and the relentless pursuit of perfection. Simon Snashall stars as ‘Harry Beck,’ with TV credits including Humans, The IT Crowd, Silent Witness, Spooks, and Inspector Lynley Mysteries. His theater repertoire features Summer Street (Brighton Fringe, Waterloo East), Horrible Christmas (Birmingham Stage), Around the World in Eighty Days (Arcola), and the role of 'Tony Hancock' in Hancock’s Last Half Hour (Southwold Summer Theatre / Henley Fringe).

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Ashley Christmas stars as ‘Nora Beck,’ a role that has earned her an Offies Award nomination for Best Lead Performance in a Play. A long-standing collaborator with Andy Burden, Ashley has been with the Natural Theatre Company for over 20 years, including the previous staging of The Truth About Harry Beck at the Ustinov Studio in Bath. Her stage credits include Darcy’s Ball (Mission Theatre, Bath), Crimes on the Coast (New Old Friends), See How They Run (York Theatre Royal), Alice Through the Looking Glass (Tobacco Factory), and The Bloody Chamber (Proteus Theatre).

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Andy Burden, the writer and director of the play, brings nearly three decades of directing experience, including three Christmas shows at Bristol’s Tobacco Factory: Alice Through the Looking Glass, A Christmas Carol, and The Adventures of Pinocchio. For the Natural Theatre Company, he has directed Dirty Bath, A Christmas Cracker, Shakespeare Begins, Austen Undone, Austen Lost & Found, and Scarlatti In Paradise, as well as Henry V for Company Boudin, and Fly Eddie Fly and The Final Journey of Edward Wilson for Cheltenham Everyman.

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In addition to directing, Andy has also written and co-written several works including The Chronicles of Hoggett & Webb, Henry VIII and the Royal Wedding Planner, I Shot Dirty Den, When I Was Ten I Could Fly, and The Meaning of Riff. He has successfully adapted The Count of Monte Cristo and the Terry Gilliam film The Fisher King for the stage. He currently serves as the Artistic & Executive Director of the Natural Theatre Company.

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London Transport Museum is expanding its programming to engage new audiences, inspired by the culture and creativity of the West End. This new theatre offering is part of the Museum’s strategy to introduce more music, performance, art, and design, providing fresh ways for visitors to explore London’s transport history and the influential figures who have shaped the city.

This vision is led by Elizabeth McKay, Director and CEO of London Transport Museum.

Elizabeth McKay commented, “Introducing a play about the man behind the iconic Tube map was an easy decision for us. London Transport Museum is a cultural hub in Covent Garden, right in the heart of theatreland, and this production lets audiences discover one of London’s lesser-known stories in a unique live format. We are excited to bring the city’s history and characters to life.”

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As a special offer, London Transport Museum is providing The Truth About Harry Beck ticket holders a half-price day pass to the museum, valid for one month from the date of their performance. More information, including terms and conditions, is available online.

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Visitors to the Covent Garden museum can also explore the London by Design gallery, which highlights the development of the London Underground map, featuring one of the earliest printed versions of Harry Beck’s 1933 Pocket Underground map, alongside contemporary maps inspired by his iconic design.