What most appealed to you about The Uninvited?
From the first reading, I was hooked in by the well-rounded, believable characters. While the ghostly goings on are fantastical, and great fun to recreate, the strength of the dialogue keeps the play grounded in reality and creates a gripping narrative. I also love a ghost story.
The story deals with themes such as trauma, deception, and the things people do to survive. Is there anything you particularly related to when reading it?
I really related to the idea of your past catching up with you, and having to address issues head on, rather than burying your head in the sand.
You play Emily, an unhappily married woman in the midst of a personal crisis. How do you see her?
I see Emily as strong-minded, empathic, and vulnerable character, guilt-ridden by the decisions both she and her husband have made in the past. She has enough of a conscience for both of them, which is just as well, because Laurence is rather lacking in that area. She is struggling to come to terms with her own identity, and due to the trauma she has suffered throughout her life, she is highly sensitive to the supernatural events that are happening.
How did you prepare for playing the role?
I really like to dig into the sub-text and play around with different intentions to better understand the character and the dynamics they have with the other characters. I also enjoy creating a strong backstory, the more specific the better. For example, I imagined Emily had always wanted to be an acupuncturist, but Laurence talked her out of it. I’m currently working on developing some nervous tics for Emily to hint at her traumatic past and help to physicalise her character.
Do you believe in ghosts?
I have had a handful of supernatural experiences, the most recent of which took place a few years ago. I was in a tech rehearsal for a show and I made a bargain with the resident theatre ghost, who was said to live in the tech box. I told her she could do what she liked that day, but I asked her to please leave the tech alone for the run. About 10-minutes later, we all walked into the main theatre to find the tech manager tearing her hair out as the sound and lighting programming had just been mysteriously wiped.
The run went fairly smoothly, with one notable exception. Halfway through the play, in Scene 13, I had a rather poignant solo sequence. During that scene, every single night, one element of tech went completely wrong. From the lights failing or turning on, to a random sound effect happening when it shouldn’t have. Needless to say, I have never since dared to try and bargain with a ghost.
What three words would you use to sum up the play?
Dark, compelling, entertaining.
What other play/s would you compare it to?
This show most reminds me of The Woman in Black, or a darker version of Blythe Spirit.
Why should people come to see The Uninvited?
It’s great writing, gripping with well-drawn characters, lots of twists and surprises, and it’ll leave you thinking about it after the curtain falls.
We’d like to thank Anna for taking the time to speak to us and can’t wait for the showcase of The Uninvited at The Landmark Theatre in Ilfracombe.
Performance info
Thurs 12 September 2024, 6pm
£5 per ticket
Box Office Details
Phone: 01271 316 523
Email: northdevon.tickets@landmarktheatres.co.uk
We hope to see you there.