Douglas McFarlane, Editor of UK Theatre Network, talks exclusively to Bruno Langley about his latest performance in a Taste Of Honey and his career aspirations.

Q. What's a Taste of Honey all about ?
A. It's about a bunch of misfits from the 50s trying to find their happiness in life. The central character is Jo who is 16 and she has got a horrible mother who takes her around the country. When Jo gets pregnant her mother leaves with her new boyfriend, which is where my character Jeffrey comes in. Jeffrey has maternal instincts for her and wants to look after her but when her mother returns that's when sparks start to fly.

Q. You were in a fringe play recently in Camden, how did that go ?
A. I love doing theatre work but the fringe was hard work as you don't get to say much and you aren't guaranteed audiences. On the upside, in TV you are directed by the director and they tell you what's good or bad, but after a few weeks I found that the audience reaction tells you what you are doing right and wrong and you can use this to improve your performance.

Q. You were singing in Stars In Their Eyes as well, is this something you want to pursue?
A. There is a bit of a stigma associated with soap stars going into singing. I sing around the house but I'll leave it at that.

Q. What advice would you give to those training as actors ?
A. Take what you want from the teachers but you yourself know what's best. In anything, but especially in drama, you have to go with your own instincts though teachers can teach you the cynical side of it and the technical side. You have got to have the heart, you've got to be dedicated to your career and you've got to be able to cope when things go wrong.

Q. What have your auditions been like?
A. I go to some auditions where they probably do know me and have some pre-conceptions but at some auditions they don't know who I am. Sometimes you go to auditions where there are 5 other people who look like you and you think they could maybe do better and you think you are not going to get it.

Q. What keeps you active outside of acting ?
A. I'm trying to keep fit as acting is not that physical and you have to keep your body in shape. As an actor your body is your tool, and I don't do as much as I should, so I need to do more stretching and things to keep me in shape. It's especially useful in auditions as it gives you confidence to go in and tell the people you are the right person to do that job.

Q. Where to next ? Is Hollywood calling ?
A. I do want to go to America at some stage but I would prefer them to ask me to go over first before I went over as I wouldn't want to have to do all the meetings that people have to do before they even get an audition.

A fair and frank account of life as an actor today. I thanked Bruno for his time and wished him well in his career, and he said "Cheers Dude", a response which kind of summed up this very pleasant and talented young man.

© UK Theatre Network, 17/6/06

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