As you can imagine, the Billy cast have a pretty full-on schedule, but this week we’ve managed to grab a few minutes with Deka Walmsley, who plays 'Dad' here at the Victoria Palace. Deka has been playing the role since November last year, and previously starred in the original production of The Pitmen Painters (also by Billy Elliot writer Lee Hall). This is what he had to say about becoming a member of the Billy Elliot family:
You started playing ‘Dad’ in the show last November – what’s been the biggest challenge to date?
To be honest, it has been so enjoyable that it hasn’t felt like a challenge! The show has such a strong history that I wanted to make sure that I didn’t let it down in any way and that I contributed as much as I could. Rehearsal rooms are my favourite places and this one was no different. Seeing so many talented singers, dancers and actors all around you, belting it out like there was no tomorrow was a pretty fantastic feeling.
You’ve appeared in Lee Hall’s The Pitmen Painters as well as Billy now – what do you most like about his work?
Lee’s ability to intertwine the personal and political in a very human and humorous way and his lightness of touch are a gift for an actor. Similarly in The Pitmen Painters, he gives you a character whose journey is great fun to explore; and his flashes of irreverence are so refreshing.
Do you think coming from the area Billy is set in helps you communicate the story to an audience?
Maybe it makes the process slightly quicker to connect with – the language of the North East has a rhythm which Lee writes so accurately and which I recognise naturally. The miner’s strike (it seems to me) acts as a backdrop – the story that is important is the story of Billy as a metaphor for the need to ensure art is everyone’s right.
What’s your favourite scene in the show?
I love the ‘Solidarity’ sequence. It strikes me as a brilliant piece of story-telling – a stunning combination of song, dance, humour, theatricality and play writing. Hats off to the creative minds who produced it.
Can you describe a typical day?
I tend to get to the theatre about 90 minutes before the show, say hello to anyone you pass on the stairs and then relax in dressing room, read, crossword etc. Then we have physical and vocal warm up an hour before curtain up, get into costume and then off we go!
Do you have any pre-performance rituals?
Sorry, no. I tend to just get on with it.
What’s the best thing about being part of Billy Elliot the Musical?
The trite answer is being part of it is the best thing. But in all honesty it’s the feeling of pride. It is such a vital and important piece about people like me, from where I was born and I feel a huge responsibility and honour to be in the middle of it all, working.