Actress & Comedienne Sheila Hancock Is Directing A Play At The Theatre Royal

Anglia TV interview with Actor and Comedian Sheila Hancock who is directing the Tennessee Williams play ‘The Glass Menagerie’ showing at the Theatre Royal Norwich.

Shelia Hancock, actress and comedian, says that Tennessee Williams' ‘The Glass Menagerie’ is a very interesting play. Only a few years ago it was considered a frightfully modern play and Williams a frightfully modern playwright. But since English theatre with people like Pinter and it has suddenly seemed a little dated, but marvelously so. She claims it is now a super period piece. Interviewer Chris Peacock says that Tennessee Williams seems a far cry from Shelia Hancock ‘”the comedy girl” she’s known as. Shelia replies that although that comment is true, this is the real her. The comedy girl he talks about are the parts she’s been called upon to play, but couldn’t be further removed from her. Peacock describes how she’s made her name as a comedy artist, in series like The Rag Trade and Bedsit Girl. When asked if she’d prefer to be considered a serious artist, she replies that she’s just very flattered to be considered at all. She would like people to think of her as a serious actress as well, but is just grateful if people know her. Peacock mentions how she’s usually cast as unglamorous and asks whether she wants to be a glamour puss. She says that the thing she’d like most in the world is to be beautiful as she envies beautiful women enormously. But sometimes when she’s working on telly or a film she feels sorry for the women who have to look lovely as they always have to worry about their makeup whereas she doesn’t. When asked if she’s a serious person, she replies that she’s a manic depressive and so is dreadfully serious. Peacock asks that now that we’ve seen her as a director, an actress, a film star and TV personality, which entertainment field would she like to do next? Shelia laughs and replies that she’d like to do a flea circus. She says that she doesn’t know what she’d like to do next as she’s unimaginative and so other people have to suggest things to her. She thanks him when he wishes her luck with ‘The Glass Menagerie.’

Keywords

Actors; Directors; Bipolar disorder