Seven Dials Playhouse launches with a European Premiere of “Steve”
Mark Gerrard’s cutting comedy that was heralded as The New York Times’ Critic’s Pick when it ran in New York in 2015, and now it has been picked to begin this week as the inaugural presentation at the Seven Dials Playhouse. “Steve” illuminates LGBTQ+ relationships, both romantic and platonic. The play navigates the highs and lows of getting older, long-term friendship, monogamy, saying goodbye and being alive.
“Steve” is directed by Andrew Keates, he commented, “We couldn’t have assembled a finer cast to serve the European premiere of Steve by Mark Gerrard. Our rehearsal room will be a diverse playground filled with exquisitely talented actors synonymous with world class Musical Theatre and vital, ground-breaking LGBTQ+ productions. Frankly, it’s an honour to be their director and set the tone for the work and artists to be expected at the new Seven Dials Playhouse.”
I caught up with one of cast members, Nico Conde (Westworld, HBO Entertainment; El Inocente, Netflix) and discovered his love for acting started at a very early age! “Well, it was pretty immediate for me. I was only six years old when I started doing Musical Theatre in School. Every year I was there to participate and my love for it started to grow. I was having loads of fun. So, it just happened. I wasn't looking for it. As my love grew more and more, there I was…asking my parents to take me to places, I wanted to be in films as well. And that’s what happened, I was only ten when I had my first film experience: Luna de Avellaneda, by Juan José Campanella.”
What was interesting chatting to Nico was his method of working out his characterisation, for him reading the script about his character gives him not the answer but rather a question. “I usually ask myself what happened before the page one. I enjoy so much the research, the exploration. Who is that person? Where is he coming from? With that, I let myself find the character in the process.” Is he also looking forward to a long run a single theatre rather than tour of many venues?
“Well, there’s a beautiful advantage for my character “Esteban” which I’m not going to reveal. You will find out when you go. Other than that, I believe a 6-week-run at the same theatre gives the opportunity to connect with the place, to use it for my advantage. I embrace that feeling performing day after day, as it would be the very first time.” What else can we look forward to when we go to see the play?
“They can look forward to have fun! The first time I read it, I had to literally stop several times because I couldn’t stop laughing. I remembered I told Andrew Keates, the director, that I felt I was doing an audition where there were no commitments whatsoever, just fun and that was a pleasure. They can look forward to connecting with the characters. It’s a terrific well-written play. Mark Gerrard has written a fantastic play, where you can connect as a human being from all sorts of places that tickles you, moves you, wakes in you how beautiful it is to be alive and how important are we to each other. So, get ready for a nice ride!”
To get your “ticket to ride” to watch Steve at the Seven Dials Playhouse from now until mid-March they are available at www.sevendialsplayhouse.co.uk or on 020 3841 6600.
Images Top © Richard Lakos – The Other Richard
Lower © Seven Dials Playhouse
