Damien Atkins brings "me plus a little more" to Here Lies Henry

25 Nov 2023 - photos courtesy of B.Rebel Communications

"I like theatre because it’s a team sport, I like being part of the team," says Damien Atkins (Queen Goneril, King Lear, Caroline, or Change, We Are Not Alone, The Gay Heritage Project, London Road, Sextet, Mr Burns) while in the midst of rehearsals for Here Lies Henry, in which he is the entire cast. "It’s incredibly counter-intuitive for me to do solo shows. But for some reason I’ve done quite a few, I'm not sure why. It’s lonely! You go a bit nuts. I like the camaraderie of a cast of lunatic actors. So I rely on the director and assistant director and stage manager and the designers. When you’re in performance, there’s a very special communion with the audience, it feels very intimate. So that’s something to look forward to. But it’s difficult. A good challenge, certainly. And there’s reward in that. I like doing hardcore things."

When asked to do Here Lies Henry "It was an easy yes, the easiest," says Atkins. "I’ve never done a Daniel MacIvor [Let's Run Away, New Magic Valley Fun Town, Who Killed Spalding Gray?, Cake and Dirt, The Best Brothers, A Beautiful View, Arigato, Tokyo, His Greatness] piece before and I’ve always wanted to. And of all of his plays that I know, this one is my favourite. The notion of lies - the attractiveness of lies, the cost of lies - is much in the news these days, and has been since, oh, say, 2016 . . . so it’s an interesting thing to discuss." Atkins scoffs at any concerns that he is playing a role so strongly identified with MacIvor. "I can’t be him, and no one is asking me to be him. I’ve played lots of iconic roles, or roles closely associated with certain actors. I like the challenge. I think that kind of trepidation is overblown and kind of silly." When asked what is unique about what he brings to the role, Atkins says, "I have no idea. That’s something you’d have to ask someone who is watching me. I can only bring myself. And try to go beyond myself a bit too. So: me plus a little more." 

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Atkins has developed a further admiration for the play. "I can’t remember the last time I had this much fun. It’s just such a brilliant, funny, slippery play. The opportunities and the challenges are endlessly fascinating. The play contains a bit of madness—I’m finding that particularly fun." However, "I think I’m too deep within it to know what’s going to surprise the audience. Hopefully it will be constantly surprising. That’s the essence of good acting and good writing. They’ll be delighted by the writing, I know that. It’s so deeply funny. And very sweet, in some parts, and romantic in others. And deeply sad too. It’s a very rich experience."

Rehearsal hasn't been as lonely as anticipated. "Your designers are your scene partners. I like that part. You get a more intimate conversation with them going, get to hear what they’re thinking, and appreciate the specifics of their work." And of course director Tawiah M'Carthy (Sizwe Banzi is Dead, Maamomaa, My Brother, Obaaberima, Black Boys). "We’re not holding to any original staging, as far as I know," says Atkins. "But the play holds up beautifully. Brilliantly. Daniel has updated it a bit, to keep it in the here-and-now, but the bones are the same. I had a great long chat with Daniel about the play. It was tremendous, and he was very, very generous. He’s lovely. I’ll be nervous for him to see it, but it’s okay. We’re doing our own thing, and it’s okay if it’s not all to his taste. I am very confident that we are honouring the heart and soul of the play. Here’s how I deal with nerves like this: you gotta find something more important to care about than your ego. If your ego is your first care, and your first priority, you’re screwed - you’ll get thrown easily. But if you find something in the play to care about that is bigger than you, then it’s harder to get thrown. Because you have a purpose. It pulls you out of your ass and makes you present. Which is what you need to be."