As a student paper there are things that need to be taken as read. Protests - check. Union politicking - check. But sometimes, between the endless articles about students waving "Honk If You Hate Loans" placards at the passing traffic, we interviewed celebrities. Truthfully I can't remember how or why I ended up speaking to Brian Cox. As editor I could have delegated. Which was what normally happened. Usually at the first sign of "fame" there'd be queue of people wanting to press the famous flesh. But, in this instance at least, I don't recall having to elbow anyone aside. I suppose back in 1990 "Ian McKellern" or "Brian Cox" were still relative unknowns. Or something. Still it made an change from spending hours (in those pre-DTP days) laying out pages at the printers, or re-writing articles into a language (broadly at least) resembling "English"
And so, without further delay, I give you
Shakespeare Thespian meets Philistine
"Look I haven't a clue about Shakespeare — get somebody else to do it"
But my complaints were to no avail and so, photographer in tow, "Press Release's" resident philistine went to interview Ian McKellern who was recently in Belfast performing in Richard III. Unfortunately Mr. McKellern* was already taking part in an interview so instead we drafted in Brian Cox who played “King Lear” in another production. As he approached I looked at Rick (The paper's photographer), as if to say 'who the hell is this?** What am I going to ask him?' So being the probing journo that I am***, I asked him that old Chestnut
“So what do you think of Belfast?”
Instead of going for my throat after that old cliché**** he looked calmly and said
“Great. This is the third time I've been here. Last time I was filming (Ken) Loach's 'Hidden Agenda'".
He seemed quite pleased (to) announce it had won a prize at Cannes.
I asked him chestnut number 2
“What's the schedule like?”
“It's an impossible, crazy schedule. Seven shows a night, week here, week there. We've been all over Britain. Europe and Japan... It's getting so we don't know where we are”.
So down to the play. King Lear? was it still relevant? I saw the look of disbelief in his eyes that I'd asked such a question.
“It's perennial brilliance doesn't change. It asks fundamental questions about life that are, if anything, more relevant today. It's both modern and classic, it transcends fashion. This is also true in Richard III. We are using and magnifying parts of it to bring out the metaphors for fascism'
. . . and off he went into long account about Richard III. Being completely unfamiliar with the play I nodded agreement, but kept my mouth shut.*****
The interview began to flounder, so I asked old chestnut number 3.
"Did you always want to be an actor?".
“Yes. I was almost conditioned to be an actor. I grew up in the 1950's and the cinema was my minder. Sitting in a Dundee cinema watching 'On the Waterfront' something clicked I wanted to do it”
Did he enjoy working in the cinema?
"Time to time I still get a kick out of it but the writing has declined. There's so much pap produced.”
He preferred working in the Theatre then?
“It's more acute. It challenges perceptions. Touring makes theatre a 24 hour a day job. It's an alive, immediate and exhausting experience. The theatre can still address controversial issues - “Hidden Agenda” is unusual for a film because it deals with controversy — the shoot to kill investigations.I had a lovely time working with Ken but Belfast is an unusual city. There tends to be an avoidance of the facts here. More concentration on the positive side. There's a state of war here but people put it to the backs of their minds. I love Belfast peoples wit and humour but that can't disguise the fact there's a shadow hanging over Belfast".
Time was getting on and there was some uncomfortable 'foot shifting'. Recognising the signal that time was up I asked him about changing theatre styles.
"It's important that in your work you try to be current . . to address current issues. But not to the extent were you become hostage to fashion. Things have to balance".
(Photo Richard Adams)
*Still just a "Mr" at this point.
**Seens odd. Brian Cox is a familiar face now. In between blockbusters and TV, he crops up as a narrator everywhere. But in '90 I didn't know who he was. My kid brother did. He wasn't very impressed I didn't ask him about "Manhunter". For the first time my ignorance was displayed for all to see. You'd think I'd learn.
***It's weird reading that now. To think I harboured dreams of being a journalist. What went wrong?
****The above question answered a sentence later
*****In my defence I've only ever read Romeo and Juliet. For my "O" Level. I've never had the inclination or interest to ever read any more. I blame my dreary, dreary English Literature teacher. Needless to say I'm still a philistine as far as Bill's works are concerned.
