RSC Friends

Friends hosted another absorbing and entertaining Q & A session with the self effacing and disarmingly honest Edward Bennett. He amused us with his account of his early employment as Head of Accounts to a motor parts company when he first left school and the inevitable disastrous consequences! The decision to become an actor (made in Stratford in the vicinity of the bard’s statue) has turned out to be much more successful.

Edward recounted his experience of playing Laertes and being understudy to David Tennant’s Hamlet and the sudden call to take over as the Prince which earned him standing ovations. Typically, Edward was less inclined to dwell on his own success and was more interested in giving the audience an insight into the challenge facing an understudy having to learn a complicated fight scene with little advance warning, or ‘waving sticks around’ as Edward described it.

When asked about his ambitions for the future Edward modestly admitted to hankering for a sitcom where the audience laugh before you even speak! More seriously he spoke at length about his role as Berowne in Love’s Labour’s Lost and Love’s Labours Won and the ‘self selection process’ that took place for the hilarious Russian dancing in the former play and the change of mood in the latter play. Edward is hugely impressed by the support given by The RSC to its actors and the tremendous morale that exists within the Company.

Finally, Edward shared with us his ambition to play Richard II and how he would like to play the title role. We look forward to that with alacrity!