 |
| Dark Horse actor Joe Sproulle/SPENCER PARKIN in Sing Something Simple |
SING SOMETHING SIMPLE 2 (The Greatest Hits Volume 2)
An interview with Dark Horse actor Joe Sproulle
What's it like to know you'll be playing Spencer Parkin again?
Absolutely brilliant. He was so good to play last time, the thought that I'll be the character again in great theatres like Cast Doncaster, Goole Junction, Lincoln Drill Hall, Lancaster Grand, Wolverhampton Arena, Theatre Severn Shrewsbury, Derby Guildhall and The Lowry Salford is amazing. It's also a big step up for me as it's many more theatres than before and some bigger spaces but I am so ready for the challenge. There are things I want to develop and build on from last time. It won't be the same show, there are some changes and my Mum in the show, Val, is played this time around by Lisa Howard and Vanessa's rewritten the play and this will make a big difference.
Were you part of the casting process for Mum Val?
 |
| Lisa Howard/VAL PARKIN in Sing Something Simple |
Yes I was actually. There were auditions here in Huddersfield and also in London. My colleagues Dark Horse actors Mark Craven and Toby Meredith and me and Musical Director Loz Kaye were part of the panel here and we saw some very strong actresses. They all had to sing songs from the 80's because VAL is an 80's tribute act and there were all kinds of songs from people like Kate Bush and Elkie Brooks. I remember the singing part of Lisa's audition really well because she did a medley of every single big singer from the 80's- so she was Tina Turner and then Debbie Harry and then Cher all in the blink of an eye! Then Lisa and I were directed through one of Val and Spencers' scenes. We've already worked together on the green screen shoot for the show and I know it's going to be great working with Lisa.
What was the green screen shoot all about?
 |
| Joe watches Lisa Howard in front of the green screen as Mic Pool lines up a shot |
Mic Pool is the digital projection designer on the show and he puts together brilliant projections that are all part of Spencers' imagination- images of his brother Kit and his best friend Bonnie and most of all of his granddad session singer extraordinaire Gerry Parkin. The projections feature inside the amazing set that Pip Leckenby has designed. Because Lisa and Richard (Richard Maxted who plays KIT) and Heather (Heather Dutton who plays Bonnie) and me aren't really family and don't have a history in photo albums so Mic has to splice lots of moments together from our real lives to make a believeable family. To do this you have to stand in front of a green screen while you're photographed and then Mic cuts around you and puts you in all kind of imaginary situations. It's amazing because you believe the people in the play are really real and in all the places that Spencer says they are. With Val as well because she's an eighties tribute act she had to be shot being all the singers she impersonates- there are some very funny images that will feature in the show!
 |
| Happy Days ran on UK TV up to 1984 |
What is your favourite TV show from the 80's
I like Happy days with Henry Winkler as The Fonz. I've watched most of the episodes. I think it's very funny situation comedy and the characters are very strong. I didn't see it first time around as I was born in the 80's but I know it was a big hit and that back then everyone watched the same shows- and discussed them the next day at work.
How are you preparing for the role of Spencer Parkin?
 |
| Joe Sproulle with Toby Meredith in a voice class |
At Dark Horse all of our training is about being ready for work, being fit and having the technical skills (Voice and movement) that mean you can be heard and move properly in theatre spaces so that you can serve an audience. I have a very healthy diet, I enjoy my yoga practise and am very disciplined about it and I attend classes and rehearsals on the F2 course where I am an actor mentor and this helps me to stay on top of my game. I am beginning to eat a bit more- especially carbohydrates to build up a bit before the rehearsal and production period. We do circuit training and Laban work in the rehearsal room and this all helps. My character is on stage for the full two hours of the show and this takes a lot of stamina and burns a lot of calories- we're a physical theatre company that works with new writing and you have to be aware of these things and take care of your body. I also have a lot of direct speeches out front, breaking the fourth wall, and this takes a lot of vocal energy. I get plenty of rest too.
At Dark Horse the male actors have to keep their hair long in case it needs to be cut for a part (Or kept long) and for a while my hair's been over my collar. I had it cut by Roger David- who always styles Spencers' hair- the other day for the green screen shoot and it means I can now have shorter hair a the back for a bit, though Spencer has tall hair so I have to keep it long on top. This all helps me get into the character.
 |
| Toyah Wilcox/80's icon |
Twice a week I've been having dialogue coaching with Vanessa. We've been going through all of my speeches in the play, especially those which are new and we research the people Spencer mentions so I have a clear idea of who they are. Spencer talks a lot about 80's singers and we discuss them and then we'll look them up on the internet. Last week we had a look at Rik Astley as Spencer mentions his 'card shuffle' dance move and we also discussed Margaret Thatcher and the miners strike as this is mentioned in the play. This means when it comes to learning the words I have a clear idea in my head about these people and who they were. Once that's done we go through the speeches technically, making sure I'm clear and hitting the consonants and getting the right inflections. Then, finally, when I've got all of that down we look at each line of my dialogue and my objectives and actions. The great thing about Dark Horse is it teaches you a clear method to approach a script and approach character. This process means I've done all the research and got under the skin of the text before rehearsals start. It's an actors job to take the audience on a journey through the story so it's a responsibility to make sure they can follow me so the technical voice side of it is as important as the creative choices. At the moment I'm looking at the speeches one by one and I don't have a copy of the full script yet but any day soon I will and then I can start re-learning the whole show. I think I remember most of it and that the new dialogue will go in without too much trouble-hope so! Later this week we'll spend some rehearsal time with me delivering Spencers' speeches to the ensemble. In this way my colleagues help me by preparing me for playing out front. The ensemble are very good at role playing bad audience members- but this is all very helpful prep!
 |
| Top 80's band Spandau Ballet |
What is your favourite 80's music?
I really like Spandau Ballet and their songs True, Gold and Across the Barricades. They made some great records (When people actually bought records) and they had good style. But maybe not in this photograph! Tony Hadley still makes appearances as a singer now and on reality TV shows of course.
