The actor chatted to Emma Clarendon about being part of the National Youth Theatre.
How are you finding being part of three very different shows? I’m having the best time in the most wonderful and crazy way. I’m learning a lot about myself as an actor dealing with three shows that are hugely different. At the moment we are doing Great Expectations and Frankenstein back-to-back at Southwark Playhouse. Frankenstein is a sort of
futuristic/clinical style adaptation while Great Expectations is more of a period piece- switching between these two shows is so much fun.
What have you enjoyed the most about being part of the NYT? Being able to do so many creative projects. The National Youth Theatre has given me so many opportunities to work on some incredible shows and to work with brilliant directors, writers and actors. That’s been one of the many highlights for sure.
Out of the characters you’re getting to play at the moment – do you have a favourite? I’m playing Helena in A Midsummer Night’s Dream which I’m super excited about. There’s been a lot of gender swapping throughout all our REP shows which is cool. I’m having loads of fun in rehearsals playing Helena though, so I’d say that’s my favourite role.
What would you say makes being part of the NYT so special to be part of? The people. It sounds so cheesy, but honestly everyone from the staff in the office to the directors and the company members all make NYT such a special place and company to be a part of.
For those who haven’t managed to pop along to catch a NYT production so far why should they? All three shows are so different and special in their own way, and I think that, as a REP company, you really get to see us all deliver something new and fresh in each show. We’ve had so much fun
creating these shows and it’s so lovely that we get to share that with an audience now.
By Emma Clarendon
Jamie Foulkes performs in the National Youth Theatre 2019 REP season in Great Expectations and Frankenstein at Southwark Playhouse from 18th Oct – 30th November, and A Midsummer Night’s Dream at the Criterion Theatre from 6th Dec – 17th Jan 2020. www.nyt.org.uk