20 Questions With…Rupert Degas
Still a teenager when he was cast in Jerry Schatzberg’s Reunion, actor Rupert Degas followed that first film role up with numerous television appearances in the likes of Passport to Murder, Dead Romantic, Over Here, A Touch of Frost and The Cappuccino Years as well as, in France, Lycée Alpin, Premiers Baisers and Cousin William.
Working behind the camera, Degas went on to produce several short films, which have been screened in Edinburgh, Cork, Galway, Dublin, Paris and London.
He’s also carved out a highly successful ‘voice’ career. In addition to more than 30 radio productions, Degas has narrated films like Fatherland; provided voices for animated characters in Bob the Builder, Skatoony, Asterix Conquers America and Dinosaur; featured in audiobooks including The History of the Kelly Gang and Philip Pullman’s His Dark Materials trilogy; and recorded countless commercials for many household brand names.
On stage, Degas has done several stints in the long-running weekly satire Newsrevue at the Canal Café Theatre in London and in Edinburgh, and has appeared in London fringe productions of Restless Farewell, Tom Jones, The Boys Next Door, The International Café, Are We There Yet? and Becket.
Degas made his West End debut in September 2002 when he took the role of Charlie Conlon – as well as seven other characters – in Marie Jones’ Irish two-hander Stones in His Pockets. The multi award-winning comedy, now in its fourth year in the West End, transferred from the Duke of York’s back to the nearby New Ambassadors theatre last month.
Date & place of birth
Born in Bloomsbury, London, on 17 August 1970.
Lives now in…
Balham, south London.
Trained at…
I didn’t. I’ve been working since I was a child. After A-levels, I did my first film, got an agent at 18 and went from there.
First big break
I’d have to say Stones in His Pockets is my big theatre break. Otherwise, my first break was in television in France with a series called Lycée Alpin. It was like the French version of Hollyoaks and I played the English kid in the school. It was a leading role in a major series with all that came with that.
Career highlights to date
It’s all a highlight. Everyday I have to pinch myself. I suppose the most satisfying thing for me has been the diversity of the things I’ve done. I’ve made short films, produced, done voice-overs, stand-up, animation. I’ve worked in France, Edinburgh, London and now in the West End. It’s all so different.
Favourite productions you’ve ever worked on
I haven’t actually done a lot of theatre. There’ve been a few productions on the fringe that I’m very proud of, but nothing that touches Stone. I mean, a two-hander in the West End? Hello! I made my West End debut in the show a year ago and I’m still here, which is fantastic. Moving the show back to the New Ambassadors has been good, too. It’s much more intimate, though I do miss the dressing room at the Duke of York’s.
Favourite co-stars
My favourites are still three of the actors I worked with on Lycée Alpin – Cedric Dumond, Gregori Baquet and Paul Mark Elliott. We were all having fun and we became great buddies. That was 12 years ago. I’m also having a great time working with Hugh Lee now in Stones.
Favourite playwrights
I like American drama. You know, late 20th-century and present-day stuff, plays about now, by people like Neil Labute, Christopher Durang, David Mamet and Garth Wingfield. In terms of British playwrights, I like Ben Elton‘s plays. I loved Popcorn.
What roles would you most like to play still?
I don’t read enough plays to know about existing ones. Besides, I want to create roles. I’d love for someone to write something for me.
If you hadn’t become an actor, what would you have done professionally?
I’d probably have stuck with producing movies or become an editor. Anything with film. I find the idea of being a teacher very appealing as well.
What does performing in the West End mean to you?
It really is the fulfilment of a childhood dream. And I’m pleased to be able to perform a part for more than three weeks for a change! Having done about 300 performances of Stones now, I’m still discovering something new all the time. This is my training.
What’s the best thing you’ve seen on stage recently?
Apart from Stones in His Pockets, which I saw three years ago, I don’t much like going to theatre in the West End. I think it’s far too expensive, and the seats are small with no legroom. Most plays should be shorter, too. I enjoyed Art. That was funny – and short. I also saw a production some friends were doing at the New End in Hampstead called Modern Man. That was very good.
If you could swap places with one person (living or dead) for a day, who would it be?
