Playing a Wall doesn’t sound the most exciting role for an actor…not much room for expression, one would have thought.

But it’s turned out to be quite the opposite for Stevie Smallwood.

He’s currently touring the UK with Shakespeare 4 Kidz playing workman Snout the tinker in A Midsummer Night’s Dream. As all fans of the show know, Snout has to dress up and look rather ridiculous as Wall in the play-within-a-play Pyramus and Thisbe, holding up his fingers to form the “chink” through which the lovers maintain their courtship.

Stevie, 35 and a regular with the company, has previously appeared in five of the six S4K titles: as Demetrius in The Dream, Horatio in Hamlet, Antonio in The Tempest, Friar Lawrence in Romeo and Juliet and Malcolm in Macbeth.

Hardly surprisingly he’s having a ball playing Snout and loves it when the kids in the audience bellow “Bring on the Wall.”

“Snout is a great character to play, but also a challenge,” says Stevie.

“The Mechanicals have very physical comedy, which is more like the roles I played before I started working with S4K. The only difference with this is that there are six of us in our little group and so timing and co-ordination are even more important.

“Snout only has a few lines and very little is written about him, so when I was creating the character the world was my oyster, which at times made it hard as there was almost too much choice.

“Although Snout doesn't have much to say, he definitely gets stuck in!  I've made Snout a very boisterous, bouncy character who gets excited about the littlest of things.

“In A Midsummer Night's Dream everyone changes in the woods and comes out a different person.  Snout comes out a little more grown up... he moves from acting like a bouncy six year old to being a mardy teenager. 

“I love it when Snout plays the Wall in the workmen's Pyramus and Thisbe.  He is a bit star-struck with the royals and can't stop staring at them which, of course, gets him into trouble and he can't quite understand why his chink-in-the-wall makes people angry.”

Stevie loves touring. Born and raised in Birmingham (he went to St James C of E and Light Hall, Solihull Sixth Form College and Birmingham School of Speech and Drama), he now lives in London’s Kentish Town but enjoys seeing the different parts of the country that S4K takes him to.

“Touring with S4K is like having a second family.  The producers (Julian and Carolyn Chenery) are very good at putting a company together that works like clockwork and gets on with each other.

“I've made so many good friends from the different companies in the five years I've been working for S4K.  Everyone mucks in and works hard to create top notch shows that all ages can enjoy.  Everyone has such pride in S4K. No-one else does what we do in the way that we do it.

“Audiences have been great on the tour so far.  Both schools and family audiences have come away buzzing from the show.  Obviously Puck and Bottom are favourites but it always makes me really happy when I hear things like "The Wall Rocks!" coming from the audience. I don't remember a year when we've had so many standing ovations. It makes us all very proud.”

See Wonder Wall Stevie on tour: check the list of venue dates on this site.

For more about Stevie visit his website www.steviesmallwood.moonfruit.com

It’s Dream time for Clare again

Not many women want to be flung about in the woods and called names. But Clare Reilly just can’t get enough of it!

PHOTO BY ELYSE MARKS

The Croydon-educated actress is playing hapless Helena in Shakespeare 4 Kidz’ musical adaptation of A Midsummer Night’s Dream for the second time.

Poor Helena is unlucky in love in the Bard’s comedy. The boys – Demetrius and Lysander – have eyes only for sexy little Hermia while beanpole Helena is the butt of their jokes.

Things get even worse when Oberon’s sprite Puck gets involved and the insults really start to fly.

Claire went to Regina Ceoli Primary School in South Croydon, St Philomena's High for Girls in Carshalton, did an HND in Musical Theatre at the Charles Cryer Theatre in Carshalton, followed by the year-long course at the London School of Musical Theatre in 2004.  Now based in Wimbledon, she also has strong connections with the Mitre Players.

Since graduating in 2004 Clare has played all sorts of roles from Cinderella to Boogie Nights and will be appearing in panto this Christmas in Sheringham. She also kicks up her heels in fine style and performed a great Celtic dance in S4K’s last tour of Macbeth.

What is it about Helena which just keeps Clare coming back for more?

"Helena is the most fun character and the most different character I have played since I left college," she says. "Even though she cries and wails a lot, there is so much comedy in her. I have fun every single day!"

"One of my favourite moments is when she is "enchanted" by Puck in the woods. It involves a squeaky, rubber bone and a spaniel impression!"

“She’s a hopeless romantic, ditzy but not dumb, utterly faithful, utterly loving and utterly desperate!” says Clare.

Versatility is the name of the game for Antony Stuart-Hicks – known to his friends as Ash.

