We chatted to Yanexi about starring in Twenty Thousand Streets Under the Sky, playing at the Southwark Playhouse until the 17th October.
How does it feel to be starring in the world premiere of Twenty Thousand Streets Under the
Sky?
It’s so exciting. Patrick Hamilton had this great ability to create characters who are deeply flawed and complicated, but still incredibly human. I think that combination makes his characters so fascinating to explore. I’m finding new threads to pull at every time we perform, which keeps it really fresh and fun. It’s a joy to have the opportunity to really play, and the role of Jenny gives me so much room to do that.
Can you explain a little more about what the show is about?
It’s a story about lonely people, unrequited love and dashed dreams. We meet the characters at a point in their lives where they’re all carrying their own burdens and struggling with loneliness. Out of desperation, they reach for something- or someone, to fill that sense of emptiness and give them some hope. But as they get more caught up in those desires, things begin to unravel and they find themselves spiralling.
What can you tell us about your character Jenny?
Jenny is an extremely complicated character. She’s the kind of person people naturally gravitate towards, someone whose warmth draws people in and makes them want to be close to her. But no matter how close you get, there’s always a sense of distance. She’s deeply affected by past trauma, which has left her stuck in her circumstances and unable to fully let someone in or allow herself to love. There’s a real sadness to her because I think, underneath it all, she desperately wants connection, but doesn’t know how to reach for it.
What are you most looking forward to about performing this show for audiences?
I’m most looking forward to seeing audiences feel transported into the world of the story. When I first read the books, the writing was so vivid and rich that I felt completely immersed in them, I could almost smell the streets the characters were walking through and hear the atmosphere around them. I’d love for audiences to have that same feeling when they watch the play, to feel as though they’ve stepped into this world alongside the characters and are experiencing it with them.
How have you found the experience of working on the show so far?
It’s been a freeing experience. I feel super lucky to be able to explore a character as complex as Jenny and to work with such an incredible group of people!