Jessie Wallace Deathtrap interview
The former EastEnders actress tells us about starring in stage thriller Deathtrap and how she fell in love with the stage.
The former EastEnders actress tells us about starring in stage thriller Deathtrap and how she fell in love with the stage.
Click here for interview with Paul Bradley
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How would you describe Deathtrap?
It’s a play about Sidney, who’s a writer. But he’s had writer’s block for 18 years. Before that, he’d had a massive success on Broadway. He receives a play through the post from a student and thinks it is going to be massive. I play his wife, Myra, who suggests says he should collaborate on it… I don’t know what else I can say without giving too much away. It’s just an edge-of-your-seat, scary, funny, shocking play with some massive twists.
What made you want to appear in the play?
I wanted to do it because Ira Levin is a brilliant writer. He wrote Rosemary’s Baby, which is one of my favourite films. Every time I watch it – which is a lot – I find something new. I’m finding that with Deathtrap too. When I read the script, I thought it was funny but also very dark and shocking. That’s why I’m doing it.
How are you finding playing Myra?
I’ve never played a character like her. She comes across as ditzy, but she’s not. She’s clever and quite calculating. She is besotted with Sidney. She’s stood by him for the 18 years in which he’s not written anything. But she’s nothing like me. There’s no way I would stand by someone who treats me like that. He bullies her and she’s intimidated by him. But that changes. And then it changes again.
I love to play characters that are a million miles away from me. With Kat Slater [in EastEnders] I was a little bit in my comfort zone because I created her from scratch. When you play a character like that for so long you begin to blend into one person. I miss her, actually, but it’s great to do other things.
What has surprised you most about rehearsing Deathtrap?
Just how much I’m enjoying it. The company is so tight. They’re all such fantastic actors. I’ve never worked with Paul [Bradley] before. He’s very funny and has great comic timing. He’s got a lot to do in this. And Beverley Klein is brilliant. She does something different in every performance, which sometimes makes me jump. But it’s good that she does that. It keeps it fresh. That’s the great thing about theatre; you can do something different every night. Not so much that it throws the other cast members, but just enough to keep you on your toes.
It’s a play about Sidney, who’s a writer. But he’s had writer’s block for 18 years. Before that, he’d had a massive success on Broadway. He receives a play through the post from a student and thinks it is going to be massive. I play his wife, Myra, who suggests says he should collaborate on it… I don’t know what else I can say without giving too much away. It’s just an edge-of-your-seat, scary, funny, shocking play with some massive twists.
What made you want to appear in the play?
I wanted to do it because Ira Levin is a brilliant writer. He wrote Rosemary’s Baby, which is one of my favourite films. Every time I watch it – which is a lot – I find something new. I’m finding that with Deathtrap too. When I read the script, I thought it was funny but also very dark and shocking. That’s why I’m doing it.
How are you finding playing Myra?
I’ve never played a character like her. She comes across as ditzy, but she’s not. She’s clever and quite calculating. She is besotted with Sidney. She’s stood by him for the 18 years in which he’s not written anything. But she’s nothing like me. There’s no way I would stand by someone who treats me like that. He bullies her and she’s intimidated by him. But that changes. And then it changes again.
I love to play characters that are a million miles away from me. With Kat Slater [in EastEnders] I was a little bit in my comfort zone because I created her from scratch. When you play a character like that for so long you begin to blend into one person. I miss her, actually, but it’s great to do other things.
What has surprised you most about rehearsing Deathtrap?
Just how much I’m enjoying it. The company is so tight. They’re all such fantastic actors. I’ve never worked with Paul [Bradley] before. He’s very funny and has great comic timing. He’s got a lot to do in this. And Beverley Klein is brilliant. She does something different in every performance, which sometimes makes me jump. But it’s good that she does that. It keeps it fresh. That’s the great thing about theatre; you can do something different every night. Not so much that it throws the other cast members, but just enough to keep you on your toes.
