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Here at Your Local Link we've been saying our prayers every night for weeks, hoping for an audience with the almighty. Seems like we were going about it all wrong - we should have been sending him a tweet! York Mystery plays actor Ferdinand Kingsley slams shut the pearly gates, joins us for a coffee and chats about playing God AND Jesus.
First out of the question hat, how in the name of God do you research roles like God and Jesus? "Interesting that you said 'research'", says Ferdinand, 24. "Everyone else has asked how I prepare, but I've found that it really does require research. I've been reading a historical biography of Jesus which draws upon the gospels and the Dead Sea Scrolls. But regardless of people's preconceptions I have to approach it just like any other character, and that is to work out what they truly want. It's important to remember that this is a play written by humans for humans and that no performance can capture omnipotence - where would you go from there?"
Fresh take
At just 24 years of age, isn't he a little young to be playing the creator of the universe? "We're not hiding the fact that I'm a young guy - the writers intended it that way. I'm playing God as a young dad, someone who has created something precious and has responsibility for it. I'm drawing on all the typical emotions any parents would feel; pride and joy, but also guilt and fear. He has created a huge set of rules and so has to live by them himself. I think it's a fresh take on the story, one I'm happy to be a part of."
Ferdinand, who likes to be called Ferdy, is used to strong father figures, being the son of Scarborough-born Hollywood A-lister Sir Ben Kingsley. "The decision to become an actor was certainly influenced by my parents, but to be honest they tried to dissuade me." Growing up in Stratford-upon-Avon with his Actor father and Theatre Director mother definitely had a lasting impression. "As a child I did some shows with the Royal Shakespeare Company and I thought, 'wow, people actually do this for a living!' From then on I've been hooked."
Creating the universe
The plays traditionally cover everything from the creation of the world, all the way to Judgement Day. How on earth is that being achieved on a theatre stage? "The stories are being told in the setting of 1951, so everything is portrayed quite stylistically. For example, the parts set in ancient Egypt see soldiers carrying guns - just as they would have in 1951. But because we're performing outside we'll get a lot of things for free: the August sunset over the abbey ruins for instance." And it seems that acting in the open air is something Ferdinand is most looking forward to. "It's such a huge space to fill, and I'll have to fill it with my presence and my voice. Because of that it's important to keep in top shape, both physically and vocally. In the end that's all actors have to work with; their body, their voice and their imagination."
"There are hundreds of people in this show," he says, "all local people. York really owns the Mystery Plays and the director's vision is immense. If we get it all right I won't have to act - the performance itself will be the grand spectacle." And how is he looking forward to spending the next month in York? "I can't wait. I toured here with a play after leaving school. I have really fond memories of this city and I'm looking forward to making some new ones."
He might be best known for portraying an insane murderer on Coronation Street, but now Graeme Hawley is set to unleash his fiendish plans as The Devil in the York Mystery Plays. We drew a pentangle on the ground and summoned him for a chat.
The café of the York Theatre Royal is hardly the most satanic of settings, but it was there that we had our devilish encounter. "I'm being eased in over the next few weeks," said Graeme, thankfully free of horns, and speaking about The Devil being the final character to be cast. "There's a short rehearsal period and lot to fit in during that time. But I'm very excited."
All is forgiven
Apart from our burning desire to chastise him for being cruel to Fizz, we were dying to ask how he was getting on with God. "We just met today," laughs Graeme, speaking of Ferdinand Kingsley, "although we've been tweeting each other for a while now. We're getting on fine, thanks." Phew, so it seems all is forgiven.
But from playing murderous soap villain John Stape to now portraying the ultimate bad guy, was he worried about becoming typecast? "I'm not worried about it all," he says, "as people will always have their own specific ideas of what the Devil is and what kind of creature he is. What I have to do is focus on the man that the writers have created for the script and remember that he is still very much a man. I suppose at the end of the day I play anything but that."
With the announcement that God is to be played by a 24-year-old, did Graeme find it strange to be the older man in the partnership? "I think it is fascinating that we're playing it that way - with the Devil as the older, wearier man. Certainly Ferdinand won't need any mentoring from me; he's an incredibly experienced actor so I think we'll be helping each other."
Home away from home
As the play's duration lasts nearly an entire month, is he looking forward to spending time in York? "Definitely," he says, "I've always loved York; it's one of my favourite cities. My wife worked here for a time and we've always tried to get back as often as possible. It's a true delight to finally work here myself, and being involved with the York Theatre Royal has always been a dream of mine."
With a wealth of television work under his belt, will Graeme find it a challenge performing outdoors in the ruins of St. Mary's Abbey? "I do have some outdoor theatre experience - I was in a production of Romeo and Juliet in Suffolk, 15 years ago. But there are lots of elements that make open-air performance tricky… the actual elements for one! As an actor you have to be physically prepared, so I'm doing lots of vocal exercises. At the end of the day it is all about communicating effectively with the audience, and it's my responsibility to make sure that happens."
Showtime
So with the opening night fast approaching and excitement building throughout the city, what can audiences expect of the Mystery Plays in 2012? "It'll be a huge theatrical event; completely unprecedented in its time. With a cast of hundreds of local people it really is theatre for the people, by the people." He enthusiastically describes the stage, complete with covered stadium seating for the audience; "Its awe inspiring. The audience will really feel a part of the action; really feel included in the story. These plays are a part of York's history just as much as the Minster, or the castle, or the bridges. If I wasn't in it, I'd definitely go and watch!"
And what for Graeme after the Mystery Plays come to a close? "After an entire month of physically demanding theatre, I'll probably just be having a lay down!"
