It’s a highlight of the Rye Christmas – the panto from Rye Players. This year it’s Treasure Ryeland entertaining audiences in Beckley, Camber, Rye and Rye Harbour. Let’s meet three of the stars.
Lawrence Wilson plays Private Dribble
How long have you been with Rye Players?
Three years and counting! And in that time I’ve been in two pantos, two plays performed during the Rye Arts Festival, another show that we took to the Stables in Hastings, plus a couple of murder mysteries.
What is your acting and musical background?
I’ve been singing since I was a child—a treble in the church choir—and at sixteen started performing in plays and musicals, and even an opera or two. I have an honours degree in drama from a classical theatre training programme and performed in productions in and around Chicago, Illinois, both professional and am-dram, for twenty years before emigrating the UK.
Do you have anything on your bucket list?
Living in the UK was actually on my bucket list, growing up! And it’s been a grand ongoing adventure… When I was young, I longed to play a von Trapp kid in The Sound of Music, but my voice dropped from soprano to baritone when I was twelve. Still hoping to play Puck in A Midsummer Night’s Dream…
What is your favourite piece of music?
I am a great fan of the music of Stephen Sondheim—I’ve performed in three Sondheim shows, and it’s some of the most difficult (and wonderful) in the entire musical theatre canon. One of my favourites is Sunday in the Park with George—incredible songs like “Finishing the Hat,” “Move On,” and “Sunday.” I’d love to perform in this one, someday…
Do you enjoy panto or more serious roles?
I did a good deal of children’s theatre back in Illinois, but it’s a very different beast to a proper British panto. I love the carefully-crafted silliness, the double-entendres, and the visual and vocal cues that get passed down through the generations—but my first love, I have to say, is for the Broadway / West End musical tradition. As much as I enjoy the challenge of creating a character for a straight play, there’s just something about filling a theatre with song that satisfies something deep in the core of me.
Stuart Clark plays the Captain of the “Leaky Bottom.”
He has managed to set up a performance of the panto at the RNLI boathouse on Friday, December 20. This is wonderful because the panto this year is raising funds for the RNLI. There only a few tickets left.
How long have you been with Rye Players?
About eighteen months.
Did you ever think as you were growing up that you would have such an interest in drama and the talent to take on big roles?
Not really. I was always in school plays and enjoyed them. Although the last one I did, Oliver where I played Bill Sykes, I made a very noticeable cock up (just ask Laura Grove or Linda Estrada) and it terrified me so much I had a really good fear of public speaking, and forgetting my lines, ever since. Hence, I joined Rye Players to get over it!
Which role have you enjoyed the most, comic or serious?
I enjoy them all. I loved Much Ado as it was such a challenge. I had a very small part to begin with, which suited me down to the ground, but got asked to play one of the lead roles with just a month to go. I initially turned the director down, due to my terror, but quickly thought, why the heck not, and it was a beautiful experience. I loved the panto last year and Holmes earlier this year. So no, no preference, I’ll try anything
You sing in Treasure Ryeland, are you part of other choirs?
I sing in the Marsh Choir. I’m always singing, ask my kids, or the lifeboat crew, and I was in a choir at school and sang at the Albert Hall. I joined the Marsh Choir just before Rye Players at the recommendation of a dear friend, and as well as the singing, it provides a great atmosphere of community and inclusion. It’s just fun!
Have you had any training or just have a naturally melodious voice?
I have a deep voice, and what I lack in skill I make up for with enthusiasm, and volume!
You have helped to set up a performance at the RNLI boathouse in Rye Harbour and you are a member of the crew there. What is your connection to the RNLI?
My dad’s family are all from the harbour and were fisherman and I was born there. I’m at least the third generation of Clarks (probably more, but I haven’t seen the records) on the Rye Harbour boat. I’ve been going to sea since I was very young and love anything to do with boats and the water, and still an avid windsurfer, so it was natural for me to get involved and carry on the family tradition for such a worthwhile cause, “Saving lives at Sea.”
Who would you like to play in the future? Musical, serious or panto?
Mary’s Boys would be a good choice, for obvious familial reasons! But as mentioned, I’ll do anything they want me to!!
The last spotlight is on Xan Kite who plays Pirate Quigley
How long have you been part of Rye Players?
My first outing with Rye Players was to join the cast of Much Ado About Nothing in the summer of 2022. I’d never done Shakespeare before and was expecting something quite serious – but no! The Players were serious about doing a good job, but also serious about great laughter and wonderful friends and fun. I have since played the timid brow-beaten next-door neighbour with her beloved Jack Russell in the amazing production of Book Club in the 2023 Rye Arts Festival; a bearded fool in the 2023 pantomime; Sherlock in Holmes Under the Hammer in the 2024 arts festival; and now the idiot pirate with alter-ego puppet in Treasure Ryeland! Looking back I see the pattern of glamorous roles, ha ha!
Do you prefer funny roles or more serious ones?
Funny roles really, but I find they work best if there is a little serious side too – then the laughter is even more intense and you can really connect with the audience. Those roles are so rewarding to develop and you end up having so much fun in rehearsals and on stage – you can feel the cast and audience enjoying it together.
Tell the readers of Rye News a little about your background, training, career and interests.
I have always loved to perform – at school and in clubs from a very young age. I wrote many plays, shows and songs in my childhood which I got my gang of friends who lived in the close I grew up on in Sheffield to perform in our back gardens to our long-suffering parents for hours on end! I had flute and singing lessons throughout my school years and sang with the Sheffield Girl’s Choir all over the country and in Europe. I performed in many plays and pantomimes in and out. I then studied music at City University London and had vocal tuition at the Guildhall School of Music and Drama. My teacher was Gillian Knight of the D’Oyly Carte and I sang a lot of light opera. I’ve acted with great amateur groups in London, Sheffield, Kent, Devon and Sussex and now find myself in wonderful Rye surrounded by the most awe-inspiring artistic talent everywhere you turn! I’m very lucky!
You have been involved with the musical side of Treasure Ryeland, the Rye Players panto, is this something you want to pursue in future productions?
Oo yes, I’d love to. I think we can do more and more, all sorts of musical styles with great group work. There is so much goodwill in the town and there are so many groups to collaborate with – the sky’s the limit!
What is your character like in Treasure Ryeland?
I’m playing Pirate Quigley, a very likeable idiot who needs sympathy and talks to the audience a lot, asking for their support against the baddie Long John Saliva. Quigley has a puppet version of himself that he talks to, he is very sweet and funny. I love having a split personality in this, I’ve never had a puppet before and it is brilliant!
There are a few tickets left for Beckley Village Centre on Thursday, December 12, Camber Memorial Hall on Friday, December 13, Tilling Green Community Centre on Saturday, December 14 and for the RNLI boathouse, Rye Harbour on Friday, December 20. Tickets can be bought here.
Image Credits: Kt bruce .