We grabbed Richard Stratton, who is playing Tweedle Dum (& other various roles) and also done wrote the play – for our upcoming production of Alice in Wonderland at the Battersea Library, for some quick questions…
What do you like best about playing your character in Alice in Wonderland?
The best thing about playing my characters in Alice is that they’re all a different kind of crazy. Each of them is mad in their own way and it’s been fun finding those different types of madness and switching between them.
They’re also very active, there’s little time for rest if you’re on stage and I think that’s the same for everyone else too!
What’s your favourite scene or character in Alice in Wonderland?
I think it would have to be either the Mad Hatter’s tea party or the scene where Alice meets the door that she enters wonderland through. The tea party is such a classic scene from the book and it was a joy to work on. Plus, the characters in it are probably my favourites alongside the mock turtle who sadly didn’t make it in to this version.
While I tried to stay as true to how the tea party is in the original as I could, with the door scene I found I could put my own twist on it and try my hand at creating a new interpretation of the character of the door. It was really fun to create a character that fit comfortably with the other, established character of wonderland.
What’s the last book you read?
I recently finished ‘So You’ve Been Publicly Shamed’ by Jon Ronson. It’s an exploration of the rise of public shaming (primarily online), why it happens and how it affects those who find themselves targets. Really interesting, worth checking out, particularly if you spend a lot of time on Twitter!
Besides Alice, what’s your favourite past role (or favourite past project you’ve worked on) and why?
Tricky. My favourite past role was probably Lt. Ralph in Our Country’s Good. A wonderful play and a fantastic character to have the chance to take on.
What’s the best play/show/concert you’ve ever been to?
Even trickier! I certainly can’t choose one. Anything by Punch Drunk has to be up there and Mercury Fur by Philip Ridley left me in what I can only describe as a state of shock when I saw it and the Chocolate Factory (certainly not for kids though!). More recently though I’d have to say The Scottsboro Boys; I’ve never seen a musical like it!
Not a lot of people know that…
When I was little I had a teddy bear called Mr. Spiv.
What’s your guilty pleasure?
Terrible action movies on Netflix. Every time I think I’ve found the worst, they add another!
What really grinds your gears?
Dancing dog acts! Don’t really know why. I love dogs, but not when they’re dancing!
You can see Richard’s work in Alice in Wonderland at the Battersea Library 2-16th May 2015 – more details and buy tickets here.
Blackshaw Theatre 