Since winning BBC1’s Any Dream Will Do and the chance to play Joseph in the West End, Lee Mead has cemented his showbiz credentials by marrying Denise Van Outen and scoring a starring role in the Bill Kenwright production of Lord Arthur Savile’s Crime. In this week’s issue of The Stage, he talks to about his impending fatherhood and the desire to further his career.
I think that, as an actor, it’s really important to give yourself challenges, to try and stretch yourself…
…I thought, this is a good first step, because Wilde is a real challenge. I’ve been working away for the past month, before rehearsals started, to really understand the language. It’s like Shakespeare, in that it’s not a contemporary language.
After four years of playing Bradley Branning in EastEnders, Charlie Clements is bidding farewell to Albert Square to try his hand at something new. He talks to us about his plans for the year ahead:
From an acting point of view, I hope to go up for parts that are completely different and show that I can do something else. I have played different characters in the past and there is no reason I should not be able to do it now
Aerial theatre company Ockham’s Razor is preparing for a tour of its new show. Company members Charlotte Mooney, Alex Harvey and Tina Koch talk about how the group evolved and where they are heading to next
In a way, being a dramaturg on an aerial show is a totally made up role, but there is a movement in circus in Britain to explore narrative more, so it’ll be interesting to see how this role develops. It doesn’t involve a great deal of writing - it’s more about asking ‘Why is that happening?’ and making sure that the audience can string a story together.
Also this week:
As debate continues about how best to engage children in theatre supposedly tailored to them, Stuart Mullins, creative director of children’s theatre company Theatre Is…, shares his views
Irish singing legend Val Doonican reflects on his enduring popularity
Dear John looks at the world of online TV productions, with input from Ricky Norwood, Fatboy in online drama EastEnders E20, and E20’s producer, Deborah Sathe
Insight: Maggie Brown considers the long term implications of the government’s decision to include BBC Worldwide on a list of assets for sale and asks whether it could result is destroying a thriving business and being detrimental to the wider creative community
Showpeople: Q&A interviews with Simon Minty, co-producer of Abnormally Funny People, dancer Douglas Thorpe, theatre director Stef O’Driscoll
The Stage is available from major newsagents, priced £1.40. For postal subscription deals, see http://www.thestage.co.uk/subscribe/
Ooo Scott-dear! What a teaser! Thank you - we'll be getting a copy or two of the Stage tomorrow!
'Lee Mead has cemented his showbiz credentials by marrying Denise Van Outen'
What are you saying?!!!!
Lee Mead thinks that Wilde is like Shakespeare. Durr!!!