London's Maisie Tiedeman and Sydney's Lucy Hadfield discuss playing Grace in "The Various Methods of Escape"
MAISIE: In what ways do you feel you are similar to Grace and in what ways are you different?
LUCY: At the end of the day, grace is a young woman trying to find herself in a world that attempts to conform you. I’ve been there and see that in Grace and my younger self, even sometimes still today. I’d like to think that both Grace and I have gotten through those ideas, I’m just a bit further in the process than she is. I also feel much more assertive in the decisions I make and am okay with failure. Whereas Grace is so early in her development and understanding of self that unfortunately only comes with time and learning lessons, both the good and the painful.
LUCY: This character carries a lot of trauma with them. How have you approached taking on this character and is it different to how you’ve previously approached character work before due to the trauma she has?
MAISIE: I have found that so much of understanding Grace and her past is rooted in her dialogue. She is a beautifully honest character who isn’t afraid to speak about her emotions and her trauma, and this is refreshing in a play with so much secrecy. I did a lot of research into similar cases to Grace’s, watching interviews from victims and reading about their experiences. What really stuck out to me was that, similar to Grace, they didn’t let their trauma define them but let it become part of their story. This allowed me to read Grace’s lines with this research in mind, taking what Grace says about her past and weaving it into her ambitious, curious, strong personality. In a way, I listened to what she said and allowed her to feel it. She becomes empowered by her trauma, and it is an honour to let her do this. This means that I have had to take more time in character work than I sometimes would, as I want to do her justice and share her story with sensitivity and compassion.
MAISIE: What is your favourite memory from the Sydney run of “The Various Methods of Escape”?
LUCY: It’s hard to pick one. From the incredible cast and dynamic. To playing a character that really pushed me as an actor. To the relief of shedding off an emotional roller coaster of a character. But I think one of my top favourites must have been seeing the joy on Liviu’s face when we looked at each other and realised we had done a really damn good job, and all our efforts had paid off. Yeah, that was really, really nice.
LUCY: Your rehearsal process was quite unusual, how was it and if it wasn’t done remotely, would it have looked differently in your opinion?
MAISIE: It was quite unusual and unlike any rehearsals I have done before! Obviously it was strange doing the rehearsals online over Zoom, but it was also different for me to work on the emotions of the story first. We were unable to start physically blocking it until we started in person, so we started with the emotional work during our online rehearsals prior to this. I usually complete the physical work first before delving into the characters, but I absolutely loved being able to ‘get to know’ Grace and her family before tackling the movement. It meant I went into the in-person rehearsals with an understanding of the character and how she would move, allowing me to use my instincts to add to the physicality of the show, creating Grace’s little quirks that make her such a deep character. I wouldn’t change a thing - it has been a wonderful and unique process.
MAISIE: What advice would you give to the London cast before we open on December 3rd?
LUCY:
1. Look to each other and use the others energy to lift you up in the moments where you can’t find it within you.
2. Find your voice and use it to spread a message that you care about (through your characters)
3. Have joy, in yourself and in your character. We don’t have much in this world without joy and neither do these characters. Be the joy that they need and the audience will feel it from you.
4. Once the shows finished. Have a drink, a bath, a sleep and do it all over once more. Let your body and mind recover from such a heavy but uplifting show. You’ve earned it!
5. Make sure Liviu does step 4 too
LUCY: Grace is a heavy character but also has some beautiful light moments. How did you balance out the light and dark and what part did you prefer playing more and why?
MAISIE: The balance between light and dark in this play is a careful science, and both the cast and creative team have been so brilliant and tactful with this. Grace’s story, in a nutshell, is a journey from dark to light with many ups and downs along the way. This is what makes the play so real and raw. The peaks and valleys of Grace’s story are underscored by her relentless courage and determination, and this is what drives me through those darker moments and into the lighter ones. And those happier moments are so beautiful to watch and be a part of - I love this cast and team, and getting to have a laugh on stage is just as cathartic as letting Grace feel the joy she deserves. Those lighter moments are the ones the characters work towards, and so they are so much fun to play, but they wouldn’t be nearly as lovely without the darker times that the family must work through to get there.
LUCY: A final message to cast -
Chookas to you all. I wish I could be there in person to celebrate with you but alas I’m there in spirit. Congratulations to you all for you efforts and what will not doubt be a bloody terrific show. This piece is beautiful, and I miss being a part of that world. So, grasp it with both hands and enjoy what a beautiful ride it takes you on. Please give a big hug to Liv for me. All the love, from Lucy xx
London season runs 3rd December to 14th December
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