This Is Your Brain on Theatre - BWW Q&A with ONE MAN, TWO GUVNORS Star Owain Arthur

It should come as no surprise that ONE MAN, TWO GUVNORS has earned rave reviews here in Melbourne. This National Theatre of Great Britain production directed by Nicholas Hytner was a smash hit on both sides of the Atlantic before it hit us here in the Pacific. The show is regularly touted as the best of British comedy, and the Australian season includes the pitch-perfect UK cast, lead by Owain Arthur as Francis Henshall.

Arthur gained critical claim playing the One Man Henshall when he moved from under-study to leading man in the West End production. Professionally trained at the Guildhall School of Music and Drama after his childhood debut in a Welsh soap opera, Arthur has been forging a career on the stage with no less than The National Theatre (ONE MAN, TWO GUVNORS & THE HISTORY BOYS) and the Royal Shakespeare Company (ROMEO AND JULIET).

At 12 years old Owain Arthur realised he was in the right business - here he takes our BroadwayWorld Q&A and tells us why ...

This Is Your Brain on Theatre with Owain Arthur

Is there a particular show and/or person that first made you feel like 'this is what I want to do'?

I was 12 years old when I was filming a Welsh soap opera called "Rownd a Rownd" in North Wales. It was my first day on set and I had a scene where a woman opened a door in her underwear and revealed herself too me. I'm quoted to have said "I'm going to enjoy this acting business", so maybe that's when it happened.

Is there one night in your career that you would love to go back to and experience over again?

I would love to have seen myself on the first night I went on as an understudy for James Corden in this show (where I was cast to take over the role in the West End in the interval). I certainly wouldn't want to put myself through that again, but observe from the stalls.

Is there one role that belongs to the opposite gender or a different age group that you'd secretly love to perform?

I'd like to try Hamlet to see what the fuss is about.

For our Musical Theatre fans - what book/TV show/movie is a musical just waiting to happen?

Animal Rescue.

What song do you always find yourself singing in the shower?

Have a Nice Day by the Stereophonics.

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You can catch Owain Arthur in One Man, Two Guvnors at The Playhouse, Arts Centre Melbourne until June 22nd. For tickets and further information click here.

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