The Truth About Harry Beck at London Transport Museum

It's 50 years since the death of Harry Beck, the engineering draughtsman who first drew the famous diagram between jobs working for London Transport.

Although initially rejected as being too radical - and geographically inaccurate - Tube bosses eventually spotted the value of the map, with colour-coded train routes in straightened vertical, horizontal and diagonal lines.

Simon Snashall as Harry Beck and Ashley Christmas as his wife Nora (Image: Photo by Mark Douet)

First issued as a pocket map 1933, it was an instant hit and has gone on to influence other metro maps around the world.

Beck was born in Leyton in 1902 and moved to Highgate in 1911, where he attended Grove House School and took art classes.

As an adult he lived in Court House Road near Finchley Central tube station, which bears a plaque commemorating his efforts.

London Transport reportedly paid him just five guineas for the map, which he went on to revise to include new lines and stops.

Simon Snashall as Harry and Ashley Christmas as Nora in Cubic Theatre's show (Image: Photo by Mark Douet)

The Truth About Harry Beck runs at the museum's Cubic Theatre in Covent Garden until November 10.

The show by Natural Theatre Company is written and directed by Andy Burden, with Simon Snashall as Beck and Ashley Christmas as his wife Nora.

Blending real life accounts with anecdotes, facts, and fictitious characters, it's a whimsical whirlwind through design, transport, and Beck's obsession with creating the perfect tube map.

Elizabeth McKay, director and CEO for London Transport Museum, said: “The opportunity to introduce this new play about the man behind the famous Tube map was a no-brainer for us.

"London Transport Museum is in the heart of theatreland and this play lets you experience one of London’s little-known stories in a brand-new live format, bringing the capital’s rich history and characters alive.”

Andy Burden said, “About 16 years ago, I had the idea to put the story of the iconic Tube diagram on stage. I met with Ken Garland, whose book Mr Beck's Underground Map helped bring Harry Beck's story to public attention.

"He lent me copies of Beck's letters and gave me a small insight into a man dedicated to finding the perfect schematic representation of the Underground network. Over a period of nearly 30 years, he worked tirelessly to improve the map, reflecting new stations, new lines and new suggestions from his bosses.   
 
“I got obsessed with the map and how he drew it, at one point being fixated on each minute change to its layout. Over 14 years I kept rewriting the play, trying to make it work - life, it seems, was imitating art.

“I am so pleased that my play about Harry Beck's story keeps his name alive and connected to his wonderfully simple creation."