So pleased to have one of my favourite actresses take on the 10 questions for 10 years challenge – all hail Noma Dumezweni!
Although she was already an Olivier Award-winning actor by the time I started blogging, there has been a particular thrill in seeing Noma Dumezweni’s star rise the way it has over the last decade. A thrilling Paulina and Nurse wherein I first fell in love, absolutely bossing the Royal Court, even taking the time to make her mark in Doctor Who. Oh and the small matter of her mind-expanding Hermione, a triumph onstage naturally but also showing off a grace on social media that we would all do well to emulate.
It is the intimacy of A Human Being Died That Night that sticks most in my mind and Noma kindly shared some thoughts around that production: “Apart from sharing the stage with ’The Marsh’ – that show put me contact – via a confluence of timings and moments – with my father in SA, after over 30 years… so, it’ll always be special, let alone getting to meet the real life people Matthew and I portrayed in that piece. It was a pretty awesome time.”
Where were you 10 years ago?
Working on the last two year ensemble at the RSC – I finished bruised, grown and elated with the whole experience. Final shows were at The Armory in NY.
Best show you’ve seen in the last 10 years?
No. Too many great shows, for different reasons. Either a performance or the setting or the surprises in the play, the direction.
What has been your professional highlight of the last 10 years?
I suppose Harry Potter And The Cursed Child was a ripple… also, personally, directing I See You at the Royal Court Theatre Upstairs – it made me curious and want to explore storytelling from a different angle.
Top flavour of interval ice-cream?
Malbec
What show do you wish theatres would give a rest for a few years?
Nope. It’s all practice. Can be super frustrating, but not any particular show/play – usually it’s the feeling of time wasted creatively that pisses me off.
Name someone who you think is a really underappreciated talent (in the world of theatre)?
Clare Perkins. And happy to see her going strong with a full life.
Elphaba or Glinda?
New ice cream flavours? No, I haven’t seen Wicked…
What is one thing that you think would help theatre survive and/or thrive the next ten years?
Risks in stories, writers, perspectives…
Which is your favourite theatre?
The theatre I first fell in love with – The Swan, in SUA. You can truly just talk.
Can you say anything about what’s to come for you, (in the next ten years or otherwise)?
Just finished filming an HBO limited series with at least 3 of the best film and TV actors around. That was insane. It was bumpy from my end, I was relearning after mostly theatre the last 5 years.
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