A Show in the Life of... An Actor

We sat down with Marc Reid, a long-time member of the group who is taking on the role of Walker in our upcoming play Traitor at the Beeches, to learn more about what it’s like acting in a Twyford Drama production.

So Marc, starting at the beginning, what is the audition process like at Twyford Drama?

Auditions are always nerve-wracking — even after 40+ years! You can’t help looking around the room thinking, “Right… who’s my competition then?” and then trying to pretend you’re completely relaxed while impressing the director. I will admit I’m slightly fortunate that there are fewer male actors than female, so statistically my odds are a bit better!

What I really like about how we do it at Twyford Drama is that we have two nights. The first night is just a relaxed read-through of the play, which gives everyone a chance to get a feel for the characters and the tone. Then the auditions follow on the second night — and by then you’ve got a much better sense of who you might want to play.

And what should people expect when they’ve been cast in a play?

The great thing about Twyford Drama is that anyone can audition. You don’t need experience, and you don’t even need to be a member — although you do have to join if you get a part!

That said, it is a commitment. You’ll probably rehearse two evenings a week for a few months. And you’re part of a team — the cast rely on each other. There is nothing more unsettling than not being confident that someone else knows their lines.

We also don’t have understudies, so if you’re cast, you’re on. Even if you’re not feeling 100%! The show genuinely depends on everyone pulling together.

So, what do rehearsals actually involve?

Every director works slightly differently, but we usually start with “blocking” — which is getting us broadly in the right place on the stage at the right time. Once we roughly know where we’re meant to be, we start digging into the scenes properly — relationships, motivations, pacing, all of that good stuff. Then the real moment of truth is “books down”, when the scripts disappear and suddenly you have to remember both your lines and where you’re supposed to be standing. That focuses the mind!

I genuinely love rehearsals. We work hard, but we laugh a lot too. It’s a team effort, and there’s a real sense of camaraderie — though I won’t pretend it doesn’t get a little tense as opening night approaches!

And how do you personally go about learning your lines?

Everyone has their own method. There are some good apps now, but I generally stick with my tried and trusted method: I record the dialogue — mine and everyone else’s — in 45–60 second chunks and then listen to them on repeat. Over and over. And over again. Eventually they stick… although I will say that as the years go by, the “eventually” takes a little longer than it used to!

How did you first get involved in acting?

I started at junior school. My first role was the back end of a camel in Joseph and the Amazing Technicolour Dreamcoat — which is where all serious acting careers begin!

Things really took off at senior school thanks to an inspirational drama teacher who encouraged me enormously. I carried on at university — where I met my wife through drama — and then joined Twyford Drama after leaving uni.

That was nearly 40 years ago now. I moved away for a while and had about a 20-year break, but when I came back, many of the same people were still there. That tells you there’s something special about the group.

And what do you most enjoy about treading the boards?

I love being someone who isn’t me. I’m naturally quite introverted and shy, so it surprises people that I can go on stage. But that’s the joy of it — it isn’t me, it’s the character.

And there’s nothing quite like the buzz of entertaining an audience. Playing the Dame in panto is particularly fun because you can interact directly with people, which is supposedly terrifying — but honestly, it’s usually more frightening for the audience member than it is for me!

Is there any part of the process of acting in a show that you find particularly challenging?

It’s hard work — there’s no getting away from that. But when a show comes together and the audience responds, it makes every rehearsal worthwhile.

The toughest moments are when things aren’t coming together as they should or the team is not as effective as it could be. Thankfully, that’s rare — and most of the time everyone pulls together brilliantly.

Have you had any particular favourite acting roles?

I’ve been very lucky with roles over the years and have appeared in some wonderful, well-written plays with great opportunities for actors.

In more recent times, Shylock in The Merchant of Venice and Jack Manningham in Gaslight really stand out. Both complex, layered characters — and both “baddies”, which are far more fun than playing the nice guy!

Going further back, I loved performing in John Godber’s Teechers in Southampton. I played multiple characters, which was exhausting but gave huge scope for characterisation. As an actor, that’s gold dust.

Finally, what can audiences expect from Traitor at the Beeches, the current play you're busy rehearsing?

I’m absolutely loving being in Traitor at the Beeches — not least because it’s written and directed by my wife, Kathy. In my entirely unbiased opinion, it’s a terrific play: a wonderful blend of drama and comedy, with richly drawn characters and plenty to keep audiences engaged.

Playing the role of Walker is a real privilege. He’s a fascinating character with real depth — and the role was first played by the wonderful Mike Higgins when we performed the play's prequel, Fight Them for the Beeches, in 2023. It’s an honour to take it on, and I very much hope I can do Mike proud.

If you haven’t got your tickets for Traitor at the Beeches yet, there’s still time! Make sure you don’t miss out – buy yours today.