Interviews

Brief Encounter With … Everything but an Astronaut‘s Brian Fury

Editorial Staff

Starting his acting career at the age of 16, Brian Fury starred in last year’s Fringe success Prima Donna Island alongside The Bill‘s Jeff Stewart. This year, Fury is back with escapist comedy Everything but an Astronaut. Keith Large‘s absurd play sees a young woman trying to escape to the moon from her know-it-all colleague.

How did you react to hearing Jeff Stewart would be joining last year’s show?

At first I was very nervous thinking I’d be on stage with an actor who’d been on TV for more years than I’d been breathing. But Jeff joining the show turned out to be a great thing for both the show and me. He was very encouraging and I learnt so much about acting from him. I’m thrilled he’s doing so well at the moment in New York with his latest film Under Jakob’s Ladder.

Would you like to move into films?

I would and I’ve recently made my screen debut as a taxi driver in a short film called Summer Ice but you can’t beat the buzz of a live audience. After experiencing Edinburgh audiences last year I can’t wait to be back.

Tell us about the character you play in Everything but an Astronaut?

I play an office junior who’s infatuated with the beautiful Jo Uppingham played by Joanna Linford. Jo’s fed up with the third character in the office know it all and done it all Marcus Cartwright. She arranges to escape to the moon as she swears Marcus has never been an Astronaut and she wants to do something he hasn’t. He though worms his way on board and an hilarious love triangle develops in space.

With the National Space Centre being in Leicester, did you find a natural connection in playing an Astronaut?

When I read the script I laughed my head off. There are references to the Space Centre in Leicester, which since landing the part I’ve visited again for inspiration, not that I’ll need it. I’ll get that from being on The Royal Mile promoting the show in my Astronaut costume.

Everything but an Astronaut runs at theSpaces @ Surgeon’s Hall from 5-13 August (excl 7) at 14.10.