10 Questions from Reading Gaol - Jonathon Cooper

October 31, 2017

We sat down with some of our brilliant cast and crew prior to our production of "Reading Gaol" which starts next week! Next Up is Actor Jonathon Cooper who takes on the role of "Innocent" in the production, but not before he's tackled 10 of our very tough questions first!

1) How would your friends introduce you?
Jonny.

2) Tell us a bit about your character and what you like most about them?
Innocent is a leaf caught up in a storm. As his name would suggest, he's not guilty of the crime he was accused of committing. But what's most heartbreaking about him is that he isn't sure whether he is ultimately responsible. It's a great depiction of how we can blame ourselves out of confusion or biased learned behaviour; Innocent is used to being trodden on.

3) What is it that you like most about Reading Gaol and why do you think people should buy a ticket?
It's taken aspects, characters and nuances from a fantastic poem and magnified them. They are all built to exist at opposite ends of the spectrum, socially and morally. But they all exist with one thing in common, and that is where the poem bridges the gaps between them.

4) If you could play any role yet that you haven’t what would it be and why?
That's a tough one...I'm not sure I have a straight answer. I think what I say will probably be different month to month. I read Jack Thorne's rendition of Woyzeck recently, so right now that's my answer. Last month it was Judge Brack from Hedda Gabler. When I'm in the right age bracket, my ultimate role would be Iago. He's the villain that everyone gets behind - to succeed in winning over the audience...even when you're plotting against the title character...

5) What's the best piece of advice you've been given?
"Good acting is being confident enough to be private in public - so don't hide onstage."

6) If you could swap lives with someone for the day who would it be and why?
If it can be anyone: John Barton; 24 hours inside his head and Shakespeare would probably be a whole lot less intimidating. If they have to be alive: Sir Ian McKellen; self-explanatory really. Not for Magneto or Gandalf...they were great; but he is a titan of classical stage acting.

7) What scares you and excites you most about acting?
In acting I get most scared about boring the audience, or losing my focus and becoming sloppy. I get excited about the exact opposite frankly; having an audience hooked and feeling absorbed in what you're telling them. Sorry, that sounds really fluffy, but it's true. For a few hours I can get lost in my imagination, and taking the audience with you is an incredible feeling.

8) What's the most challenging thing you've done on stage that you're most proud of?
Portraying the Creature in Nick Dear's Frankenstein. I've never done something so physically or emotionally demanding.

9) What would the title of your autobiography be?
I dunno...'The Adventures of a Chocoholic on Stage'..?

10) Tell us a random fact we may not know about you...
I was a world bronze medallist in the BUCS World Karate Championships in Slovakia when I was 20.

Jonathon is an actor from London and plays the role of "Innocent" in "Reading Gaol" which starts this week. This is his first performance for Proforca Theatre Company. Don't ask him what's in the box because he doesn't know, honest. You can find out more about Jonathon from his Mandy Actors profile which you can find here.

"Reading Gaol" is being performed on November 2nd - 4th 2017 at the Lion and Unicorn Theatre. Tickets are available now and can be found at our website at www.proforca.co.uk/boxoffice or via www.lionandunicorntheatre.co.uk

Director's Blog - David Brady

October 30, 2017

We sat down with some of our brilliant cast and crew prior to our production of "Reading Gaol" which starts next week! Next Up is Artistic Director David Brady on what you can expect from Reading Gaol, and some of the elements of putting the show together...

Two shows in 6 weeks is a bit mad, isn’t it? For those of you who joined us for Earnest, we;'re looking forward to welcoming you back, and if you’re new, hello and we're looking forward welcoming you to the Lion and Unicorn!

Reading Gaol is the climax of our 2017 look at the work of Oscar Wilde and it’s definitely been a creative challenge for us. I sometimes refer to it as a “grand experiment” and some respects that’s exactly what it is - trying some new ideas, concepts and performance styles that are new to us. Whereas Earnest is a much more “black and white” satirical piece of comedy, Reading Gaol has so many more shades of grey and we hope to be able to challenge your “moral compass” a little bit. We've also experimented with different types of storytelling and from what's coming out in rehearsals, RG has a much stronger "physical theatre" feel to it, which has been really interesting to explore more.

From a writing perspective, it's been really great to producing our "own" work again - and the five monologues you'll see on stage really capture our point of view, and its been brilliant to be able to use Oscar Wilde's beautiful words as a framing mechanism to be able to tell our stories, which pay homage to the men and characters that inhabit Reading Gaol, but also respond to the original material in more of a contemporary style. We've got all the bases covered, I think, from an emotional gut punch to some really dark humour in some of the pieces. We're excited for you to see it!