Deathtrap tours the UK for 12 weeks. Are you a fan of touring?
I am. I love meeting different people. And it’s great taking a show to someone’s town. People stop you in the street and want to talk about it, which is lovely.
Is there anywhere you’re particularly looking forward to performing?
Richmond. I love Richmond Theatre. I’ve always wanted to perform in that theatre. It’s because I love theatres designed by Frank Matcham. As soon as I get into a Matcham theatre I immediately feel like I’m home. When you walk on stage, the shape of the auditorium makes you feel like you’re being hugged.
When did you first fall in love with theatre?
It was when I was a kid of about 10 or 11. I went to see Singing In The Rain with Tommy Steele at the London Palladium. An actress ran down the middle aisle and I felt the breeze as she ran past. I remember looking up at her, touching her skirt and thinking “She’s real!” That, for me, was pure magic. When I meet children now and I get that reaction from them, I think “I know how you feel.”
You started out doing make up and wigs at the Royal Shakespeare Company. How did you make the leap to performing?
I’ve always been interested in acting. As a kid I played the lead in shows. But I didn’t really know what I wanted to do, so I ended up doing wigs and make up. At the RSC I watched people like Iain Glen, Victoria Hamilton, Helen McCrory and Joseph Fiennes. Sitting in the wings, I had this envy that came over me. So I left that behind and went to drama school.
In a sentence, what can audiences expect from Deathtrap?
I hope they can expect joy, to be scared, to be completely engaged and to be shocked.
© Matthew Amer
I am. I love meeting different people. And it’s great taking a show to someone’s town. People stop you in the street and want to talk about it, which is lovely.
Is there anywhere you’re particularly looking forward to performing?
Richmond. I love Richmond Theatre. I’ve always wanted to perform in that theatre. It’s because I love theatres designed by Frank Matcham. As soon as I get into a Matcham theatre I immediately feel like I’m home. When you walk on stage, the shape of the auditorium makes you feel like you’re being hugged.
When did you first fall in love with theatre?
It was when I was a kid of about 10 or 11. I went to see Singing In The Rain with Tommy Steele at the London Palladium. An actress ran down the middle aisle and I felt the breeze as she ran past. I remember looking up at her, touching her skirt and thinking “She’s real!” That, for me, was pure magic. When I meet children now and I get that reaction from them, I think “I know how you feel.”
You started out doing make up and wigs at the Royal Shakespeare Company. How did you make the leap to performing?
I’ve always been interested in acting. As a kid I played the lead in shows. But I didn’t really know what I wanted to do, so I ended up doing wigs and make up. At the RSC I watched people like Iain Glen, Victoria Hamilton, Helen McCrory and Joseph Fiennes. Sitting in the wings, I had this envy that came over me. So I left that behind and went to drama school.
In a sentence, what can audiences expect from Deathtrap?
I hope they can expect joy, to be scared, to be completely engaged and to be shocked.
© Matthew Amer
www.southendtheatres.org.uk
26th - 30th September 2017
Seats: Tue to Thu 8pm, plus matinees - £31.00, £29.00, £22.50
Fri and Sat 8pm - £32.50, £30.50, £24.50
Concs £2.00 off (exc. Fri & Sat eves)
Senior Citizen Mid-week Matinee Special £27.00, £22.50 (Wed & Thu 2.30pm)
Prices shown are inclusive of any applicable booking fees. Groups of 10+ please call 01702 351135 to buy fee-free.
26th - 30th September 2017
Seats: Tue to Thu 8pm, plus matinees - £31.00, £29.00, £22.50
Fri and Sat 8pm - £32.50, £30.50, £24.50
Concs £2.00 off (exc. Fri & Sat eves)
Senior Citizen Mid-week Matinee Special £27.00, £22.50 (Wed & Thu 2.30pm)
Prices shown are inclusive of any applicable booking fees. Groups of 10+ please call 01702 351135 to buy fee-free.