With award-winning comedian Seann Walsh, Chris Harper (Call the Midwife, Coronation Street) and Aden Gillett (The Crown, The House of Elliot), Iqbal Khan (East is East, National Theatre and Othello, RSC) directs a brand-new production of Yasmina Reza's fiendishly clever and hilariously funny play ART that opens a UK tour with a three-night run at Lighthouse from Thursday 29 August.
This multi-award winning play (winner of Best Comedy at the Olivier Awards, Tony Awards and Moliere Awards), presented by Joshua Beaumont and Original Theatre, is a razor sharp exploration of art, love and friendship that will stay with you long after the curtain falls.
A seemingly simple purchase of contemporary art - an all-white painting – ignites a hilarious debate amongst three close friends. What begins as a light-hearted discussion about art quickly descends into a riotous exploration of the blurred lines between art and reality.
Here, Seann Walsh talks about how he got started in stand up and whether it's any preparation for acting...
What is ART about?
It’s beautiful in its simplicity. When you boil it down, it’s about a piece of art that has been purchased by one of three friends, and that piece of art ends up testing the friendship. It’s really fun and reminds me of that feeling when you’ve had a tough day, and the smallest thing becomes the straw that ends up breaking the camel’s back.
Tell me more about your character, Yvan
He’s someone who is level-headed, in general, and mild-mannered. But he’s about to get married and has entered his fiancee’s family business, factors which are testing how stable he is as a person. The play catches him at this particularly vulnerable time in his life.
Do you find him relatable?
I can certainly relate to the way the pressure gets to him. And I definitely recognise the dynamics in his relationship with Marc and Serge. It feels very representative of male friendship, and the way that we adapt ourselves to fit whoever we’re talking to. There’s a great sense of energy in the script.
You recently made your stage acting debut in Twelfth Night. How was that experience?
I absolutely adored it. And I’m so happy I had that stage experience to take into ART. My favourite aspect of comedy has always been performing, but the great advantage of acting is that I can still get laughs without having to be myself, which is an absolute bonus!
Do you think comedy has been a good training ground for acting?
In some ways. When I was playing Malvolio in Twelfth Night there was a bit of breaking the fourth wall and speaking directly to the audience, so it was useful for that. But generally I don’t think there is too much crossover between stand up and acting. When you do a play, one of the first things you have to interpret is the writer’s words, and then connect with the other actors. As a comedian, you don’t have that process, though it does mean you’re comfortable in front of a crowd.
Are you enjoying working with producers Joshua Beaumont and Original Theatre who are marking their 20th anniversary this year?
They’re lovely to work with, and they’ve put together such a good team. Chris Harper and Aden Gillett are both really nice, experienced actors, and I’m loving working with Iqbal Khan, our director, who has a wonderful feel for comedy.
You co-host a podcast, Oh My Dog!, with Jack Dee. Seeing as he has previously been in ART, did he give you any tips?
I did contact him when I was first approached about it, and he said what a great experience he’d had, and how much he loved the play. But we didn’t talk too much about his interpretation of the character – he also played Yvan. I didn’t want to muddy the waters, I think it’s good to go in fresh. But having said that I do wish I’d seen his portrayal!
How did you get into comedy?
I was a classic attention seeker as a kid, and got into a lot of trouble at school. Jim Carrey was an early hero, and I always wanted to be a stand up. I feel very fortunate that I’ve ended up living that dream. You have to remind yourself sometimes that the boy who left school with one GCSE has done alright for himself.
Do you think it’s harder to get established in stand up now?
I just think it’s different. If I was starting out now I’d be learning to edit videos on my phone and use social media apps to build a following. I’ve got friends that weren’t getting too many opportunities who have now exploded thanks to social media. I sound like an old fart, but it’s a completely different world from when I started out, when it was all about doing gigs.
Are you aiming to do more acting in the future?
I certainly hope so. Doing Twelfth Night was amazing and I’m really excited for ART. But it’s not really up to me – I’ll go in whatever direction pays the bills!