As is usual before a show, our thanks, firstly to our stellar group of boys: James Bowen, Ross, Myles, Jonathon and James Baxter-Derrington who’ve not only worked so hard to bring these brand new characters to life, but also kept us laughing through rehearsals and made this experience a joy. (Even if the hardest challenge has been getting them to STOP CORPSEING IN REHEARSALS!)

Again. we could do this without a brilliant production team, and we have one of the best in Erin, Harriet and Cat - Proforça is driven by the hard work, dedication and belief of a brilliant team of these fantastically talented, strong and creative women and their enthusiasm, passion and talent knows no limits. We are not worthy.

Finally a big cheers to our audience for coming back to see us again, particularly for something a little bit different and experimental. Thanks for all your support in so many ways. Look out for some exciting news about next year and we hope to see you in March 2018.

Enjoy the show, it’s what we did for love.

David X

David is the Artistic Director of Proforca Theatre Company and the Director of "Reading Gaol" which starts this week. Watch out for the Stan Lee style cameo at the start of the show. You can follow Proforca on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook @ProforcaTheatre and via our website at www.proforca.co.uk.

10 Questions from Reading Gaol - James Bowen

October 25, 2017

We sat down with some of our brilliant cast and crew prior to our production of "Reading Gaol" which starts next week! We'd love to take this opportunity to introduce you to James Bowen prior to taking on the role of the ever so slightly unhinged "Monster" and asked him some leading questions about his role, his life as an actor, and some random wildcards to see how he'd cope with some tough questioning!

1) How would your friends introduce you? Hopefully as James...

2) Tell us a bit about your character and what you like most about them?
"Monster" is an enigma of a human; what I enjoy most is his detachment from any emotional spectrum. I enjoy the "psychopathic" role: the research I've done has brought these new, intuitive choices that are hopefully quite playful - finding new ways to upset an audience sounds wrong - but...

3) What is it that you like most about Reading Gaol and why do you think people should buy a ticket?
I like the dual narratives: without giving too much away, the links between the poem and the stories being told are becoming more clear to me. I think the underlying message of the piece grows as the piece develops, rather than being "spoon fed" which I think is important. Audiences will connect in some way to the stories, though hopefully not mine so much.

4) If you could play any role yet that you haven’t what would it be and why?
Christopher in Curious Incident. I vividly remember reading the book in about 4 nights. Incredible writing which translated so well onto stage.

5) What's the best piece of advice you've been given?
Be Selfish. Not in a rude way(!) - more for self-preservation.

6) If you could swap lives with someone for the day who would it be and why?
Gregory Porter or if he's too busy, Jez Butterworth - just to know how they do it?

7) What scares you and excites you most about acting?
Scares: Performing as a character that I find too much of myself in or being "lazy".
Excites: Holding an audience's attention - even for just a bit.

8) What's the most challenging thing you've done on stage that you're most proud of?
"We Had a Black Dog", definitely. To try and portray mental health and its effects on individuals and those around them is really f*cking hard. Being able to add a voice to that conversation felt really empowering.

9) If you were president for a day, what three laws would you enact?
Destruction of all nuclear deterrents, a ban on all future presidents coming from an Entertainment background (boring is best), and monthly 'Attenborough' day. He might not be around much longer so it's important he knows he's loved...

10) What three luxury items would you take to a desert island?
I am going for very pragmatic choices, hopefully. A flint, because I have not watched enough 'Bear Grylls'; a machete, and a recently - tuned piano.

James is an actor and lives in Egham, Surrey, and originates the role of "Monster" in Reading Gaol" this November. If he asks you to play Backgammon then you should probably be very, very scared. You can follow James on Twitter @jvbowen1. You can also follow Proforca on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook @ProforcaTheatre and via our website at www.proforca.co.uk.

Reading Gaol - James Bowen is "Monster"

October 21, 2017

We are delighted to welcome James Bowen to the cast of Reading Gaol and to the role of "Monster"

James is an Actor, Composer and Writer working in the UK and Ireland. Recently graduating from Exeter with a degree in Business Economics, he is involved in an ongoing theatre project "We Had a Black Dog", backed by mental health charity SANE, and David Hendon’s “Sign of the Times”. Theatre credits include Napoleon in Peter Hall’s Animal Farm (Exeter Northcott); Tom in Duncan Macmillan’s Monster (UK Tour) and Benny in Ella Hickson’s Boys (Thornlea Studios). As well as touring with improv comedy group The Exeter Revue, James is also currently longlisted for Collaborators for the Old Vic 12 and producing his own feature film.

