Interviews

20 Questions With…Malcolm Storry

Malcolm Storry, currently appearing on tour in Harold Pinter’s The Caretaker, might have been an aircraft pilot but fell in love with the stage instead.

Editorial Staff

| London's West End |

5 November 2001

Malcolm Storry, a familiar face to British audiences for his myriad film and television appearances, launched his career in the theatre, but not on stage. His first big break was behind the scenes, acting as an assistant stage manager in Manchester in 1969.

In the 1970s and 1980s, Storry became a regular on-stage presence, not least for the Royal Shakespeare Company with whom, as an associate artist, he appeared in productions of Tamburlaine, Coriolanus, Richard III, Moliere, La Ronde, Piaf and Volpone.

Storry’s other stage credits, continuing into the 1990s and today, include: in the West End, Art and After Aida; for the Royal Court, Knuckle; and for the Almeida, The Tempest.

On television, Storry has been seen in, amongst other things, Pie in the Sky, Heartbeat, The Knock, Dangerfield, Pride and Extreme Prejudice, The Singing Detective, Bread or Blood, Sword of Honour and Midsomer Murders. His film credits include Firefox, The Princess Bride, Under Suspicion, The Last of the Mohicans, The Scarlet Letter, The Sailors’ Return and The Man Who Knew Too Little.

Back on stage, Storry is currently starring as Davies in Harold Pinter’s The Caretaker, presented by English Touring Theatre, the award-winning company founded eight years ago with the aim of bringing quality theatre to as many people as possible throughout the country.

Date & place of birth
Born on 13 January 1948 in Hull, Yorkshire.

Now lives in
Stratford-upon-Avon

Trained at
Bretton Hall

First big break

Being Manchester Library Theatre’s acting ASM (assistant stage manager) in 1969, thanks to Paul Webster and John Blackmore.

Career highlights
In theatre, it’s been:

Working at the Open Space Theatre with Charles Marowitz in the early 1970s

Two years with Richard Eyre at the Nottingham Playhouse (also in the 1970s)

The Royal Shakespeare Company (from 1978 to 1989)

Favourite production you’ve ever worked on
Singer by Peter Flannery. He is a great writer and it was a great production (directed by Terry Hands).

Favourite co-star
Michael Gambon, because he’s an actor’s actor.

Favourite director
Jonathan Kent (now joint artistic director of the Almeida Theatre), because he’s an actor’s director!

Favourite playwright

Apart from Peter Flannery, who’s my first choice, it’s Shakespeare.

What role would you most like to play still?
Iago in Othello.

In your opinion, what’s the best thing currently on stage (not including this production)?
Samuel West’s Hamlet for the RSC.

What differences do you find between performing in the West End and at regional theatres?

There are more discerning audiences in the regions. English Touring Theatre has excellent standards in both performance and educational backup.

What advice would you give the government to secure the future of British theatre?
I’d tell them to stop worrying about buildings and concern themselves with what goes on inside them.

If you could swap places with one person (living or dead), who would it be?
Last week’s lottery winner.

Favourite book
Picking one favourite is too difficult but my current favourite authors are John Grisham, Thomas Keneally, Robert Hughes and Ian Rankin.

Favourite holiday destinations
Spain and Portugal

Favourite joke
Life

Favourite website
www.mapquest.com

If you hadn’t become an actor, what would you have done professionally?
I’d have been an aircraft pilot.

What, in your opinion, distinguishes Harold Pinter from other playwrights?
Style, content and timelessness. He is an obvious major theatrical influence.

What’s your favourite Pinter play?
The Birthday Party

Why did you want to accept your part in The Caretaker?
Who wouldn’t?

What’s your favourite line from The Caretaker?
“When I wake up in the morning I’m worn out.”

What’s the funniest thing that has happened in the run to date for The Caretaker?
When we were at The Lowry at Salford Quays, there was a misplaced public address system announcing the registration of a wrongly parked car – in the middle of Aston’s monologue in Act Two.

Anything else you’d like to add?
Lucrative, glamorous job – are you out there?

The Caretaker is directed by Gari Jones and also stars Lee Boardman and Julian Lewis-Jones. It is touring regionally to December 2001.