In anticipation of the exciting Acting Company debut production “13” by Mike Bartlett, we decided to get an insight into our cast members to learn more about the people behind the curtain!
This is James Kon who will be playing Stephen and Sir Christopher. If you want more information about “13”, click here.
Tell us a little bit about yourself, and your background with performing.
I’m a lawyer working in the West End specialising in planning permissions. My only real performing experience has been with Stage and the City’s beginners and intermediate courses – I was a complete beginner when I started in 2017.
Why did you decide to join the Acting Company?
I started with Stage and the City’s Acting for Beginners class a few years ago, and was part of the intermediate showcase for the past two years. After our last showcase Anna and Claire mentioned the new Acting Company, which I thought would be a great chance to perform a full play and develop a character throughout the story. I auditioned and here I am!
What have you enjoyed the most from being in our Acting Company?
It’s great being part of a group working towards the same goal. Rehearsals are great fun – everyone is very good and puts in the time to learn and work on the lines but more importantly really gets on. We have a laugh together as well as doing the play, and it’s become almost more of a weekly chance to spend time with friends than a course.
You will soon be on stage at the Courtyard Theatre – is this your first time on stage?
Yes, apart from the two showcases. The feeling before you go on is terrifying, but once the scene gets going I find that it’s like the people on stage are the only people in the room.
Do you have any advice for someone looking to take an Acting course but might be uncertain?
I started acting to help with confidence issues, and it’s been great for me. I would say that if it’s something you’re interested in go for it as long as you find a course where you feel safe expressing yourself and that you can have fun with. For me it’s been a great way of learning new skills and making new friends, though it was very daunting at first. It really helps that Claire (whose been the teacher for every acting class I’ve taken) is a great supportive teacher, and that everyone is there to enjoy themselves as well as learn.
If you’d like to come and support our Acting Company’s first show and see James Kon and the rest of the cast, then don’t miss the production running on the 29, 30, and 31 March 2020 at the Courtyard Theatre.