Features

How stagey are you? Matthew Kelly vs Catrin Stewart

In the first of our epic battles, the TV presenter and stage veteran takes on the Welsh actress, star of ”Doctor Who” and ”Stella”

Matthew Kelly

Matthew Kelly found fame in the 90's presenting TV shows including You Bet! and Stars in Their Eyes.

His recent theatre credits include Waiting for Godot alongside Ian McKellan, Educating Rita and Richard Bean's Toast at the Park Theatre last year.

He will be playing Friar Jacomo in The Jew of Malta and Mauruccio in Love's Sacrifice as part of the RSC's summer season at the Swan Theatre this year.

Catrin Stewart

Catrin Stewart is best known for portraying Emma in the Sky1 comedy drama series Stella and Jenny Flint in Doctor Who.

Her recent stage credits include The Cherry Orchard at the Young Vic, Longing at Hampstead Theatre and Headlong's Romeo and Juliet at Nottingham Playhouse.

She will play Bianca in Love's Sacrifice and Abigail in The Jew of Malta.

What was the last show you went to see?

I saw Di and Vi and Rose at the Vaudeville. 0

The Nether on the West End and Closer at the Donmar. Really different plays but I loved them both. The Nether was unlike anything I’d seen before and was weirdly mesmerising and unsettling. 1

How many showtunes do you have on your iPod and what is your favourite?

I don’t have an iPod, but my favourite show tune is "There’s No Business Like Show Business" the Ethel Merman version. 0

The only one I can find is Annie – "The Sun Will Come Out Tomorrow"! It was my favourite film growing up and I knew all the songs. I wish I had some Les Mis actually, I love that musical. 1

What is the stagiest picture you have in your phone?

I take a photo of every auditorium I play in, so I have almost every theatre in the UK on my phone, my latest one is of the Swan. 1

Me on my RSC dressing room balcony in full Elizabethan costume and wig, looking out over the Avon river! 1

Who is the stagiest contact you have in your phone?

Ian McKellen. 1 [Gandalf wins every time]

Annette McLaughlin, who is sat next to me in the dressing room. Star of Matilda, Chicago and many more. She is going to teach me the moves to "All That Jazz". 1

Sherlock or Hamlet?

Both! 0

Hamlet! 1

EastEnders or WestEnders?

Westenders 1

Ummmm does Eastenders live count? 0

Tell us a stagey joke

I’ve asked around the company we don’t know any stagey jokes, no good ones anyway. 0

I am rubbish at remembering jokes. Especially stagey ones! I bet Matthew K has a few…. 0 [nope]

How many of the Strallen sisters can you name?

Summer and Scarlett. 0.5

None! Oops! 0

What is your favourite Shakespeare quote?

I’ve done four Twelfth Nights, three Taming of the Shrews, two Midsummer Night’s Dreams, Troilus and Cressida, two Macbeths but I can’t remember a f**king line of any of it. 0.5 [Half a point for experience]

Juliet:
When he shall die,
Take him and cut him out in little stars,
And he will make the face of heaven so fine
That all the world will be in love with night
And pay no worship to the garish sun. 1

And the winner is…

4/10 Matthew ends up with 4 points. His lack of stagey jokes and Shakespearean memory loss costs him dearly, but anyone with Ian McKellen's number in their phone is alright in our books.

6/10 Catrin win's our first stagey battle, although we advise she studies the Strallens and stagey jokes.


The Jew of Malta and Love's Sacrifice are running in rep at the Swan Theatre, Stratford-Upon-Avon from 25 March – 29 August 2015.