Stephen Jones, who stars in the upcoming production of Stones in His Pockets, is an actor, writer and a director with a solid body of theatre, film and television work including the BBC’s Ripper Street.
We chatted to Stephen in advance of his arrival at The Civic next week!
You studied in UCD. Give us an idea of what you studied there and were you involved with the UCD dramsoc?
I studied English and History for 3 years and have a B.A degree. I also have an M.A In Creative Writing from UCD. I was heavily involved in Dramsoc during my time in college and it’s the reason I’m an actor today. I had never really acted before but one day I saw that auditions were being held for a play that I knew and after landing the lead role, much to my surprise, it went from there. I spent a lot more time in dramsoc than I did in lectures. Many of my friends from dramsoc are actors now too and quite a few are now familiar names in Irish acting.
How did you get into acting and what’s your first memory of wanting to act and perform?
Acting was always something I enjoyed, I just didn’t find much opportunity to do it. I played football as a kid so never had time to join a drama group. I had a small part in Oliver at school and made my own joke movies with friends as a teenager but college was when I got into it properly. I think I’ve always been a bit of a show off. My family have a lot of video evidence of me performing songs and stuff as a kid and I was never shy so I think it’s always been there.
Which famous actors or directors do you admire? Why?
I like so many actors and directors so it’s a hard question to answer. I think when you first get into acting you watch actors like Brando and DeNiro and they have a huge influence on you. More and more I try to find actors I like that aren’t as iconic and watch their work. I’m a big fan of Mads Mikkelsen, the Danish actor and like many actors of my generation Philip Seymour Hoffman would probably be one of my biggest influences. It was tragic that he passed away so young. I think he is an actor who could do both theatre and film acting, he didn’t look the way a Hollywood star is ‘supposed’ to. His talent got him to where he was and in what is at times a very superficial business it was good to know that acting ability can get you places, if you’re good enough. He was just very versatile and you rarely saw him playing the exact same type of part which you get with many film stars these days. He was versatile and it’s something I enjoy in an actor.
Has being from Tallaght influenced your career at all?
Yeah I think where a person is from helps shape who they are. I am very proud to be from Tallaght. I think people from Tallaght are good storytellers and are straight forward people. Actors are always trying to find the truth of a scene and to make rehearsed lines sound real so I think growing up in Tallaght helped train my ears to how genuine people talk.
What has been the highlight of your career to date?
I don’t know if I have one specific highlight. I think seeing the first film I did ‘Between the Canals’ in Cineworld on the big screen with all my family there was very special. I have many highlights as far as working in the theatre goes. Performing a one man show called ‘100 more like these’ in the main auditorium of the Civic was definitely one and I’d have to say getting to work with Garry Hynes and Tom Murphy on his plays for Druid was another.
You play many different roles in ‘Stones in His Pockets’. How did you prepare to take on the multiple roles?
I play 8 different roles in the play. Each character needs their own voice so I try to nail down each accent and how young/old the voice is etc then working with the director I find the right physicality for the character and just let them evolve in rehearsals. It’s good fun and something I have done a few times now in various different plays. It’s a good challenge but very rewarding if you can make the characters very clear and distinctive.
And finally, when ‘Stones in His Pockets’ is finished, what are your plans for the rest of 2014 and beyond?
Well when I get back to Ireland I’m going to finish filming season 2 of my web series ‘The Goo’ which I love making. I’m going to enjoy Christmas with my girlfriend and family then talk to my agent and hopefully keep working in the theatre and on some tv/film next year. I never think too far ahead to be honest. It would be nice to branch out and maybe do some more acting in the UK but who knows what the future holds.
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Stones in His Pockets runs from Monday, 1st – Saturday, 6th September 2014 at The Civic. Tickets can be booked by phoning 01 4627477 or online here.
