Sir Toby Belch actor Steve McNicoll talks to PA Arts about Twelfth Night at Perth Theatre

Sep 30 2011 by Alison Anderson, Perthshire Advertiser Friday

THESE can be hard times for actors. Producing theatre are cutting down on productions, plays are staged with ever-decreasing cast numbers, and reality shows dominate our TV screen ahead of home-made dramas.

Yet in the Fair City there is a large ensemble of very happy actors!

Make no mistake, they are a very hard working bunch too, but as four weeks of rehearsals are about to come to fruition, award-winning Scottish actor Steve McNicoll reflected on happy times preparing for this highly-anticipated opener to Perth Theatre’s subscription theatre.

Twelfth Night – Shakespeare's tragi-comedy about shipwreck and mistaken identities – also marks Rachel O’Riordan’s debut production in her role as new creative director for theatre.

Taking a few minutes break during Twelfth Night’s hectic ‘teccie’ week, Steve told PA Arts: “We’ve been having a ball rehearsing Twelfth Night. It’s a great company.”

Edinburgh born and based Steve counts himself lucky that his career is “ticking over.”

In reality, he’s one of Scotland’s top actors who has also gained success with his writing.

Earlier in his career he made his mark at Pitlochry Festival Theatre – in 2003 he received the Leon Sinden Award for best supporting actor as Andy in Tony Roper’s classic The Steamie.

His Perth Theatre appearances have included ‘Humble Boy’ and co-starring with Andy Gray in The Mystery of Irma Vep.

Outside Perthshire, Steve is probably best known for his work in radio and TV comedy. He co-wrote and starred in seven series of the BBC sketch show Velvet Soup on radio and later television which earned him a BAFTA nomination, and in 2007 he starred as Sammy Fox in the critically-acclaimed BBC TV comedy series Legit.

Among his notable stage work was 2005 when he was nominated for best supporting actor at the Theatrical Management Association awards for his portrayal of Cliff, opposite David Tennant as Jimmy Porter in Look Back In Anger.

And so Perth is indeed fortunate that an actor of Steve’s calibre jumped at the opportunity to play Sir Toby Belch – one of the most popular Shakespearean comic creations yet possessing some unattractive qualities.

And while many Twelfth Night productions are one-dimensional, Steve stressed that Rachel paints the whole picture, making sure the darker hues of Twelfth Night add the appropriate layers to the lighter elements.

“Sir Toby Belch is a smashing part and Twelfth Night is a terrific play. Rachel has very cleverly set it in the 1920s which seems to work very well,” explained Steve. “I think audiences are really going to like it – there’s a real style about it.

“With Sir Toby, he’s not just a drunken buffoon. There’s a darkness to all the characters and this is often ignored.”

Steve has loved being part of the 16-strong Twelfth Night ensemble, which includes musical director Conor Mitchell who performs original music in character as Curio.

Steve is also glad to be back in Perth, home town to his dad and grand-parents.

“We’ve had four weeks rehearsal which has been great. It’s such a lovely company and everyone has been skipping in to work,” said Steve, quickly adding: “Although it’s been very hard.”

He continued: “Conor Mitchell is a bona fide genius. he’s astonishing. Rachel has worked with him before and he’s done a terrific job on Twelfth Night.”

Violin and song features large in the production, and so it should – music plays an important part in this tale which of course opens with the famous line “If music be the food of love, play on”.

Audiences have until October 15 to feast on what promises to be a memorable production in this important time for Perth Theatre as it welcomes Rachel to the fore and continues its fund-raising for its ambitious and exciting refurbishment and extension project.

And for Steve, his starred life as a Scottish-based actor in employment continues – he is set to appear on our TV screens in an episode of Rab C Nesbitt and he returns to his regular panto slot at the King’s in Glasgow.

Tickets for Twelfth Night, which opens tonight and runs until October 15, from the Perth Theatre and Perth Concert Hall box offices (01738 621031) or www.horsecross.co.uk