In our profile series, Tell Us In Ten, we ask cast members and creatives of top London shows to tell us all about themselves in just 10 questions. From how they got their start in the industry to their favourite shows, we want to know everything.
This week we chatted to Reuben Joseph who plays Frank Gardner in Mrs. Warren’s Profession at the Garrick Theatre. Reuben joins Imelda Staunton (The Crown) and her real-life daughter Bessie Carter (Bridgerton) to bring George Bernard Shaw’s incendiary moral classic crashing into the 21st Century with direction by Dominic Cooke (Hello, Dolly!).
1. My route into theatre was…
Fumbling my one line in our High School production of Les Mis. No one caught me then and I’ve been getting away with it ever since.
2. My West End idol is…
So many to choose, but I’ll say Arinzé Kene. When I first graduated college, I saw ‘Misty’ at Trafalgar Studios. The lyricism and storytelling blew me away. Feel like I’ve been chasing that high ever since. Wait – Imelda Staunton has just walked past as I’m writing this, so I’ll say it’s her in case she‘s reading over my shoulder.
3. My colleagues would describe me as…
I presume charismatic, a-once-in-a-generation-talent and humble. But I’ll ask them just to make sure…Bessie simply said ‘Scottish’; Sid described me as ‘a Cyclist’; Kevin Doyle used language I don’t think will make it into this article…
4. My favourite show is…
Always changing, but currently Stereophonic. Performances were immaculate, music was gorgeous and the design: sublime – I’ve since spent several thousands of pounds on Persian rugs and floor lamps.
5. The career moment I’m most proud of is…
Telling my family I was going to be playing Alexander Hamilton. Landing that role felt like a significant milestone and was so beautiful to share it with them. Plus, they’d seen the High School Les Mis and didn’t have high hopes for me.
6. The hardest part about my job is…
Remembering my lines. I’ve cut up the script and glued it in various locations around the set: always in my line of sight. There even a few actors who’s costumes I’ve managed to hide it on.
7. If I wasn’t an actor, I would be…
A Scottish, Cyclist.
8. Something people don’t know about me is…
9. The best piece of advice I’ve ever been given is…
‘No Artist is Pleased’. On opening night, our wonderful director Dominic Cooke gave us the Martha Graham quote on the creative process. That line particular stuck out to me. It’s encourages the grace in failure and provides motivation to keep digging. Also ‘Never eat yellow snow’, has saved me more times than I can count.
10. The one thing I wish I could tell my younger self is…
The one thing I wish I could tell my younger self is…* The line is ‘The Baron and Baroness de Thenard wish to pay their respects to the groom’, not ‘The barren and barren-less de Benard… The… There’s people here to see you’.
You can see Reuben in Mrs. Warren’s Profession at the Garrick Theatre until 16 August and the play will be available to watch in cinemas from 23 October.
