Bristol Old Vic’s Cyrano: meet the cast

Pictured above: Sara Powell as Roxane and Tristan Sturrock as Cyrano, in Bristol Old Vic’s Cyrano. All pics: Geraint Lewis

Bristol Old Vic’s acclaimed production of Cyrano [find our review here] has reached the halfway point of its run, and it’s proving something of a blast, both with audiences and among the seven-strong cast. We thought we’d tap into some of this camaraderie and merriment, and grab a quick chat with the cast. So, here are some random reflections on romance, rehearsals and roast pork, from Patrycja Kujawska (Christian), Miltos Yerolemou (Raguneau), Giles King (Carbon, Ligniere), Sara Powell (Roxane), Tristan Sturrock (Cyrano) and Felix Hayes (De Guiche)

Describe your character in three words.
Patrycja: Christian is eager, inexperienced and simple.
Miltos: Raguneau is loyal, passionate and romantic.
Felix: Curly moustached baddy.
Giles: Ligniere is an eternal singing optimist.
Tristan: Big old nose.
Sara: Roxane is romantic, a trickster and a musician.

L-R: Miltos Yerolemou, Giles King, Tristan Sturrock, Patrycja Kujawska, Felix Hayes

Tell us about the first time you fell in love.
Tristan: I was on the Old Vic stage in Bristol with my future wife in 1996.
Sara: On a school trip to Russia when I was 14. Another schoolboy, from Ireland, led the singing all night in the hotel bar. He had no idea I existed.
Felix: It was with an At-At. From Star Wars. Or perhaps it was a Hoth Womper. And I was 8. I’ve always loved monsters. I think that wasn’t the answer you wanted…
Miltos: She was hungover, her face stained in red food dye and dressed as Han Solo, I didn’t stand a chance…
Patrycja: I fell in love in music school when I was 15 or 16. He was a double bass player, incredibly charismatic, great improviser. We flirted through music. It was both an elating and agonising experience, as most teenage love affairs are.
Giles: Elaine Barnbrook at Wooburn County Primary School – and Thomas the cat.

What was the most romantic thing anyone has ever done for you?
Sara: Marry me.
Patrycja: After I’d given birth to our daughter, my partner turned up in a hospital with a Savoy cabbage instead of flowers. Sounds strange and not very romantic? Well, cabbage is full of soothing properties and it helped immensely to ease the pain of breastfeeding. We are still laughing when we remember me walking in hospital corridors with cabbage leaves sticking out of my pyjamas. He was also there during the actual birth, which was an amazing experience – but nothing can top the Savoy cabbage.
Tristan: Bought me a secret trip to Paris.
Miltos: Saying ‘yes’.
Felix: Same, she said yes.
Giles: I got bought a really nice pair of boots, but to find them I had to do a two-hour treasure hunt around St Ives town and Porthmeor beach.

Giles King and Patrycja Kuwalska

Have there been any particularly funny moments in rehearsals? (in or out of character!)
Giles: In the war scene we wear leggings which are now known as War Pants! Substitute the word ‘Panache’ for War Pants and things get a bit silly. Also there is a part of the set which looks like a Chinese Dragon face which has become known as Marshal the Dragon: we feed him, talk to him and everything!
Felix: With a cast like this it has been full of uncontrollable laughter, often at inappropriate moments. In fact, almost always at inappropriate moments!
Patrycja: The Funny Moment Badge has to go to Felix Hayes who tried to portray a Spanish spy. The accent he put on was just deliciously absurd – it sounded more German than Spanish, and the volume of delivery, and his face, slightly red from effort…it was pure theatre gold. We were all in stitches and we haven’t been able to rehearse this scene seriously ever since…
Miltos: Giles King is in this production. I don’t think I need to say anything more. The man makes me weep.
Sara: Giles King. He plays at least four different parts, each one funnier than the last. And he can play a seemingly infinite number of musical instruments. Which isn’t funny – just brilliant.
Tristan: Giles King.

Tristan Sturrock and Miltos Yerolemou

What is it like being back at Bristol Old Vic?
Felix: Being back in my favourite stage in the country? It is totally delicious. It is like being hugged by an audience. Beautiful, intimate and a total delight.
Patrycja: It feels like a homecoming. I love the front of the house, how stylish it looks now, but most importantly I’m very fond of people who work there. I’m in awe of a huge amount of effort they put into making this place a truly contemporary theatre hub.
Miltos: I love this theatre. And Tom Morris. It’s vibrant and inspiring.
Sara: It’s warmer and drier than I remember.  But then last time I was here I was living on a boat.
Tristan: It means being back at home!
Giles: It’s quite fantastic: the oldest wooden theatre in Britain, with many fond memories of shows that have been done on that stage.

Patrycja Kuwalska, Tristan Sturrock, Sara Powell

Favourite romcom?
Miltos: Punch Drunk Love.
Giles: Friends.
Felix: The Princess Bride.
Patrycja: I’m not a fan of romcoms. But my favourite films about love are The Lives of Others and Amour.
Sara: Jackie Brown.
Tristan: Scent of a Woman.

Guilty pleasures?
Tristan: First Dates on Channel 4
Felix: Board games.
Patrycja: I’m trying not to feel guilty about pleasure – that would take out the pleasure out of pleasure.
Giles: Sunday roasts and IPA beer.
Sara: Trashy novels.
Miltos: You should never feel guilty about pleasure…

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Best way to win your love: Poetry or sword-fighting?
Patrycja: Both! And food. And wine. And double bass.
Miltos: Poetry.
Giles: Neither. Shed building, so I suppose that leans towards sword-fighting.
Sara: Both. At the same time.
Tristan: Sword fighting.
Felix: Neither! Sausages!

Patrycja Kuwalska

Worst chat-up line?
Tristan: “Are you a banana? Because I find you a-peeling.”
Sara: There’s a fellow who keeps calling my house offering to help fix my computer if I switch it on and let him connect to it. That’s not really doing it for me.
Patrycja: “Hi, you’ll do”
Felix: Too many to mention. In fact, any line is bad…
Miltos: There is no such thing as a good chat-up line. If it isn’t sincere then it better not escape your lips.
Giles: “You must be exhausted. you’ve been running through my mind all day!”

Favourite baked goods?
Patrycja: Rye bread from a Polish bakery.
Felix: Pasteis de nata… YES!
Miltos: My father’s Moussaka. It isn’t cake but it’s the best thing to ever come out of an oven
Giles: Home raised roast pork… Boom!!
Tristan: Millefeuille
Sara: My son’s brownies or my daughter’s chocolate chip cookies.

Cyrano continues at Bristol Old Vic until Saturday, November 16. For more info, visit bristololdvic.org.uk/whats-on/cyrano

Read more: Review: Cyrano, Bristol Old Vic