In our profile series, Tell Us In 10, we ask cast members and creatives of top London shows to tell us all about themselves in just 10 questions. From how their castmates would describe them and alternative careers, to their Theatreland idols, we want to know it all!
Taking on the task this week is Andrew Langtree. who’s currently playing George (Adrian Mole’s dad) in The Secret Diary Of Adrian Mole Aged 13¾ – The Musical.
No stranger to musicals, Andrew has previously received an Olivier Award nomination (Best Actor in a Supporting Role in a Musical) for playing Ned Ryerson in the Tim Minchin musical, Groundhog Day.
1. My route into theatre was…
Drama classes at school led to me getting involved in amateur dramatics. Then some friends and I started our own company, and I was incredibly fortunate that the Liverpool Institute for Performing Arts (LIPA) opened just as I finished my Btech course. London was not an option for me, so to have somewhere like that a short train ride away was a godsend.
2. My West End idol is…
Olivier Award winners: Michael Jibson, Sharon D. Clarke and Bertie Carvel
Not sure I have one, but I’ve certainly been blown away by several people over the years.
I think Bertie Carvel is consistently brilliant. Michael Jibson is such a fine actor. My friend Sharon D. Clarke never fails to make a brilliant performance look effortless.
I think the greatest actor I ever saw live on stage though, was the late, great Margaret Tyzack. Her performance in The Chalk Garden at the Donmar was a masterclass in truth and taste. Wonderful!
3. My colleagues would describe me as…
I’ve no idea, but it wouldn’t surprise me if they thought I was quite odd. I was a shy child and I’ve never quite shaken off the cringing feeling at everything I say. The answers to this interview for example…
4. My favourite show present or past (that isn’t one I star in) is…
I thought Michael Frayn’s Copenhagen was pretty mind-blowing when it played at the Duchess Theatre. A cast of three, telling a fascinating story.
5. The career moment I’m most proud of is…
Press night of The Glass Menagerie at the Royal Exchange in 2008. I played the gentleman caller and when I walked off stage, I just felt like I couldn’t have played that role any better. That’s the only time I’ve ever had that feeling. It was rather satisfying.
6. The hardest part about my role is…
Nowadays it’s the amount expected of you. Rehearsal times are cut, push and pull has gone. You can quite often find yourself putting in huge amounts of unpaid overtime at home to keep up the quality of each performance, only to find yourself in an incredibly physical show which leaves you absolutely shattered by your Sunday off. You really have to love it.
7. If I didn’t work in theatre I would be…
I’d probably make things. My cousin is a carpenter and I feel like that’s something I’d find real satisfaction in doing.
8. Something people don’t know about me is…
I tend to bite off more than I can chew. I’m currently working on ideas for two novels and I’m developing a lawn game I’ve invented. Now I need to carve out the time to get on with them.
9. The best piece of advice I’ve ever been given is…
My voice tutor at LIPA, Lise Olsen, told me never to worry about what I can’t control. I find that advice invaluable, particularly when auditioning.
10. The one thing I wish I could tell my younger self is…
Invest!