Leanne Jones and Antony Stuart-Hicks as Tracy and Edna Turnblad in Hairspray in Dubai

He’s recently returned from flouncing about in a frock playing Edna Turnblad in a hit production of the musical Hairspray in Dubai. Now Ash is aging-up to play quintessential Athenian workman Quince in A Midsummer Night’s Dream for Shakespeare 4 Kidz.

Ash, just turned 26, specialises in character roles and loves playing dame in panto. As the youngest professional pantomime dame in the UK, his Christmastime credits include Widow Twankey in Aladdin, Sarah the Cook in Dick Whittingon, Dame Dolly Mixture in Snow White and Lily O’Grady in Cinderella.

His versatility has also extended to playing Colonel Mustard in Cluedo, Cardinal Richelieu in The Three Musketeers and Kaa the snake in Jungle Book.

Ash started young in showbiz, becoming a pro at just 11 and has spent the last 15 years as an actor/producer working alongside such eminent professionals as Dame Maggie Smith, Ken Dodd and Susan Penhaligon. He was born in Liverpool, brought up in Crosby and attended Chesterfield High School but now lives in Streatham Hill.

Ash’s previous roles for S4K have largely involved pencilling on the stage-wrinkles to play such parts as Ophelia’s father Polonius in Hamlet and Gonzalo in The Tempest.

This is a return to the part of Quince for S4K. Peter Quince is the workman who has the brainwave of organising his motley bunch of friends into putting on a play to entertain Duke Theseus and his new wife Hippolyta during their wedding celebrations.

He describes Quince as: “Fastidious, acutely organised and a worrier who has an aspiration to be a great director.”

But as anyone familiar with the play will know, the Tragedy of Pyramus and Thisbe – as enacted by Athenian workmen Bottom and friends -  turns into an hilarious fun-fest.

Ash will also be doubling as another oldie, Hermia’s grumpy dad Egeus.

S4K’s musical adaptation of A Midsummer Night’s Dream tours the UK from September 14

Of all the comedy characters ever written, Bottom is surely one of the funniest. The wacky weaver from Shakespeare’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream has been played by many of the greats of the theatre, all anxious to make an ass of themselves for the sake of raising a laugh.

One of the play’s Mechanicals, Bottom is enchanted by the naughty sprite Puck, who places a donkey’s head on him so that when fairy queen Titania wakes up she instantly falls in love with the hairy apparition.

Sean Luckham is playing Bottom for the second time for Shakespeare 4 Kidz.

He was born in Portsmouth and got his first taste of the magic of theatre as a 14 year old. After lessons at the Priory School he headed for the Kings Theatre in Southsea where he learnt how to be the follow-spot operator.

There he enjoyed performances by many great stars and still swoons over his memories of Judi Dench and Kate O’Mara.

These actors inspired him to join the Hampshire Specialist Drama Course then go on to tour in many shows before producing and performing in lots of productions as a Redcoat for Butlins in Bognor Regis.

Sean still lives in Bognor with his wife and three children. What do Sean’s kidz think of their dad playing Bottom?

“They love it. They think it is the norm for daddy to dress up in silly wigs and costumes, and frocks at Christmas time to play Dame in panto. They think all daddies do that!”

And why does he love playing Bottom?: “Bottom is fantastic and goes on a fabulous journey. He thinks he is everything but really he is nothing. Then he goes off into this dreamlike state and has a relationship – albeit brief! – with the most beautiful creature. Bottom certainly is changed during the play in more ways than one.”

Sean is one of S4K’s popular regular actors. He was a huge success playing Peter the servant in Romeo and Juliet – another role which featured a silly wig and Sean riding on and off stage on his scooter.

He’s usually cast as one of the funny characters, including one of the gravediggers in Hamlet and Stephano the drunken butler in The Tempest.

“My niece Sophie came to see that show with her school. She told all her classmates that I was her uncle but they wouldn’t believe her,” he laughs.

The King’s Theatre in Southsea is one of the ports of call on the spring leg of this S4K tour of The Dream and Sean is looking forward to showing his Bottom off to local audiences, friends and family on Wednesday March 11 at 10.30 and 1.20.

Spotlight on S4K favourite Noel Andrew Harron

Playing crazy comedy characters is all in a day’s work for actor Noel Andrew Harron.

This Irish graduate of Paul McCartney’s Liverpool Institute of Performing Arts has spent the last six years building up a catalogue of crowd-pleasing funny men.

But now he moves into the realm of immortality to play mischievous sprite Puck, one of the frolicsome fairies in a musical version of A Midsummer Night’s Dream.

The show, from award-winning Shakespeare 4 Kidz, tours the UK from September.

Noel is a S4K favourite who hallmarks every role he plays with his own exuberant brand of very physical fun.

