Chris Park caught up with Anthony Lewis

Many people will recognise Anthony Lewis from stints on Children’s Ward, Emmerdale and more recently, The Syndicate but people will see an altogether different side of Lewis when he appears in smash hit stage version of the British cinema classic, The Full Monty at the Opera House in October

Chris Park caught up with Anthony to discuss the play and how he’s got used to stripping off nightly.

1. Tell me about Lomper

He is the security guard at the steelworks where they all work. He’s in his early 30s and has no friends, he lives with his mum and is having suicidal thoughts. He encounters the lads and slowly comes out of his shell.

2. Your character is struggling with his sexuality, how did you prepare for this?

I spoke to friends who have been through it. At the beginning of the play Lomper doesn’t realise his feelings, he is confused, he’s never had a boyfriend or a girlfriend and my friends spoke about the relief that they felt when they finally didn’t have to hide and they let it all out so I drew from these experiences. There’s a really lovely moment in the play when he realises. I feel that, even though the play is set in the late 80s/early 90s that these issues are still hugely relevant today.

3. Is it nerve wracking doing the “full monty” or are you over it now?

It’s amazing how quickly you get used to things. When we first started, we did a rehearsal where we got that number out of the way and now I’m some kind of naturist, walking around back stage naked and everything. 

4. Did you hit the gym in preparation or come as you are?

You sweat loads doing this play with all the numbers and stunts, so it’s a great way to lose weight. We have to make sure that we get enough food and drink so I didn’t really have to worry but I suppose from a personal pride viewpoint I did go to the gym a little bit.

5. Have you seen the film?

I loved the film. I’ve watched it a couple of times recently, my friend William Snape played Young Nathan in the film and he’s really happy that I’m in this. I was told before we started that it would be fun but it has totally exceeded my expectations and we’re getting really good, packed crowds which is great.

6. How does the play differ from the film?

I don’t want to give too much away but there are some differences, mainly that we can spend more time looking at issues like Lomper and also unemployment and custody of children and all those things. Even though it is set in the past, these things are just as relevant today, we’re in another recession and people can really identify with this. 

There is a stunt in there which is different to the film, that’s all I’m going to say but all the scenes that make the film brilliant are in there like the gnome scene. 

The writer Simon Beaufoy (Slumdog Milionaire) has done a great job.  I think it’s what is good about British cinema, that people are not perfect bodied in the film and the stripping is only part of it but there are so many stories in there.

7. Touring until April is a slog, how will you keep it fresh?

Even though we’re already on the road, we’ve got producers and directors involved who are making changes. We have a six week break at Christmas too so no doubt we will be raring to go when we get back. We’re also finding new ideas from the audience, what works, what doesn’t and we make changes according to that. I don’t know how I’ll feel towards the end, I will let you know. 

I was in a play recently called Whose Life Is It Anyway, where I played a quadriplegic and I had to go through a whole range of emotions from happy to sad to angry and I found that a bit hard to let go of but I guess as an actor you learn to let go of a character at the end.

8. How has the reception been so far?

It has been great, people really get the play and are enjoying it. I’ve heard that the Manchester crowd are great from the other lads who were on the last tour. I’ve worked a lot in Manchester and some of the lads have a connection to Manchester so I’m looking forward to coming there.

9. As a cast who have to get naked together, you must be quite close.

We made the effort to go to the pub and socialise so we’re good friends .  I’ve heard that there can be pranks and I’m sure they will get more as the tour goes on.

10. What is next for you?

I don’t know to be honest. As an actor you’re always thinking ahead to the next job, working out what comes next, so it’s really nice to be able to relax with a tour like this.

We never spend more than a week in a location so it’s a really good way to see the country. 

We’re in Nottingham at the moment which is beautiful and I’m looking forward to doing some more Northern places, I’m from Leeds.

I will probably start looking in February. I’ve done a lot of plays recently and really enjoy them so would be on the lookout for another play.

For more information, please visit www.fullmontytheplay.com

Anthony Lewis

Anthony is an actor working across television, film and theatre.

His extensive television credits include regular Marc Reynolds in Emmerdale, Casualty, The Syndicate, Doctors, Frankenstein's Wedding, Holby City, Everything But The Ball, Torchwood, Respectable, Girls in Love, Dalziel & Pascoe, Children’s Ward, My Dad's A Boring Nerd, Adam's Family Tree, Cardiac Arrest, Cracker, A Touch of Frost, The Detectives and Heartbeat,

Stage includes Whose Life is it Anyway? (Frinton Summer Theatre), Not Again (Old Red Lion), A Passionate Woman (Hull Truck/Oldham Coliseum/Ipswich New Wolsey), High Level Cleaning (Rollem Productions) and Broken Voices (The New Company).

Film includes: A Passionate Woman, Boy A, Girls' Night and This Is Personal: The Hunt for the Yorkshire Ripper.

By Chris Park for Canal St Online

Published: 6-Oct-2016: (3919)