We sat down with Moyosola Olashore who is playing Book in Knife on The Table.
Knife on The Table will run at The Cockpit 5 – 26 October 2024. Tickets and information here.
Tell us about your character Book in Knife on the Table
Book is an ambitious student who desires to be a surgeon when she is older. She studies a lot, and is determined not to let the world of crime, which she is surrounded by, into her life. She does not want it to affect her chances of doing well in life. She confidently articulates how she feels and she does this often – if she needs to offend someone with the truth, she has no issue in doing so. She is a fifteen-year-old who knows what she wants in life and is doing everything in her power to stay away from the world of corruption.
What drew you to this particular production?
Knife crime is a re-occurring issue in our country today. The play clearly shows this, and I was, and still am intrigued in the way this is explored in it. We see the characters’ different worlds colliding simultaneously, exposed to the issues each person is experiencing. The play looks into why people find themselves in situations that lead them down a particular path, and illustrates how this impacts other peoples’ lives who are not involved in the crime world.
Why should potential audiences see the play?
The play does so much: it illustrates how different factors, examples being, gang culture and family relationships, intertwine to affect everyone’s world. The seriousness of the topic is juxtaposed with comedic moments the audience would enjoy. There is more than one message pertaining to knife crime that the audience can take away from the play. The play’s structure is fast-paced and full of action – I could go on! Being informed about the dangers of knife crime through this play, whilst having a night out at the theatre, is a bonus!
Do you have a favourite moment or line in the show so far?
“You think you’re gonna get with me, you think I’m gonna slap on that nasty face shit and leather pants like Olivia Newton -John, join your nasty little boys gang, start singing ‘You’re the one that I want?”
I love this line!
This is your stage debut, is there anything in particular you’re looking forward to the most?
I am mostly looking forward to exploring Book’s relationship with Flint. Book and Flint have a complicated relationship and exploring that in rehearsals and living that out on stage is, and will be, exciting.
How do you prepare for new roles?
Even before getting into the rehearsal space I have a clear process.
I usually start by reading the script multiple times to become familiar with the story and my character/character interactions. I’ll then create different lists: what does my character say about herself, what does she say about others and what do others say about her. Doing this provides an accurate depiction of the character and helps me avoid being vague. Instead of me, as the actor, saying “I feel my character would do this” I can say, “My character does this because she says ‘X,Y and Z’ about herself and another character’s in the play say the same thing,” for example.
I then see if I am able to detect any similarities and differences between myself as the actor and character. For example, I think about whether there are traits that we share. I understand and know that it’s not all characters I will share similarities with, so I will try and find a different source. I then start to think if there is anyone I know who reminds me of the character. The goal isn’t to play myself or someone I know but to use those factors to help root the character in truth, using the world of the play to inform character decisions.
Finding a source to help with character development may also come from watching a film or reading a book. This is particularly helpful for me when preparing for a role that is completely different to me, or if I’m struggling to develop the character. I can choose to use this as inspiration for my character.
I look at each scene and decide what my objectives are and decide what my main objective is in the play. And of course, I learn the lines! I try not to pre-plan how I am going to say them but instead learn them in a way that allows me to react and listen in the moment to what the other person is saying.
When it comes to the physicality of a character, I experiment with how the character would move. For example, I would explore how my character would walk when running late, or when relaxed. This gives me something to work with when I enter the rehearsal space.
This is what I would do before the rehearsals start.