An Active Bell Tolls Good And Evil

The Age

Monday March 24, 2008

Robin Usher

The Red Stitch theatre company is winning acclaim, writes Robin Usher.

NICHOLAS Bell is one of Australia's busiest actors, always in demand for roles.

This makes his decision to star in the next production by Melbourne's ensemble theatre company, Red Stitch, all the more surprising.

He laughs at the suggestion that he is doing it for money, given the independent group's limited resources. "I like the play," he says, referring to The Winterling, by Jez Butterworth, whose earlier work, The Night Heron, was staged by the company in 2004.

"It's good to flex your muscles by being on stage," he says, adding that he is impressed by the play's language. "It's brilliant writing that covers a wide gamut, from Shakespeare to (comic duo) Morecambe and Wise."

Bell appeared last year in Matt Saville's acclaimed film, Noise, as well as in the Melbourne Theatre Company's production of Enlightenment, following his role in Festen the year before.

He was also in the cast of the hit film, Shine and goes to Sydney as soon as The Winterling ends to appear in a new play by Tony McNamara, The Great, for the Sydney Theatre Company.

But in the meantime he will continue filming for the new SBS television series, Newstopia, which also features one of Red Stitch's founding members, Kat Stewart. The pair developed a friendship after meeting during the season of Festen and Stewart points to Bell's decision to join the cast as proof of Red Stitch's growing reputation.

"Nicholas is a great example of the calibre of guest artist we are so pleased to have attracted," she says. "We can't offer big bucks, but we can offer great scripts and a unique environment in which to work."

Butterworth won London's Olivier Award for best comedy for his 1995 debut play, Mojo, about the gangster underworld surrounding the rock'n'roll scene in 1950s Soho.

He went on to direct the film version, which included the 2005 Nobel Prize winner, Harold Pinter, in the cast. Bell says that not surprisingly, The Winterling, which opened on Friday night, is a homage to the older playwright.

"It's funny at times, with an air of menace at others," he says. "He has got the gangster patter going - ranging from florid and fey to dirty gutter talk - down pat."

It is set in Dartmoor where Bell's character, Len West, has been living alone and where he is visited by former associates from London.

Bell says the setting is crucial to the play, which is also about England's historical heritage. "The layers of archaeology are everywhere," he says, ranging from the ancient Celts to the Romans, Anglo-Saxons, Vikings, Normans and leading up to the industrial revolution.

Bell says the setting - a rundown farmhouse about 400 years old - gives the play an air of timelessness. There is even a reference to King Lear when a character goes raving about in the middle of the night. He says his character has committed many evil acts but in the course of the play, set over one evening and the next morning, he learns to do one good thing.

"He discovers inside him a goodness he didn't know he had," Bell says. "This sounds corny but I think that ultimately it's about the battle between love and evil. At least, that's what I hope people will think that it's about," he says, laughing.

Bell is interested in how Australian audiences react to the play. "Perhaps the cast will have to work harder. It will be a different experience from London where it would be filtered through the audience's first-hand experiences."

Bell began his career in repertory theatre in Britain and went on to become a member of the Royal Shakespeare Company. He appeared in Australia during the company's 1986 tour of Richard III, starring Anthony Sher, and decided to settle in Melbourne with his family.

"Touch wood that I will manage to remain in work," he says.

The Winterling cast also includes one of Red Stitch's newest members, 20-year-old Martin Sharpe. He first performed with the company last year in Rabbit Hole, after which he was invited to join.

His performances earned him two nominations for best actor in this year's Green Room awards, for Rabbit Hole and The Little Dog Laughed, up against Oscar winner Geoffrey Rush.

Sharpe is pleased to have joined the company, although he says it was not an easy decision because the demands of the actors' ensemble are so high.

"The company's aim is to create work for actors, which means everyone will give priority to any offers from television or movies," he says.

"That appeals because this is not a hobby to me. I'm pushing myself hard to achieve as much as I can while I'm still young."

Sharpe says Red Stitch ticket sales "are doing brilliantly". The company's first play for 2008, Neil LaBute's Mercy Seat, sold out three weeks in advance.

"There seems to be a buzz about the company and subscription sales and word of mouth are really strong."

The Winterling opens at Red Stitch Theatre, rear of 2 Chapel Street, St Kilda, until April 19. Book on 9533 8083 or go to redstitch.net.

© 2008 The Age

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