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INTERVIEW
Séan Aydon
starring as Pip in
Great Expectations
Palace Theatre
19 - 24th March 2018

‘What Larks!’  There are Great Expectations as Dickens comes to the Palace Theatre.
Pip's impoverished childhood takes on a new dimension when he meets the strange Miss Havisham.  An unknown benefactor turns Pip into a gentleman, but he unfortunately falls prey to the corruption of money.  The Tilted Wig Production Company brings the novel of Great Expectations to life as they tour the UK arriving at the Palace Theatre w/c 19th March.  

It is peopled by some of Dicken’s most colourful and memorable characters.  This stunning new version promises a powerful and theatrical telling of Dickens’ universally loved masterpiece.

The company includes Nichola McAuliffe best known for her stage work and TV’s Surgical Spirit, as one of Dickens’ best-loved characters Miss Havisham, and Séan Aydon who plays Pip.  Séan was nominated for Best Director at The Stage Debut Awards 2017 for his production of Richard III with his own company Godot’s Watch.  That production included the well-known local actress Elena Clements who has previously appeared in many productions with Southend Shakespeare Company.

Séan,  was also assistant director for the world premiere of Tom Fletcher’s The Christmasaurus Live at the Hammersmith Apollo. 
Séan chatted to Southend Theatre Scene about Great Expectations.
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How is the tour going so far?
The tour is going very well indeed. We’re at our 5th venue so we really feel in control of the show now. It’s an incredible story to tell and quite a journey to take an audience on.
Have you performed at the Palace Theatre before?
I’ve not played the Palace Theatre before, but we used to come to Southend for the seaside as a family so it’s always a joy to come back.
The Dickens’ novel has many characters, and changes of situation, how does that translate into a two-hour stage production?
As with any adaptation of a classic novel, you can’t stage all of it.  If you try and do all of it, you’ll fail or at least end up with a 17-hour show! So you have to decide what are the important parts of the story that you want to bring to the forefront this time.  For us, it’s the sharp contrast between the new and the old, London and the country, Joe Gargary versus Miss Havisham and Estella. It seems the search for connection and a family is at the heart of our production.
Presumably, it would be impractical to have a cast of thousands so is there any doubling up?  Pip himself, has to age from a child to an adult, do you play him through that development.
With the exception of my role (Pip) and Nichola’s (Miss Havisham), everyone else is playing a plethora of characters.  It’s good fun and a real testament to their acting skills as they often have to flit between characters in seconds. What’s enjoyable for me is showing the development of Pip over nearly 40 years condensed into a few hours. It’s exciting to show how the decisions he makes shape him and how long it takes for him to understand their repercussions.
Have you worked with Nichola McAuliffe, before?
I hadn’t worked with Nichola before but she has been an absolute joy and has taught me an awful lot.  When you’re acting opposite someone with that wealth of experience, they give you so much to work with.
You have worked with the Tilted Wig Production Company previously; have you anything planned with them when this tour ends.  
I’m lucky to have a fantastic working relationship with Matthew Parish & Katherine Senior the producers, so have worked with them several times.  I’d love to be a part of their next project whatever that might be.
In 2017 you created the Godot’s Watch Company, and directed a successful performance of Richard III, are you planning any other productions with them in the near future?
Recently I’ve been very busy working with other companies, but it’s great to know it’s always there as a creative outlet to come back to when I have an idea burning away or something I’m desperate to do.
You hoped to tour Richard III, and also take it to the Edinburgh Festival, is that still on the cards?
I was very pleased with the Richard III we created, and I was delighted to be nominated as best director for it in The Stage Debut Awards.  I would definitely love for it to have another life. Ideally, I would love to develop the production for a bigger stage and it’s something I have been discussing with other venues.
You have appeared in TV’s Doctors, have you any more TV work planned?
I loved filming Doctors and ‘screen’ is certainly something I would love to do more of!  Work tends to beget other work; I’ve been very lucky in developing a good relationship with theatre companies and so the bulk of my work has been on stage. But I love the subtleties of working for screen and it’s my ambition to do more of it.
Which do you like the best, acting on stage, on TV or directing?
It’s a real privilege to be able to vary my work, I always feel I learn a bit more about acting when I’m directing and vice versa. I find it incredibly exciting being a part of every aspect of the process of creating work.
What are your plans for the future?
I’m currently doing a bit of writing and adapting a classic text of my own – watch this space!

Interviewer – Jacquee Storozynski-Toll

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@seanaydon
@tiltedwiguk
​
www.tiltedwigproductions.com

Also, see Southend Theatre Scene’s interview with Nichola McAuliffe.
Prices shown are inclusive of any applicable booking fees. Groups of 10+ please call 01702 351135 to buy fee-free.
Mon to Thurs 8pm and Thurs 2.30pm - £30, £28, £23
Fri and Sat 8pm and Sat 2.30pm - £32, £30, £25
Concessions £2 off (excludes Fri and Sat 8pm)
OAP mid-week matinee special £24

Box Office  01702 351135 www.southendtheatres.org.uk
The tour continues:- 
Mon, 26th March 2018 to Sat, 31st March 2018
  Devonshire Park Theatre, Eastbourne»

Tue, 3rd April 2018 to Sun, 8th April 2018
  Buxton Opera House, Buxton»

Tue, 10th April 2018 to Sat, 14th April 2018
  The Theatre By The Lake, Keswick»

Thu, 19th April 2018 to Sat, 21st April 2018
  Theatre Royal, Windsor» {1}

Mon, 23rd April 2018 to Sat, 28th April 2018
  Theatre Royal, Winchester»

Wed, 2nd May 2018 to Sat, 5th May 2018
  Belgrade Theatre, Coventry» {1}

Mon, 7th May 2018 to Sat, 12th May 2018
  Everyman Theatre, Cheltenham»

Tue, 22nd May 2018 to Sat, 26th May 2018
  New Theatre Royal, Portsmouth»

Tue, 29th May 2018 to Sun, 3rd June 2018
  Churchill Theatre, Bromley»

Mon, 4th June 2018 to Sat, 9th June 2018
  Theatre Royal, Bath»

Tue, 5th June 2018 to Sat, 9th June 2018
  The Hawth, Crawley»

Tue, 19th June 2018 to Sat, 23rd June 2018
  Northcott Theatre, Exeter»

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