As Stewart Pringle’s play receives its world premiere at the Southwark Playhouse, actress Connie Walker spoke to Love London Love Culture about being part of the production… 

 

Hi Connie, thank you so much for taking the time to talk to Love London Love Culture. Can you tell us a bit about the play?

Two people who are in the autumn of their lives come across each other in a Temperance Hall, in a small Yorkshire town. Harry has a committee meeting and Denise is running Zumba straight after, and their chance meeting one week between classes become a regular slot they both look forward to…friendship grows, love sizzles, and laughs are had!

 The wonderful Denise is fun, witty, sassy, decided life is too short to roll and die gracefully and decides to grab life by the short and curlys before it’s too late and find happiness.

She is going to fill her life with as much laughter, love and fun as she can cram in before she is put out to pasture.

What do you think people’s attitude towards ageing in 2017 is? 

I am told 60 is the new 40! I hope so, still a lot of pressure for women to be ‘well turned out’ and to fight the ageing process…maybe we put the pressure on ourselves…my twin brother loves getting older, I DONT! he calls it becoming more ‘distinguished’ that’s not my word for back fat and grey roots!

What do you think audiences will take away from the production? 

A skip in their step, a broad smile, a warm feeling in their belly and a commitment not to let life of people pass them by!

What did you think of the play when you first read it? 

Immediately loved and adored it…beautifully observed characters and situations, very truthful and very funny!

What attracted you most about the play? 

Truly superb writing, simple as that!

With two characters with different attitudes to ageing, which character do you associate with more in terms of you own attitude to ageing? 

I hope I have more of Denises’ attitude that life is not a rehearsal!

How do you think audiences will react to the show? 

Hopefully with some nice belly laughs and maybe a little quivering bottom lip…and also hopefully recognise a bit of themselves, whatever their age, don’t waste life’s wonderful moments…look up…friendship and love can be found in the most unlikely of places and people.

How would you sum up the play for potential audiences? 

Life is too short to play by the rules…Denise says ‘we are not here for ever, you’ve got to take a chance from time to time…!’ very true!

What would you say is the main message of the play? 

Never too old for love!…Never too old…FULL STOP!

Trestle continues to play at the Southwark Playhouse until the 25th November. For more information visit: http://southwarkplayhouse.co.uk/show/trestle/#details