“I’m a 20 year old non-binary actor originally from Wolverhampton. When I hit my teens, I was awakened to the art scene that was alive in my hometown, so I formed a punk band called Cymebline, mixing my love for theatre with my love for punk freakishness. After these wonderful years of absorption and influence, I took a BTEC in Performing Arts at the Birmingham Ormiston Academy and was lucky enough to receive a place at Guildford School of Acting within my first year of auditioning. During my time at GSA, I feel I’ve made a great start of building an idea of who I am and what I want to do. Producing a few short films with my peers, self-releasing some electronic musical projects and being involved in some small acting projects which range from student films to commercials. I hope to keep developing this idea of who I am through my work and invite outsiders in to see a myriad of influences and experiences formed into performance and art.”
What kind of actor do you aspire to be?
I aspire to be an actor who works as much as they can. Coming from a working class background, the best case scenario for me is to apply my work ethic to something that I truly adore. Working on projects I love and also creating my own work which others can love as much as I do. I also aspire to have a quiet home with a dog and stacks of records so that my days off are as attractive as my work.
What performance piece did you choose for the showcase and why?
My recorded monologue is called Homebird from Alice Birch’s realist epic [Blank]. This monologue struck me with its beauty that is born from what the primary character can’t bring themselves to say.
The writing perfectly exemplifies the feeling of disappointment that’s associated with loss when attached to a maternal figure, whilst also keeping its head above a one-note tragedy with innocent admiration for what pleasures or experiences the character can call their own. I knew that I would be lucky to perform such a piece at such an event and took my chances with submitting it! My live piece is Karaoke from the play Albion by Chris Thompson. I decided to choose this piece because it has the realist honesty of Homebird whilst also being deadly funny. I’ve been working in a local pub for the past year, and this monologue could easily have been shouted at me from across the bar. I knew that from my experiences of observation and immersion within the local Guildford pub ring, that this was the perfect time and place to perform this monologue. Also, the primary character who speaks this monologue, and I have a shared love for karaoke, so I couldn’t let this one go.
What book, theatre, film or TV production has most inspired you?
Stoner by John Williams. Just an incredible great American novel which focuses on the very mundane and ordinary life of a teacher. It has in no way inspired me to become a teacher. Its an observation of a life that is completely unaffected by the opportunity to change [whereas] I’ve been trying my best to be affected by opportunity in the most healthy way possible – making my life eventful as opposed to mundane. It’s easier said than done.
How do you keep creative?
I try to keep myself to an achievable schedule. A film a day, a few pages of reading, and at least an album to listen to. On a good day I hit the quota I set for myself which allows ideas to come to me, whether it’s from nowhere in particular or through admiration of the art I’ve perceived. I’ve also recently been trying to pursue a practice that one of my tutors taught me, which was to write a page of A4 a day, nothing in particular to write about, just write – it keeps the creative muscles agile!
What is the dream role you’d love to play?
The Emcee in Cabaret. Who doesn’t want to play the Emcee? You get to make an audience belly laugh, cry, and also deeply ashamed within one song. Who wouldn’t want to do that?
What do you hope to be doing this time next year?
I hope to be working. I’m proud of myself for getting this far so soon into my life and career but I’m not ready to slow down just yet. I want to make performing and creation my primary source of income within a year. Ideally, this will be done through screen work, as my passion for film and recorded media pulls me towards that avenue of performance. In a perfect world – which just might be this one – I’ll be going through my lines just before the cameras roll, planning what I’m going to watch when I get home. That is what I hope to be within a year – busy but still curious!