Interview with Stephen Uppal
Hollyoaks is going to be a little bit different from pantomime. How do you feel about taking to the stage?
I’m really looking forward to it as I haven’t been on stage for a few years now. It’s where I learned my craft and where it all began for me so it’ll be nice to get back to doing that again. I am a little nervous. It’s one of those things that is a completely different style and technique after three years being on TV so it’ll take me a little time to get used to it. That’s what the rehearsals are for and I can’t wait.”
You’ve been seen on stage before touring in Joseph and the Rod Stewart musical Tonight’s The Night – but do you have a favourite theatre role so far?
It has to be joining the National Theatre cast of The History Boys. One of my ambitions was to work for the National Theatre and for the director Nicholas Hytner who is a genius of a man. I got to work with some incredible actors on one of the best scripts I’ve ever read. It’s an incredible play and it was an honour to do that
Moving on to Hollyoaks. Ravi had some very challenging storylines. What was he like to play?
I was very lucky as Ravi was the very first Asian character to ever come into Hollyoaks. For an actor to play a character who is so far removed from you as a person is a privilege because they have put their trust into your skills that you can pull that off.
“A lot happened to him and I was very fortunate with some brilliant storylines which were well-written and really well-directed. I learned a lot from that show and I loved my time there.”
One of his most memorable storylines was the brain aneurysm storyline. How did you prepare for that?
I went straight onto the internet to see how an aneurysm would affect people. I also went to Liverpool Hope Hospital and just sat down with some patients to chat about how having one affected them in their daily lives – and how they realized they actually had a problem. I tried to do as much research as possible watching documentaries and finding out about it you on YouTube to understand them. “When you get the responsibility of a storyline like this, you don’t want to upset anyone and, as an actor, it’s a privilege to get the chance to do something like this. You also have a responsibility as the show is geared towards young people so you have got to portray something as serious as this to the best of your ability and reflect the issues as well as you can. It was difficult and a lot of pressure so I’m grateful the producers put their trust into me.”
Panto is obviously occupying your time at the moment. What comes next?
I’ve just managed to get an agent in the States and I am working on my visa. I know everyone always says ‘they all want to be Hollywood superstars.’ That’s not the case at all. As an actor, you need to keep your options open and you’ve got to try everything. I wouldn’t be where I am now if I didn’t go for auditions and castings.
“An American agent approached me after seeing stuff about me on the internet. The opportunities are there and I want to explore them. I’ve been to thousands of auditions and had thousands of rejections but, if it’s something you want to expand and keep going, you have got to go for it. It’s nothing to do with being a big Hollywood movie star. It’s all about wanting to improve as an actor and try my head at everything and do as much diverse work as possible.”
Jack And The Beanstalk, Tuesday December 14 2010-Sunday January 16, 2011. Tickets £5-£19. Under-threes free. Signed performances on Saturday January 15th at 2.30pm and 7.30pm. Audio described performance on Sunday January 9th at 1pm.
BOX OFFICE 01603 630000. For more info or to BOOK ONLINE www.theatreroyalnorwich.co.uk
