Interview

Stewart Alexander

Phil Willmott spoke to Stewart Alexander who's playing dastardly pirate Long John Silver in Treasure Island throughout the summer as part of London's free outdoor theatre season at the Scoop amphitheatre.

Q: You're playing one of the greatest villains in literature. What do you think is the key to playing a villain?

A: I try not to think of him as a villain. I've tried to research the truth of his situation, work out how he got to where he is, and why he behaves the way he does. I'm hoping if I portray that on stage I'll have created a chilling portrait of a real motivated person rather then a cardboard cut out bad guy.

Q: Some great actors have played this pirate. Did you check out anyone else's interpretation?

A: Oh yes. When I first got the part I was so excited I watched every film of it I could get on DVD. My uncle was a Hollywood actor and I got a shock when I watched one version. There he was in the opening scene. I hope it's a good omen and that he'd approve of my performance.

Q: You're originally from Canada. Will you be playing Silver with a Canadian accent?

A; No, I'm trying for a Dublin accent. It really suits both sides of his personality. There's a useful lilting quality to that accent that I can use in the early section of the play where Silver successfully persuades everyone what a nice guy he is. When he's revealed as a killer it's also a great accent for snarling in.

Q: Long John Silver only has one leg. How are you achieving that?

A: Lots of very painful "strapping up" and a huge floor length leather cloak that hides most of the trick. Obviously I have to spend most of my working day standing on one leg. I've found that it makes my right buttock ache. In fact I fear I shall have an incredibly large right buttock by the end of this run. I really have to stretch for every rehearsal and before and after every performance because you're putting a lot more weight on one leg and your foot gets sore, so it's a different challenge to any other role you might have to play.

Q: Your wife also appears in the season. What's it like working with someone who's also your partner?

A: I really enjoy it. I mean, this is what we live and breathe and what we love to do, so it's fantastic and we just have fun doing it. We go home at night exhausted but satisfied.

Q: Alongside Treasure Island you're also appearing in the Greek drama "Children of Hercules". Which do you enjoy the most?

A: Oh, I enjoy them both equally. The Greek play is really dark and quite menacing and I get to do a great fight sequence. It's a really lovely contrast to the high spirits of Treasure Island. The character I play in "Children of Hercules" is talked about all through the story but only comes on very near the end so I get a nice build up.

Q: This is your second year appearing in the London Free Theatre Season. How do you feel about working with the same company again and how have new actors fitted in?

A: I think one of the advantages of working with a director and actors that you have got to know very well is that you pick up on things a lot quicker. You immediately know what the director means when he gives you a direction which gives you a lot of short-cuts. But it's also great when new people join the company with a new perspective and give you something that you might not have thought of before.

Q: What is your favourite moment in "Treasure Island"?

A: Unfortunately a moment when I am not on the stage. I'd rather not give it away but when Ben Gunn arrives on the boat something quite exceptional happens, I wish I could watch it every night and I am sure audiences will find it very amusing.

Q: And in "Children of Hercules"?

A: It's hard to say. For A Greek tragedy it's action-packed. It's got a lot. It really moves quickly - unlike a certain one legged pirate.

Treasure Island and Children of Hercules are free to watch and are performed in More London's Scoop open air-amphitheatre on the south bank of the Thames adjacent to City Hall by Tower Bridge. Performance times and more details from www.suzannarosenthal.com/scoop.