Last year Brighton-based Lewes Roberts headed east to play the Prince and the Beast in Beauty and the Beast at Eastbourne’s Devonshire Park Theatre.
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00:00Good morning, my name is Phil Hewitt, Greek Arts, I just sat at Sussex Newspapers. Now
00:06lovely to speak again to Lewis Roberts. As a touch of déjà vu, last year you were at
00:11Eastbourne as The Beast, this year you're at Portsmouth New Theatre Royal as The Beast,
00:16in Beauty at the Beast, at the venue in Portsmouth, December 13th to January 5th. What's it like
00:21coming back to the same role? Will it be different?
00:25It's wonderful. It's always different because you get to work with new people, which is
00:30marvellous, and also some familiar faces which is equally as lovely. And I've got to say,
00:36having met everyone today, the full company, I think we're in for a real treat this year.
00:41It's a brilliant team of people, both on and off the stage, which is just so important
00:47because when you're sitting there in that audience, you know, it really hits you like
00:52a wave, this show. It's very big, very colourful, there's big costumes, big characters, big
00:57sets, big songs, and even bigger laughs. And so knowing that no matter where you turn
01:03on that stage, if it's to the crew and the rest of the cast, you're in very safe hands.
01:08And I think that it's going to be a real joy.
01:09And amongst those attributes for the show, you were saying there's profundity, which
01:13you don't always get in a panto, do you?
01:16Absolutely. That's the joy of doing this show in particular. Panto is often very, you know,
01:21what you see is what you get. And what we're really lucky with Beauty and the Beast is
01:25actually there's a real depth to this story, which is lovely, which you don't get in a
01:28lot of other shows. And we feel incredibly lucky.
01:32As you say, with your role, three characters in one, you've got the arrogant prince, the
01:37simmering beast and well, the mischief.
01:41Not many pantos you get to have a full character arc. And this prince really does have one,
01:46which is remarkable. He gets to start, as an actor, it's a joy because you get to start
01:50the show as one person, have a real genuine transformation and then finish somewhere else
01:55entirely.
01:56And part of the joy for you is you're in a venue you've never been to before.
02:01Yes.
02:02What are those first impressions when you sit around?
02:05I've never been to this theatre before, but I've got to say, it is immediately one of
02:08my favourite theatres. And I had a feeling that was going to be the case. I'm not just
02:12saying that. I love the design. I'm a huge fan of Matching Theatres, the architect. And
02:18this is just so beautiful.
02:20I've got to say, you're thinking of a certain comedy duo that you know on those boards.
02:25Yes, well, I was raised on Laurel and Hardy every night. And we, you know, we watch those
02:32videos to their bitter end. And so being on this stage, knowing that, you know, that amazing
02:38comedy duo once performed on these same boards is such a joy, such a treat.
02:44So knowing, is there anything of Laurel and Hardy going to subliminally creep into The
02:49Beast this year, knowing that they have stood where you stood?
02:54I hope so. I hope so. And I like to think there's a little bit of them left everywhere
02:58that they've been. The legacy, the history, you can feel it sort of oozing up from the
03:03boards. And, you know, I think that theatre goers coming this Christmas are going to hopefully
03:08feel a bit of that.
03:09Brilliant. We're really nice to speak to you again. And I wonder where your Beast
03:14will appear next year.
03:16Indeed.
03:17Great to see you. Thank you.
03:19Take care.