ED2012 Quick Quiz ED2012 Theatre

Waen Shepherd, Comedians Theatre Company: Quick Quiz

By | Published on Wednesday 20 June 2012

Waen Shepherd

The latest production from the Comedians Theatre Company, “a series of explosive revelations unravel the brutal truth behind a cycle of abuse” in ‘The Intervention’, a new play by Fringe First winning Dave Florez.
Phil Nichol, Mike McShane, Arabella Weir, Jan Ravens, Aisling Bea and Waen Shepherd all star in this new show. We put the Quiz Quiz questions to character actor and comedy songwriter Shepherd (pictured here with Nichol, and who you might possibly know for his cameos as Mr Kennedy in ‘The Inbetweeners’).

TW: Tell us about your 2012 show in no more than 60 words.
WS: ‘The Intervention’ is a new play by Dave Florez about a messed up Jewish-American family who perform an AA-style intervention on their alcoholic son. It’s a staggering piece of work starring Phil Nichol and a glittering cast of fantastic comic actors. I’m stunned and bewildered to have been cast in it, but I’ll do my best to measure up!

TW: Tell us about another show or performer you’re looking forward to seeing this year.
WS: Bridget Christie (at the Assembly Rooms) because I’ve always enjoyed her work, but, for some reason I can’t fathom, I’ve never seen her do a full hour before. Also Rebecca Vaughan in ‘Female Gothic’ (at Assembly George Square) because she’s a fantastic actress, and I really like the guy who did the sound effects. OK, I admit it, that was me!

TW: How will you be preparing for the Fringe this year?
WS: We’ve got a brief but intense fortnight of rehearsals immediately before the Fringe starts, so hopefully I’ll be too caught up in that to do much fretting. Other than that, I expect it’s the usual – pacing up and down biting my nails, wondering if anyone will like the show, packing abnormally large suitcases full of outfits for all kinds of weather, checking round the house fifty times making sure I haven’t left the gas on, etc etc

TW: What advice would you have for someone coming to the Fringe for the first time?
WS: If you mean advice to performers: Try not to pay too much attention to press reaction, especially reviews. Whatever gets said, it’s only one person’s opinion, but it’s always tempting to let these things go to your head. Whether the reviews are good or bad, they’re not real, they’re just ideas in someone’s mind, and minds can always be changed. Much better to focus on the audience reaction on the night. If you mean advice to audience members, my only advice is to go see ‘The Intervention’. And ‘Female Gothic’. Because they’re the best!

TW: If your show was an Olympic sport what would it be and why?
WS: Any performance I do always feels like some kind of gymnastic balance beam contest. You always hope you’ll hit the right places at the right moments and that the whole thing will look inspired and effortless, but you’re always acutely aware of the very real possibility of falling off and breaking a limb.

The Comedians Theatre Company performed ‘The Intervention’ at The Assembly Rooms at Fringe 2012. 

LINKS: www.waenshepherd.com

Photo: Steve Ullathorne



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