Dark Horse actor Joe Sproulle
Where are you Joe- that doesn’t look like the theatre?
It is actually, it’s round the back near the Stage Door. There’s a concrete area where we come out to get some air during technical rehearsals and shows. It can get very hot and stuffy down in the dressing rooms. It’s funny because below and to the left is a pub garden and people have seen Dark Horse actors out here in costume, dressed as mutant half human half ants, apocalypse survivors, cowboys and all sorts. You see people looking up wondering what’s going on.
So who are is Joe the actor?
In a nutshell, OK…I’m 27, nearly 28- people always think I’m younger than I am and I guess that's a good thing as an actor, I can play younger. I’m a professional actor with quite bit of experience now. I played Spencer Parkin in two national tours of world premiere comedy SING SOMETHING SIMPLE with Dark Horse and toured all over, I played The Lowry, Stephen Joseph, Cockpit London, Theatre Severn Shrewsbury- loads of great theatres. I’ve done ensemble shows- Heaven Lives in Holmfirth, Colony, Harvest, Snakebite and I’ve been in Shameless. Other things too. Yes lots really.
Tell us about a holiday you’ve been on recently?
I went to Cyprus, it was lovely, very hot and good for swimming,I like the food there too and the local wine.
And who is Joe the man?
I’m a Manchester United fan. I live on a farm with my family and my dog, a terrier called Bob. I keep fit with aqua fit, walking and yoga and I love eating out and a glass of good Chardonnay. I’m learning the guitar and the accordion and I love all kinds of music- and singing.
Burger King or KFC?
Neither, I don’t like fast food and it’s not very good for you is it? The chickens on the farm lay lots of eggs and my Mum makes a great frittata. If I’m eating out then you can’t beat a whole baked camembert- delicious! If it has to be fast food then I’d have a New Yorker pizza from Dominos.
What are you working on at the moment?
At Dark Horse we keep our technical skills training up all the time and in Laban classes I’m working hard to make sure I don’t collapse at the chest- I need to keep my chest up all the time, imagining there’s a string pulling me up, it makes a big difference to my neutral. We doing solo performances, scenes, and my character is Police Detective interviewing a criminal so I’m doing research by watching old cop shows like The Sweeney and The Bill and more recent ones like DI Banks.
Who are your favourite actors?
I like Andrew Garfield, Emma Stone, Angelina Jolie and Christian Bale.And my favourite comedy film is ‘Shaun of the Dead’.
How was Snakebite?
It was terrific thanks, and a good challenge to work with real guns. I enjoyed the combat rehearsals very much. I wish we could do more shows but it’s tough at the moment finding the funding.
Where are you off to now?
Its the end of the working day so the station for me. I live in Glossop which is quite a long journey so I’d best head off. Bye for now!