Twitter: @JVBowen1

Our adaption of Reading Gaol is based on "The Ballad of Reading Gaol" by Oscar Wilde, adapted and Directed by David Brady and with new material by Catrin Jones, Harriet Lambert James Lewis and Erin Read.

Tickets for all performances are on sale now from our website at proforca.co.uk/box-office

Reading Gaol - Jonathon Cooper is "Innocent"

October 16, 2017

We are delighted to welcome Jonathon Cooper to the cast of Reading Gaol and to the role of "Innocent"

Jonathon trained at the National Youth Theatre and now works as an actor in London. Born and bred in North Yorkshire, Jonathon spent a number of years competing around the world as a member of the England Karate Squad. He also gained a first class degree in Engineering from Loughborough University. His credits include:

Theatre: The Creature in Nick Dear's Frankenstein (Bridewell Theatre); Faustus in Marlowe's Doctor Faustus (Theatro Technis); Gorge in Dennis Kelly's The Ritual Slaughter of Gorge Mastromas (Bridewell Theatre); Billing in Ibsen's An Enemy of the People (Theatro Technis); and Alan in Stanley Houghton's Hindle Wakes (Upstairs at the Gatehouse).

Workshop & Rehearsed Readings: Dream 16 (RSC); Annajanska, the Bolshevik Empress (Actors Studio); King Lear (Theatro Technis).

Film (supporting artist): Bridget Jones's Baby; Star Wars: Rogue One; Batman vs Superman: Dawn of Justice; Han Solo: A Star Wars Story.

Voiceover: The Man Came Around.

This is Jonathon's first production with Proforça Theatre Company and he is thrilled to be joining the team.

Our adaption of Reading Gaol is based on "The Ballad of Reading Gaol" by Oscar Wilde, adapted and Directed by David Brady and with new material by Catrin Jones, Harriet Lambert and Erin Read.

Tickets for all performances are on sale now from our website at proforca.co.uk/box-office

10 Questions from Reading Gaol - Myles Delahunty

October 14, 2017

We sat down with some of our brilliant cast and crew prior to our production of "Reading Gaol" this November. First up is Myles Delahunty prior to taking on the role of "Human" and asked him some leading questions about his role, his life as an actor, and some random wildcards to see how he'd cope with some tough questioning!

1) Introduce yourself and tell us a little bit about who you are.
I am an Actor who has recently moved to London, i'm a huge film fan, and have recently acted in my first professional film role. I'm also a Singer and an Illustration artist and use a lot of my spare time painting all kinds of things.

2) Describe your character in one sentence.
He is a being who's happiness has been entirely stolen by Loss, and is continually haunted by his past.

3) What is it that you like most about Reading Gaol and why do you think people should buy a ticket?
It's an entirely unique and game changing take on an Oscar Wilde poem, and it holds the lens up to the intricacies of Humanity and it allows you to see within the lives of these prisoners in a very intimate way.

4) Which theatre people (performers or creatives) do you admire and why?
I admire the Theatre Actor Denise Gough, as she has strived toward her acting goals all of her life, even through incredibly tough times and relative poverty. She is an incredibly unique actor who sticks to her unique visions of a character, and creates performances that astound.

5) What do you like most about working with Proforca?
Proforca is an incredibly comforting and friendly environment for Actors and creatives alike, allowing freedom for artistic expression.

6) What's been the best piece of acting advice you've been given and why?
Be in the moment and let the characters personality, emotions etc channel through you.

7) If you could be in any one piece of theatre what would it be?
'Romeo and Juliet' as Romeo

8) Who would play you in the dramatic retelling of your life?
Thats a tricky one, probably Chris Hemsworth. But thats probably because i want to be Chris Hemsworth.

9) if you could change something about living in London, what would it be?
I'd add more Trees.

10) If you weren't going to be an actor, what one other job would you like to do?
Marine Biology, working in the Bahamas.

Myles is an actor and artist from London. For Proforca he previously played "Lane / Merriman" in "The Importance of Being Earnest" and will take on the role of "Human" in "The Ballad of Reading Gaol" in November. Whatever you do, don't make off with his cucumber sandwiches. Myles is represented by Allsorts Agency and you can find his details here. Follow Proforca on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook @ProforcaTheatre and via our website at www.proforca.co.uk.