Q. What are you currently working on and where can readers find you?
A. At the moment I am playing the role of “Daddy” Warbucks in the musical ‘Annie’. It has been an absolutely fantastic experience, especially working so closely with the two young girls playing Annie.
It’s been quite hard work, but it’s really pulled together in the last stages of rehearsal and it’s turned into a lovely show!
Questors is the theatre where my career first started in many ways, my first full-scale show outside of school was there in the mid-90’s. The show was ‘Godspell’ and I am loving being back there for a few weeks!
Q. What are your aspirations for the future?
A. My aspirations are quite ambitious and at the same time, exciting!
I would love to work towards a full-time year in & out acting career, but in the long run I would like to go into large-scale producing. I have my own company “What Was That? Productions” and aim to make that a full-time, large-scale touring and company.
I have a few shows I would love to be in. I would love to play Tevye in “Fiddler on the Roof”, Shylock in “Merchant of Venice”, Javert in “Les Miserables” is a great part, and I would love to direct “Cabaret”, “Rent” and “Little Shop of Horrors” on a large scale!
Q. Tell me about “Kebab Men” that looked like a very funny project.
A. The Kebab man Cometh was a play I wrote in 2009, it centers around two illegal immigrant Kebab men who are running their own store. It stems from a short film I was part of in 2005. I got to thinking “this could make a good one hour play” and in 2010 we premiered professionally at the Aberystywth Arts Centre in Wales. I vastly adapted the original idea, the initial 3 minute film merely introducing the two brothers turned into a 60 minute story about them falling for two hair-dressers, a fight to remain in the country and one’s ambitions to become a big star on the stage! It went really well and I am currently looking at putting it on in London at a fringe theatre in 2012. I am proud to say I wrote, directed, produced and starred in the show, it’s probably my biggest achievement to date!
Q. How did you get into acting?
A. I think I just naturally fell into acting in general as a young child. At about 9 or 10 my mum suggested I visit a children’s agent, whilst at my interview the agent got me an audition, the next day I went into the West End, had a casting for a commercial and got the job the same day! Going back almost 20 years now makes me feel old! I still remember being “on set” for the first time, and the audition could have been yesterday!
After that I performed in school productions, then went on to study Performing Arts at college, and followed up with a degree in drama. I think the best training is that which you provide yourself.
I have been acting professionally on and off most of my life really. The jobs have gotten bigger and more exciting as I have gotten older.
Q. Which venture has been the most exciting?
A. The most exciting venture is probably the pantomime I performed in last year. I was lucky enough to be cast in Robin Hood at the Marlowe Arena Theatre in Canterbury. It was a 1,200 seat venue and I was really lucky to be working with a couple of “names” (celebs). I played Friar Tuck and was given the majority of singing in the show. It was fantastic going to do Christmas light switch-ons, having TV and Newspapers coming in to rehearsals, and most of all, signing autographs and having my picture taken after the show each night! Although they were waiting for the wonderful leads, they still asked me and it made me feel great!
Aside from that, getting my first professional role after university in a 3 month Shakespeare tour was hugely exciting!!