What's in a 'Name'

I think as well that its easy to forget that those of us on this board are likely to be the more regular theatre goers and will know about performers or shows that the more casual theatregoer may not. For a lot of people the way into theatre is by seeing someone they know from the telly in it, or in a very familiar show. I also would prefer a non name who can handle the role but that isn't always good for business.

What was wrong with Martin Kemp @sistermaryann ? I thought he was brilliant in Eastenders!  He had some great scenes with Joe Absolom and Sheila Hancock.  It all went downhill from there!

Many years ago when I lived abroad, I used to come with a friend to England to 'do' a week of theatre in London and Stratford. Anything we could get tickets for we'd see - usually serious stuff. I can't remember which play this was (it's irrelevant to the story anyway) but one day we were happily sitting in the audience about 5 minutes into the show when a new character made an entrance. Everyone around us leapt to their feet in a standing ovation. We looked at each other in puzzlement. We had no idea who this actor was, but were thrilled that we'd obviously hit lucky with someone brilliant......or so we thought.....ha!

Well, we were subjected to what I can unreservedly say was The Most Wooden, Hammy delivery I have ever seen this side of 3rd Innkeeper at St. Anselm's Primary School in Nowheresville. The Actoooor (who I won't name as it's a bit mean, but he does very occasionally turn up as 'Drunk Man on Bench' in Agatha Christie type TV shows) had become famous playing a popular TV character in the UK and, quite obviously, had brought the crowds in to a play - rather than a musical.  (It was a Chekov.)

So yes, I'd agree with @thematthew in thinking that the producers know what they're doing. But I would actually say BurlyBeaR that that audience's ridiculous reaction made such an impact on me that I now make a point of NOT going if a 'name' is in a show - unless I rate them, obviously! 

Apparently Danny Dyer worked with Harold Pinter, who thought he was terrific. I only know about this because he hasn't shut up about it since. (Danny Dyer is still a bell end, whether he's a good actor or not!).


Nigel Harman springs to mind. If all you know him from is playing mini-Den on Eastenders, you'd think him a terrible, wooden, one-note actor. He's totally different on stage.

Of course there are soap actors/ex-popstars who are not up to stage work, but there's rarely more than one per production, so if they get the bums on seats so people are exposed to the work of their more talented castmates it's not necessarily a bad thing.

Yes, Danny Dyer was an outstanding young stage actor. I remember him in two plays at the Almeida, Celebration by Harold Pinter and Certain Young Men by Peter Gill, and he was electrifying in both. One of those actors you immediately make a mental note to try to see everything that they do.

Of course, not all ex-Hollyoaks actors fall into that category! For example, Nico Mirallegro and Calvin Demba are both excellent actors.

Kathryn said he's a bell end as a person, despite his acting abilities. Not that he's a bell end actor, which may not actually be a thing, doncha know.

Okay, so what is a bell-end, when describing a person?

Mmm... As I thought. I can name quite a few female posters on this forum who would be up in arms if male posters used slang words for parts of female genitalia as a form of insult. It's tantamount to saying that anything rubbish is "gay"', like they do in the school playground. Not impressed.

As I said, not really impressed with the vocabulary. (Couldn't care less about the actor in question.)

My lips are sealed.

Bit of a gay argument.