Jerone Marsh-Reid: 'As a British-Caribbean actor, I was surprised to be auditioning to play Stan Laurel'

Jerone Marsh-Reid is a physical theatre performer and actor. Newly graduated from East15 Acting School, he is preparing to play the role of actor, writer and director Stan Laurel in Told by an Idiot’s production of The Strange Tale of Charlie Chaplin and Stan Laurel. Between rehearsals, he tells Ruth Comerford about approaching a character from a physical point of view and why he is wary of turtlenecks…

How did you prepare for the role?
I was quite surprised to be auditioning for Stan Laurel, being a British-Caribbean actor and quite young. I am a visual learner, so if I watch something enough, I can pick it up. Stan has a particular walk, and his weight goes from left to right so I’ve been practising that. He’s also very expressive with his face, so I’ve been practising facial expressions in the mirror, and on the tube, and thinking: ‘How would Stan react to this, what would he think?’ You can bring bits of yourself to any character, and that’s what I hope I’ve achieved with Stan.

How did you become an actor?
It was a strange process. I was definitely a show-off when I was younger, but I was sporty and didn’t choose drama or anything like that at school. I wanted to be an electrician because my dad was one, but I used to watch loads of break-dance videos on YouTube. Then I started going to [break-dancing] classes and I have a very addictive personality, so once I started I was training and practising every day. I wanted to be in the crew – it was very cool, very exclusive, and I wanted to hang around with them so badly, I got much better at dance in a very short space of time. I told my friend at college I was considering becoming an electrician, and he said: “Why? You’re obviously meant to be doing what I’m doing,” which was a performing arts course. I wasn’t sure about the singing and acting, but I knew I wouldn’t mind dancing every day. One of the best grades I got in college was for a physical theatre project. And then I got into East15.

What would be your dream role?
There are some companies I’d love to work with such as Gecko, Complicité, and Frantic Assembly, and I’d love to be in a TV series. You know when you’re watching something and you think: ‘I want to be on stage, I want to be doing what they’re doing’? I always think that when I see them. I’d love to perform at the National Theatre and the Barbican.

What is your advice to young actors?
I come from a working-class background. I’m very much a council-house kid. It’s important not to lose that rawness. When you go to a drama school or through any kind of training sometimes they can try to mould you. If you want to become an actor, it’s about knowing where you come from and what you can bring, before you try to change yourself, before you start speaking RP, or dressing in turtle necks. There’s something beautiful about mixing with people who come from different areas. And if you are from a nice background, own it, and know who you are. Stay true to your roots and the way you speak.

CV Jerone Marsh-Reid

Training: BA Physical Theatre  at East15 (2016-19)
First professional role:  Catch Me (2019)
Agent: Adam Mendlesohn  at Narrow Road

The Strange Tale of Charlie Chaplin and Stan Laurel opens at Wilton’s Music Hall in London on January 14 and tours until March 29. For more information go to: homemcr.org

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