Meet The Actor – Deborah An

Deborah An

Greetings, theatre enthusiasts! Today, we’re delighted to feature a star from the upcoming production of Eureka Day at the Reginald Theatre. Our guest has journeyed through diverse characters on stage and screen, bringing a unique blend of charm and depth to every role. As we gear up for the show’s premiere, let’s dive into the world of our talented actor and discover their passion for the craft.

About Deborah An

Why do you want to be an actor?

From the age of six, I wanted to be everything when I grew up: a ballerina, an astronaut, a teacher, police officer, mermaid, lawyer, veterinarian, painter, pilot. You get the idea. Everything. Around the age of 10, I discovered the reason I wanted to be all these things was because I saw them in movies. It was then that I realised the only profession I could pursue that would allow me to be all of these people was acting. But don’t get me wrong, I still – and on a sometimes regular basis – consider changing careers. The thing is I always come back to acting. And let’s be honest, we can’t all be Jonny Kim (Google him if you need to).

What do you enjoy most about acting?

When you step into a character, you have no choice but to see the world through their perspective. Sometimes your character holds similarities to you as the actor, but when they don’t, it’s a challenge. Even more than a challenge, it’s an opportunity to confront your own ideals, worldview and sometimes fears. No matter who the character is, I always walk away at the end of a production feeling like I’ve evolved as a person, and that’s what I love about acting.

What has been your favourite role so far in your career?

This is such a tricky question! If I had to choose one, it would be Min Jee in Night Bloomers on SBS. It was the first time I spoke Korean on camera and also the first time I died on camera! Don’t worry, it’s an anthology, that wasn’t a huge spoiler. The whole creative team, the writers, directors and most of the actors were all Korean and that was pretty special to me.

What do you think makes a performance most believable?

This is something I struggle with in my day to day life, but I think LISTENING. When you stop just hearing the words someone else is saying because you’re too busy trying to think of what you’re going to say next, and start actively listening, it makes you present and responsive. But to be honest it can actually be quite exhausting. Haha.

How do you maintain your physical and emotional health while working on demanding projects?

Prioritising the basics like eating and sleeping well, I find, goes a loooong way. Outside of pure survival though, if I know I’m going to be flat out for X period, I’ll let my friends know I won’t be seeing them for a few weeks, or in some cases months. I can be quite an introvert, so the last thing I want to do after a long week is socialise on the weekend. My friends know me well enough by now not to take it personally. Bless them. Physically, I like walking my dog to the park or beach, which helps emotionally too. I also love cleaning the house and meal prepping, so that becomes almost a meditative ritual for me. I think it comes down to knowing what you need and scheduling time for that.

Is there anything else you’d like to add?

Outhouse Theatre Co and Seymour Centre present Jonathan Spector’s ‘Eureka Day’ at the Reginald Theatre from 29th May to 21st June!

Where can patrons purchase tickets to this production?

To book tickets to Eureka Day, please visit https://www.seymourcentre.com/event/eureka-day/.

Thank you so much for sharing your incredible journey and insights with us! Break a leg in *Eureka Day*; we can’t wait to see you bring the Reginald Theatre to life. Cheers to an amazing run!

Other interviews can be viewed in our Meet The Performer Series.

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The Messy Truth of Reality – Consent

What I was expecting: A courtroom drama about a rape case, and the effect it has on the lawyers who are trying the case. A play that was going to be uncomfortable and confronting, but presented an important discussion into the way we think about “consent”.

What was presented: A dark comedy that looks at the breakdown of a housewife’s relationship with her husband. It was a deep and complex interrogation of the concept of truth, perspective and fidelity that had me laughing with and relating to the characters.

Although the play does follow a rape case, the case and the personal life of the barristers are quite disconnected. My two initial thoughts of how the performance would run were completely off; the barrister does not fall apart feeling guilty about getting a rapist off, nor does the play end with a guilty verdict that sets the world right again.

Instead, Consent looks at how being “technically right” through legal reasoning can work to ignore and deny the messy truth of reality. The audience is presented with everyone’s side of the story and refreshingly isn’t forced to agree with any one character’s perspective. Each is right. Each is wrong. Each is deeply flawed. Everything is thrown up in the air and allowed to settle with the audience wherever it falls.

The rape case in this performance is presented almost as a play within a play. It is used as a way to emphasise the unflinching and unmerciful reasoning of the law and the lawyers that use its logic. The lawyers hold all of the control, yet the victim Gail (performed in this production by Jessica Belle) resists their version of the truth. She refuses to become an actor in their play and demands to be heard.

In this production, the first act is performed entirely downstage, and a partition was placed in the middle of the stage and used as a “backstage” for the actors. However, lighting effects allowed the partition to become see-through at times, providing an eerie, foreboding, and ever-present reminder of the darker themes of the play.

The partition changes at the end of the first act, where Jessica Belle’s Gail tears it asunder. It’s a powerful choice of staging as Gail literally breaks that fourth wall down to get her truth across. With the partition broken, it’s as if all of the complex issues and emotional chaos that were so intensely avoided in this first act are allowed to flood in. And like a tsunami they do.

Cue act two. Every single actor came alive in this second act, revelling in their characters’ disturbed emotional states. In particular, Kitty (played by Anna Samson) became a woman unhinged. Statement costume pieces and strong sound design emphasised the power shift within the play, and Anna Samson skillfully portrayed the transformation from a doting housewife to a woman on a mission.

Another standout performance was delivered by Nic English in his portrayal of Edward. Whether he was cross-examining a rape victim, having a verbal spat with his wife, or cuddling a soft toy whilst crying like a small child, Nic English was an absolute pleasure to watch.

Outhouse Theatre Co‘s production of Consent tackles its heavy and dark themes seriously, whilst also making the audience laugh out loud as they do. The actors combined perfect line deliverance and expert timing amidst the thoughtful stagecraft making the production come together seamlessly.

This play is not as dark as the promotions and publicity might make you think, and I hope that anyone who has the opportunity to see it does. It was a thoroughly enjoyable performance from a very talented cast.

Consent runs for three more weeks Wednesday through to Saturday until the 24th of June.

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