Five Minutes with... Meghan Tyler, actor and playwright
Ahead of the rip-roaring Pride & Prejudice* (*sort of) coming to the Lyceum Theatre on 23 January, Hood sat down with its star, actor and playwright Meghan Tyler, who plays Elizabeth Bennett, to find out more about what we can expect from the show, and what makes Scotland such an appealing place to live and work in 2020.
The show, which runs at Edinburgh’s Lyceum from 23 January - 15 February, presents the classic novel in a hilarious new light, complete with an all-female cast.
Was there a specific moment in your life when you realised you wanted to work in the theatre?
The live, romantic way that theatre tells a story inspired me to become an actor. All that puzzle-piecing, discovery and play made sense to me – it clicked with my soul in a way that made me need to become an actor. Luckily, I had a formidable Theatre Studies teacher in my high school that encouraged that very feeling. At the time I thought a vet would be a good job… maybe. For me, perhaps, this is better.
Did you always plan to become a playwright as well as an actor?
Absolutely not. Writing began as a pastime to keep my creative mind active – I always jotted down bits of dialogue that would flood my brain, but I never expected it to go anywhere. Now they feed each other and constantly keep me on my toes to review and improve them both.
What can audiences expect from this new version of Pride & Prejudice?
One of the best nights out of their entire life. Pride and Prejudice* (*sort of) is a hilarious, joyful, karaoke-fuelled romp chock-full of love and silliness. It’s as much fun to watch as it is to perform… and it is side-splittingly chaotic to perform.
How do you prepare for a new role?
Well, it usually depends on the piece but the first thing I do is pore over the script in search of clues and logic for my character; begin to sketch out what their journey is or could be. If the play is set in a particular time period or place, I tend to steep myself in that history and think about that in relation to the character I am playing. Once rehearsals start, most things are up for discussion and discovery.
Do you have any backstage rituals or superstitions, and if so, what are they?
Once I get a routine up and running, my main backstage ritual seems to be shouting, “I’m already behind!” at different intervals before the show. Aside from that, my big hitters would be: seeing the rest of the cast, checking in with the stage, having a shower, rigorously boogying, and smoking a pre-show cigarette.
What other projects do you have in the pipeline for 2020?
There are lots of bubbles fizzing away but I need to keep my lips zipped but 2020 will be full of writing. Bold, bonkers ideas coming soon…
What is your favourite thing about living in Scotland?
The politics. The acceptance. Scotland is a progressive, socialist, buzzing country that accepts everyone with open arms. There is a real sense of care and craic and decency, which makes me very proud to be an adopted Scot.
Where do you go to unwind off-stage?
A chilled out coffee shop is always a must, and if I can find a banging pizzeria place then I am pretty much sorted. Finding a nifty wee pub for a post-show pint is a big old bonus too.