James Norton is keen to keep doing what he loves (Picture: David M. Benett/Dave Benett/Getty Images for Netflix)
James Norton has revealed how he keeps going on stage despite having type 1 diabetes.
The actor is due to take to the stage in A Little Life, a play adapted from the 2015 novel by American writer Hanya Yanagihara.
It’s not a short play by any means, as the lengthy book will be adapted into a 3.5 hour live performance, telling an immensely powerful and heartbreaking story of brotherly love and the limits of human endurance.
Happy Valley star James will take on the role of Jude, and spoke on The Graham Norton Show on Friday (January 6) about how he’ll endure the long play with his condition.
‘It is three and a half hours long. In the Dutch production, which went from Amsterdam to Edinburgh, and had a little run in New York, that was four hours, but the amazing producers made this only three and a half,’ he began.
‘I have on interval, but the book is 800 pages, so there’s a lot to get through.’
The actor opened up to Graham Norton on how he’ll perform while navigating his condition (Picture: PA)
‘For you, you’re diabetic, so is that difficult to be on stage for that length of time?’, chat show host Graham quizzed.
‘The added component is that I don’t leave the stage for a couple of hours and I am a type 1 diabetic, so I have juice, and I can’t bring it up because it’s got branding on it!
‘But I have sweet things which I’ll have to have scattered around the stage just in case I go hypoglycaemic.’
Type 1 diabetes causes the level of glucose (sugar) in the blood to become too high.
According to the NHS, the condition occurs when the body cannot produce enough of a hormone called insulin, which controls blood glucose.
The type 1 diabetic will take to the stage at the Harold Pinter Theatre in March (Picture: PA)
Hypoglycaemia, or a ‘hypo’, is where the level of sugar in the blood drops too low, which can be dangerous if it’s not treated quickly.
However, it tends to be easily treated by the individual, hence why James plans on having sweet items nearby in case of an emergency mid-show.
But, he’s keen to not let the condition prevent him from doing what he loves, admitting it’s just an ‘added thing to navigate.’
‘For all the type 1 diabetics out there, it does not stop you from doing long, four-hour plays,’ he said with a chuckle.
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‘Type 1 diabetics watching this are going, “Oh. I thought that was the perk?”,’ added comic Graham.
James will take to the stage alongside Luke Thompson, Omari Douglas, Zach Wyatt, and more at the Harold Pinter Theatre for a Strictly limited season, starting on March 25, 2023.
The Graham Norton Show airs Fridays on BBC One.
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He’ll perform in A Little Life starting in March.
