What most appealed to you about Silo?
The interesting dynamic between the characters of Jarod and Noah, two opposite personalities forced to confront a very serious issue. And both dealing with it in their own unique way, which becomes all the more fascinating when Silo appears.
In the story, pandemics have become a regular part of life. The play feels semi-apocalyptic. Do you feel that Silo makes any statements about the state of the world?
I feel it makes a statement on how technology is used within today’s society. The use of social media has opened up many avenues in which people spanning very long distances can now communicate at the click of a button. During the Covid_19 pandemics, being able to talk to my friends and family online definitely helped me through it. As for the apocalypse side, well… I can only hope that’s something we will never have to witness.
You play Jarod, an inventor who has created a robot to help fix the world, despite claiming it’s beyond repair. How do you see him?
Jarod is an interesting character, a very logical thinker who doesn’t really connect much to the emotional side of his himself. But that’s not to say he doesn’t feel his emotions. I think the fact that he cares so much is one of the driving forces of behind the character and his actions.
The play focuses on a strained relationship between a father and his son. Do you find male-on-male relationships particularly challenging?
Not particularly, but when reading the interactions between Jarod and Noah, I did find similarities in the relationship I have with my own father. I’m pretty independent and don’t get to see him a lot. And when we do catch up, there are moments where the playful jokes do become a bit snippy. We both have very strong personalities and like very different things, so it’s sometimes a challenge to agree and discuss things we are both interested in. This is clearly the case with Jarod and Noah, too.
It seems that both men are able to communicate better through Jarod’s robot than in person. Do you think this reflects our relationship with technology?
I know a lot of people that find it easier to come out of their shell and be themselves when technology is involved. Once again, I think the fact that they both use technology to convey emotion more easily is interesting.
What three words would you use to sum up Silo?
Emotional. Hi-tech. Drama.
What other plays would you compare it to?
It’s tough to compare to other plays, but the films Ex-machina and A.I. would be pretty apt.
Why should people come to see the show?
It’s a fascinating story that dives into the lives of two polar-opposite men, both dealing with a very hard unavoidable situation in their own way.
We’d like to thank Sam for taking the time to speak to us and can’t wait for Silo to begin its 5-day run in North Devon. The play will show at The Plough Arts Centre from 15-16 June, 8pm, and then The Queen’s Theatre from 23-25 June 2023.
Book Tickets for The Plough
Book Tickets for The Queen’s Theatre
* Please note that anyone who comes to see the play can get a copy of Spectrum for half price, making it £4.99 instead of £9.99. Simply keep hold of your theatre ticket and present it when buying the book in the foyer.