Michael Schumacher. Formula One is a huge passion of mine.
Favourite films
Anything by Steven Spielberg, Stanley Kubrick or Woody Allen. Christopher Guest’s films are hilarious – This Is Spinal Tap, Best in Show – as are John Landis’ Animal House and Trading Places. Oh, and Tootsie – great film. I don’t like violent films, though I loved action when I was a kid. I also like French cinema.
Favourite holiday destinations
I love being in France, anywhere that isn’t overrun with foreigners. I like being amongst French people doing French things, drinking lots of wine and eating lots of cheese.
Why did you want your part in Stones in His Pockets?
I saw the show in June 2000 when it was first at the New Ambassadors with the original cast (Conleth Hill and Sean Campion) and I thought, I wanna do that. I really understood the character of Charlie Conlon. I used to work in a video shop that was taken over by Blockbuster, I made short films and my writing partner at the time was an extra. Once on the set of First Knight, we even knocked on Sean Connery’s Winnebago door to try to get him to look at our script. So I understood where Charlie was coming from because I’d been there. And I’m a comedy character actor, that’s me. I was already doing lots of different accents and characters in my voiceover work. I also thought it was the best play I’d ever seen; I couldn’t believe someone had written a play like that, so perfect for me, and I wasn’t in it.
How do you feel taking on such an Irish part in a distinctly Irish play?
I didn’t feel put off by it, but I was put off by the casting director when I phoned up for an audition the first time around and was told they were only looking for Irish actors. A year on, when they were casting again, I decided to try again but not tell them I was English. So I went in doing a northern Irish accent and, in case they ever phoned, I changed the greeting on my answering machine at home and on my mobile so they were Irish, too. After I got the part, I owned up, but they weren’t too bothered and there were no hard feelings. In fact, the assistant director suspected all along. He said, with a name like Degas, there was no way I was Irish.
Why do you think Stones has been so successful in the West End?
The word of mouth is incredible. When I first saw Stones myself, I certainly told everybody about it. You want to tell people. Why is down to a number of factors. First, it’s a right rollicking, funny, entertaining show and people need to laugh. Second, although it’s a comedy, it’s not slapstick and it doesn’t insult people’s intelligence. There’s a serious story there that touches everyone in some way. It hits a lot of nerves. Third, the audience have to work hard. There’s no lavish set or costumes, just two actors on a stage and a lot of imagination. The audience are involved with bringing the story alive and, at the end of the evening, they feel very satisfied and proud of themselves for making the effort. Fourth, it’s uplifting. It’s a real David and Goliath struggle. These characters are heroes, which are sadly lacking in most British writing today. And there’s a huge message of hope at the end, which is something we all need.
What’s the secret to successfully adopting so many different characters & accents?
I’ve been singing and playing the piano since I was very young and have always had a musical ear. My favourite programme as a child was The Mike Yarwood Show. I loved him and Faith Brown and I’d impersonate them impersonating other people. Then I moved on to doing all the voices from James Bond, Star Wars and other movies. So I was always stretching my voice. It helped at school too because, although I wasn’t good at sports, I could make the bullies laugh. The teachers thought I was a pain in the arse! But I became accepted for being someone who could entertain and one thing just led to another.
Who’s your favourite character in Stones in His Pockets?
I do eight different characters and my favourite changes on a nightly basis. Each week I concentrate on a different one, trying to improve and hone them one at a time. If I thought about all eight at once, it would do my head in because it’s quite exhausting. So I work on all of them bit by bit, which also helps in terms of constantly keeping the show fresh.
What’s your favourite line from in Stones in His Pockets?
“People don’t go to the pictures to get depressed, that’s what the theatre’s for.”
What are your plans for the future?
I take every day as it comes and expect nothing. I’m contracted with Stones until the end of January and will wait and see what happens then – touch wood, keep fingers crossed and so on. I’d like to take a month off, get out of London and travel. I think I need to recharge my batteries. It’s been a long haul. But I’m still loving it.
– Rupert Degas was speaking to Terri Paddock
Stones in His Pockets is now playing at the West End’s New Ambassadors Theatre, where it’s currently booking up to January 2004.