He played the knock-knock joke-telling Porter in the recent S4K's Macbeth and audiences and critics also loved his Mercutio in S4K's Romeo and Juliet, laughing at his crazy antics one minute and holding back the tears at his tragic death scene the next.

WhatsOnStage said of his Porter in S4K's Macbeth: “Noel Andrew Harron interacts, pantomime fashion with the kids, who laugh their heads off at his antics.”

And The Hamlet Weblog agreed: “The moment which brings the best response from the children in the audience and when they clearly become locked into the show is Noel Andrew Harron’s Porter.

The Kentish Times reviewer said: “The comic performance of Noel Andrew Harron as the hungover Porter is sheer joy.”

And his Mercutio in R & J moved a newspaper critic in Dunstable to confide: “Noel Andrew Harron, bald head and make-up, made an impression as the wise-cracking Mercutio, his death scene incredibly poignant.”

In Southsea there was agreement: “The performer who shines most brightly is Noel Andrew Harron as Mercutio, a mercurial gymnast with words as in movement.”

And still further praise from Basingstoke: “Noel Andrew Harron as Mercutio stood head and shoulders above the rest. His energy and excellent comic timing had the audience chortling and even whooping him on, milking every opportunity to draw laughs.”

(Click here to see reviews and others on another page of this website.)

Puck marks Noel’s return to The Dream, having played Flute/Thisbe on a previous tour.

His Shakespearean credentials also include a spell with the Cambridge Shakespeare Festival. And he played a hilariously hapless Wishee Washee alongside Leslie Grantham in Hastings.

What is it that draws Noel to the Bard? “I love the variety of parts that I have had with S4K and I love being part of introducing kids to Shakespeare, knowing they are understanding it and enjoying it.”

Notorious for his sense of fun, Noel will be stamping his own energetic mark on the role of Puck.

“He’s mischievous, fun and energetic – and gets confused occasionally! He thrives on mischief and enjoys watching the anarchy he has created.” Not unlike Noel himself, his mates might say!

And a bonus is that he gets to have a special rapport with the audience. “I just love having a giggle with the kids.”

But there is a serious side to this effervescent performer. He’s got his sights set on the role of the devious Iago in Othello because the character’s darkness and manipulative menace would be a complete contrast to those he has played up until now.

Follow Noel at noellyboy on Twitter

Old favourites join new friends for S4K’s Dream

Plenty of S4K favourites along with six new members of cast appear in the 2010/11 touring company of S4K’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream which has been announced today.

Richard Munday, Macbeth on the international tour of S4K’s Macbeth earlier this year, returns as Oberon with Emily Jordan, making her S4K debut, as his reluctant wife Titania.

Noel Andrew Harron as Puck, Antony Stuart Hicks as Quince, Sean Luckham as Bottom, Richard Foster King as Flute, Stevie Smallwood as Snout, Ben Goodridge as Snug and Clare Reilly as Helena complete the returning S4K regulars.


They are joined by Gary Roe as Starveling, Harriet Dobby as Hermia, Luke Glover as Lysander, Harry Smith as Demetrius and Clare Coultry as First Fairy.

The show is produced by Julian Chenery and Carolyn Chenery for The Shakespeare 4 Kidz Theatre Company. It is designed by regular S4K Creative Team member Jaimie Todd and directed/choreographed by Joseph Fowler. Joseph has worked closely with the Julian Chenery as Co Director and Assistant Director on S4K’s Macbeth, S4K’s The Tempest and S4K’s Romeo and Juliet.

The show will preview at The Stag Theatre, Sevenoaks on Saturday 11 September (final performance details still to be confirmed) and opens an eight-month national and international tour at the Palace Theatre, Mansfield on Tuesday 14 September.

S4K's A MIDSUMMER NIGHT'S DREAM - UK TOUR STARTS SEPTEMBER 2010

Our hugely popular production of A Midsummer Night's Dream is set to tour UK theatres from this September.The autumn leg of the tour opens at the Palace Theatre, Mansfield on September 14, where it plays for a week before moving to Ulverston, Middlesbrough, Manchester, Bradford and venues all over the country until the end of November.

Click here for further information and full tour schedule.

The show is directed by Joseph Fowler, who has become an important member of the S4K creative team, having worked closely with Julian Chenery as Assistant Director/Choreographer on S4K's Romeo and Juliet, S4K's The Tempest, last season's acclaimed production of S4K's Macbeth - as well as S4K/JC's recent production of Hairspray in Dubai.

Joe is based in Paris where he is currently resident director at Theatre du Chatelet and dance adviser for La Comedie Francaise. His recent work has included On The Town and The Sound of Music in Paris, and he was Assistant Director/Choreographer on the multi-Olivier Award winning production of Hello Dolly! at London's Regent's Park.