Marc Elliott, of Scottish and Anglo-Indian heritage, has a diverse range of characters from screen and stage under his belt, including as Syed Masood in the BBC soap ‘EastEnders’. The talented actor is currently attracting praise for his role as Gopal, one of three children of Meera Syal’s matriarch Queenie in ‘A Tupperware of Ashes’ – Tanika Gupta’s heart-wrenching family drama on until mid-November at the National Theatre in London.
In this exclusive interview, Elliott tells iGlobal about the strengths of the play’s Shakespearean undercurrents, the levity during rehearsals to wade through the intensity of the subject matter and the invigorating immediacy of theatre.
How does it feel to receive such great responses for 'A Tupperware of Ashes'?
It’s always rewarding and exciting to get a great response from an audience. But given the importance of this show’s subject matter it feels even more special. Quite a large number of people watching the show have had or are currently having direct experience of living with a relative who has Alzheimer’s.
Tanika has written a play that really connects with people and makes them feel something. I don’t think there’s anything better than making people laugh and cry in equal measure!
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It is quite an intense experience for the audience; what was it like playing Queenie's son?
I hesitate to say this, given the impact the show is having, but it’s been quite a good laugh! It’s been lovely working with Meera, whose grace, humour and brilliance has been inspiring to watch every day. My siblings (Nat and Raj) and Aunty (Shobna) have also been a real hoot.
When you’re working on a show with such a bleak subject matter it’s so important to have a lightness in the rehearsal room and fun backstage. Every single member of the company understands this. A shout out to the brilliant Zubin, Stephen and Avita too!
What, in your view, are some of the most appealing aspects of the script?
I think the fact that the show is a loose adaptation of ‘King Lear’ hugely appeals to my analytical brain. Tanika has replaced Shakespeare’s male lead with a female matriarch suffering from dementia.
Making her “three ungrateful children” rounded individuals with lives outside of what is presented on stage has been a delicious challenge. We are continuing to discover things every night.
What is the biggest attraction of the stage for you as an actor working across mediums?
I think the immediacy of response when working in the theatre is an unrivalled and exhilarating feeling. Hearing an audience laugh collectively at something that has just happened is magic. Television is of course great and rewarding too, but nothing really beats the ‘aliveness’ of the live experience.
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How do you think your mixed heritage inspires your creativity?
Identity and heritage are such interesting concepts. I suppose we bring what we bring to each role as a result of our learned and lived experiences. I see my mixed heritage as a huge plus. As a British Asian I can occupy two worlds and draw from the rich cultural diversity of both, depending on what or who I’m playing.
*Info: ‘A Tupperware of Ashes’