Our community production His Last Report, in association with Riding Lights Theatre Company will be premiering here in York (19 Jul – 03 Aug.)
Ahead of the show opening we caught up with cast member Colin Beveridge, who is playing Winston Churchill. Whilst this is Colin’s first community production with York Theatre Royal, he has been on our stage before and has been a part of other local community shows. Read on to find out how he is finding being part of such a large-scale production and hear more about what you can expect from the show…
Why did you decide to take part in His Last Report?
York is my home-town and the Main House stage at York Theatre Royal is the first I ever went on when I was a child in the panto! This seemed like a great opportunity to get involved and perform back on that stage. When I attended the read-through I was really drawn to the character of Churchill and so I was delighted to be cast in that part.
I have been in community productions before with Harrogate Theatre – including Our Gate, 122 Love Stories and Get Wed and I loved being part of those, so I was really keen to be a part of York Theatre Royal’s latest community show.
Tell us a little bit about your character?
I play politician Winston Churchill. There is a twenty-year gap between my scenes so at first we see a younger Churchill, who is newly elected and ambitious and trying to grow his political career. He hasn’t then matured into the image people expect of him. We see his relationship with Seebohm and the interest in the Reports and how that changes further into his political career.
It’s been really interesting learning more about Churchill and doing some research into what he was like. For example, I found some really interesting facts about Churchill’s distinctive speaking style and how his dentures were specially made to preserve his natural lisp! I’ve enjoyed delving into Churchill’s character and what he was like in real life.
How has the process been so far?
I’ve been a really collaborative process in rehearsals. I have enjoyed working with Juliet and Paul, the Directors as they’ve allowed us to develop our characters and take time to build the relationship in the scenes between Churchill and Lloyd George. I also like that there is a real attention to detail in the production.
So it’s been great so far but I know it will get even more intense as we get into tech week and get closer to opening night!
Photo credit: Andrew Wrenn & Colin Beveridge in rehearsals. Photographer: Phil Neath
What are you most looking forward to?
Getting back on the YTR stage and performing! It’s been really great how in rehearsals we’ve been able to focus on our specific scenes but I am looking forward to meeting the wider cast and it all coming together. I can’t wait to be backstage and feeling that excitement as the show opens to an audience.
Photo credit: Colin Beveridge in rehearsals. Photographer – Phil Neath
Why should people come and see the show?
It’s a very thoughtful piece – there is so much that resonates with the struggles going on in today’s society around the dismantling of reforms. It deals with really important subject matter and highlights the York story in there too. With so many cast members involved it is set to be an impressive production and I think people will be really intrigued with how the show plays with time and what is has to say about society.
Don’t miss His Last Report, opening at York Theatre Roya on 19 Jul with a ‘pay what you can’ performance. The show runs until 03 August with tickets from £15.
Find out more: https://www.yorktheatreroyal.co.uk/show/his-last-report/
