Lead Actors Of Vertigo Theatre Production’s Erotic And Unique ‘Ascension’ Chat To VIVA
| 22nd September 2015
Vertigo Theatre Productions co owner, award winning and MTA Nominated writer/Director Craig Hepworth brings his new play ‘Ascension’ to the stage this November at The King’s Arms, Salford. The company have enjoyed huge success on the fringe scene with 5 star and critically acclaimed plays including ‘Porno Chic’ (returning in March), ‘Watching Goldfish Suffocate’, ‘M, Rage’, ‘Mysterious Skin’, ‘Exam’ and many others. Switching gears completely after the highly emotional recently acclaimed play Last Dance, Ascension is a dark, disturbing and controversial look inside the mind of a psychopath and the man who has become so obsessed with him that he will do anything for him. The show teams up one of Manchester’s finest fringe actors Richard Allen (above right), who has enjoyed much success with Vertigo as well as Ryan McMyler (above left) who made his impressive debut in Last Dance. Also in the cast are a host of Vertigo regulars including Stuart Reeve, Celine Constantinides, Paul Worrall, Benjamin Corry and newcomer Sean Roberts. We caught up with the two leads to get the low down on the latest play.
What can you tell us about the play Ascension?
Ryan – Ascension explores the inner workings of a dominant who happens to be psychopath and his relationship with his submissive. It plays on eroticism in a way in which I think audiences won’t have seen before.
Richard – The content I would say is not for the faint hearted, but it’s displayed in such a stylised fashion that it’s hard not to be intrigued and engrossed into their world.
Ryan – It’s exciting and tense because of the beautifully crafted dialogue and scenes, it’s not to be missed.
Tell me about your characters in the play.
Ryan – Nathan on paper is a psychopath, but the intricacies involved with him lend to delving in to the world of domination and submission. He’s bored, erratic, self deluded and conflicted. His relationship with Richard becomes a delicate and intricate power balance.
Richard – Richard to the outside world would be seen as smart, a nice guy who shows compassion towards others but he’s also quite easily manipulated. He had a very rough upbringing including beatings from his father and the kids at school and he was horrified to discover that the bullying towards him turned him on. It’s easy to see why he became a submissive or how he could get led so far astray.
Some of things you have to do in the play are quite controversial in terms of nudity sex and violence, how do you approach that?
Ryan – I’ve always been of the opinion that as an actor you have to do what is expected of you. Whether that be nudity, intimate scenes or violent scenes, you have to be completely involved in that character’s personality. I believe in giving yourself over to the role completely. When you read ‘he undresses’ or ‘he punches him’ you don’t ask ‘how should I do this?’ you ask ‘am I doing it right?’
Richard- I’ve been acting for a good few years now where I have had to get naked or approach violent or disturbing scenes head on, in my opinion actors are the storytellers of the play when it’s on the stage, and if in the story it requires it to convey a feeling or moment of importance in a scene then it is my job not to question it but surrender myself to it.
The show is billed as something quite unique, what makes it unique?
Ryan – I believe the subject matter makes it unique. A dominant and submissive relationship is something that some people have a perception of, others may not know anything, however this is not a normal dominant/submissive relationship.
Richard – The subject isn’t really dealt with very much in this way on the stage, it throws up the question about each and every one of us, are we a creation that will forever be or are we shaped by our own environments and what could that make us do? The way in which the story is told in such a stylised way is also really interesting with this subject matter and not what you would expect.
Both of you have worked with Vertigo before, what draws you to this company?
Ryan – Many different things, the array of different subject matters their plays deal with, they are not easy subject matters, they are challenging and inquisitive. Craig and the team are supportive and so easy to get along with. Craig really helps shape your performance, every aspect of it, it also doesn’t feel rigid like other rehearsal processes, even if the play is dark the rehearsals are still a lot of fun. Don’t get me wrong it’s exhausting and they push you but it’s what you desire as an actor. They are an excellent company for actors at every level.
Richard – One of the reasons I enjoy working with Vertigo is the material you are given, for any actor it’s a joy to bring these characters to the stage. Also Vertigo have really helped develop my skills as an actor. Together we dissect and shape my performances that not only the company can be proud of but performances that are so rooted within you it’s hard not to love them yourselves.
Your last play with Vertigo was ‘Last Dance’, how do the two differ?
Ryan – ‘Last Dance’ was very hard hitting and honest, and whilst Ascension is also hard hitting its delving in to a world you have little chance of coming across (if you are lucky). It delves in to warped environment and imagination of a privileged psychopath, the play is not based around human emotion like ‘Last Dance’, it’s really the opposite and concerns the lack of human emotion.
Richard – This one differs massively from’ Last Dance’ for many reasons. ‘Last Dance’ was a very emotional story whereas ‘Ascension’ is a dark, distressing and manipulative play that is very cold and sinister. One of our lead characters shows very little emotion at all, something that ‘Last Dance’ did the opposite; each character wore their hearts and opinions on their sleeves.
If you could sell ‘Ascension’ in one sentence, what would you say?
Ryan and Richard – I guarantee you will have never seen anything like this before!
Get tickets to Ascension HERE.