Baked Beans Online Retreat Interview

Last week I was lucky enough to talk to some of the cast of ‘The Retreat’, the fabulous new play by The Baked Bean Theatre Company. We met in the relative calm of the Wimbledon Community Association buildings, moments away from the bustle and noise of the busy shopping district.

The cast of nineteen were very keen to talk about their experience of writing, rehearsing and producing a professional quality theatre production and I was warmly greeted by the group as they led me to one of their smaller rehearsal rooms (the Main Hall, their regular haunt, was being used by BiE for a rehearsal).

The first person to introduce himself was Jack, a loud and confident young man who played Pedro, a celebrity chef addicted to overeating. “I did a lot of research into the role, kept feeling my way, and Jade [the director of The Retreat] gave me a lot of help.”

I asked the group what it’s like to perform to a packed theatre, after preparing and rehearsing a piece for nine months.

Tanya Downer who played Edith Crunchie said “Oh you want to know how that feels, well you’re on stage, there’s millions and billions and trillions out there watching you, you’re NERVOUS! I just went for it. I felt really good afterwards.”

“Did you have to do a lot of research to get your character right?”

Tanya looked down sheepishly for a moment then answered “Yes actually, ‘cause Edith Crunchie would eat a lot of chocolate and get fatter and fatter. I can understand her. I do eat a lot of chocolate too.”

Across the room from me sat a very handsome young black man, with the kind of features that seemed tailor made for lead roles. He introduced himself as Ashley Phillips who played Jayden, a kleptomaniac who loses everything. “[Talking about research] I really had to work hard. Jayden’s a strong character, he doesn’t want his kid to follow in his footsteps, it was a little bit hard to express how the character feels, how sad he feels about losing everything, his kid.”

I was never nervous – always cool.”

Some of the people in the room had been performing with the beanies for over ten years, I wanted to know if they had any advise the wanted to pass on to young aspiring actors who have a learning disability.

Ashley told me “If you want to be an actor, don’t be nervous, take your time to speak, think before you act.”

Nigel, slender, bearded and quiet joined in “If you want to be an actor, come as a beanie, come to the groups. Baked Bean Theatre Company, take part in the group. Do the physical games. [Then you can] do plays in theatres and at Kings College and St Georges.

Sam Hayward, a young lady with an easy laugh added “This group has made me feel welcome, very welcome.”

As a final note newcomer David Elliot who played boxing champion and drug addict Clayton enthused, “I loved it mate. I felt alright, confident and yeah, like a superstar at the end.”

I had really enjoyed The Retreat the week before, it had been funny, moving and thought provoking all at once, somehow though meeting with the actors and discussing how they had developed this astounding piece of theatre made it that much more special.

Arty Grossman