The Screwtape Letters – A conversation with Yannick Lawry

C.S. Lewis’ wildly comic yet deadly serious masterpiece – The Screwtape Letters – is playing seasons in Sydney, Melbourne and Canberra during December. Actor Yannick Lawry speaks to Stage Whispers.

Q:  So, a little about you ... You are originally from the UK, but Yannick is a French Name?

A:  Yes, that's right. My Dad's name was John and, as a proud Brit, he wanted to call me John Junior. My mum is French and as that isn't a big French tradition (sons being named after their fathers) she wasn't having a bar of it. There was almost a compromise on 'Jean' (the French equivalent) but my mum had always liked the name Yannick, which comes from Brittany, so she fought the naming war and won!

Q:  How long have you been living and working in Australia? What's your favourite part about living here?

A:  I came to Sydney 8 years ago for a holiday and never left. Like so many Brits, the great outdoors and opportunity to reinvent yourself held (and still hold) great appeal. This year I became a citizen too so you can't get rid of me now.

Q:  How do you think someone who knows you really well would describe you?

A:  Ooh. Tough question... If only we saw ourselves as others see us. The things I hope they'd say is that I try to value others for who they are and be kind and considerate. In truth, I'm much less good at that than I ought to be. Ethical and sincere but with a slightly rebellious streak. Now you've made me articulate this, I think I may need to work on my flawed personality...

Q: What do you see as being your most significant accomplishment to date?

A:  There are so many things I'm thankful for. I couldn't easily pin it down to one theatre or TV credit as such. The thing that I'm most amazed by is how, at 35, I was made redundant from a job in broadcasting and wondered what I would do next. I returned to acting and was also able to build a voiceover studio with some of my severance pay. Through what many might call good fortune (but I would assert was providence). I managed to build up a solid studio & voiceover business and re-forge a career in stage and screen. Plus founding Clock and Spiel Productions this year with my business partner Hailey, specifically to stage and develop works that pose life's big questions, has been utterly awesome.

Q:  What's your source of motivation in your acting career?

A:  I love telling stories that pack a punch and making an emotional connection with people. It's something I shy away from doing in social interactions.. I don't know why. But stage and screen bring me out of myself and allow me the freedom to do it.

Q:  Name a famous person you admire and why?

A:  I'm quite a fan of Chris Pratt. In human terms, he's a bit of a role model. Unapologetic for his faith, a talented actor who got his 'break' later in life, and his own recent physical transformation gives me hope that even I might achieve those elusive 'visible abs' one day soon..

Q:  CS Lewis is revered and respected universally for his brilliant academic mind and literary accomplishments, how does The Screwtape Letters fit in to his writing career? Was it a particularly popular book at the time is was written?

A:  It's amazing that The Screwtape Letters is 75 years old next year. One of our recent reviews suggested that the text has gathered a "fine layer of dust" over the years. I'm not sure I agree with that. Whilst Lewis's vernacular is firmly rooted in its time, the picture it paints of humanity... always looking for meaning yet sadly being distracted by stumbling blocks of its own creation, is sadly as relevant in 2016 as it was in 1942. What Lewis boldly does in his writing is turn to his Christian faith for the answers as to why... which in our age, where relativism trumps absolutism, is refreshingly confronting!

Q: What are some of the challenges you have faced with bringing such rich and dense language to life?

A:  I love the rich and dense language. I think the fact that CS Lewis's words have helped open up massive concepts to me about the world I live in gives me an enthusiasm to help unlock some of this great wisdom for others.

Q: You have a huge amount (a full 90mins) of dialogue in the show, how do you remember it all and how do you keep your voice intact?

A:  I record each scene and then listen to it back. Because the text for Screwtape follows clear, logical lines it's actually not that hard to remember. As for the voice, check in with me again at the end of the run!

Q: The reviews for the show have been very strong, one stating "Polished and precise, The Screwtape Letters is unlike anything Sydney has had to offer this past year."  What do you think it is about the show that is so different from the current theatre landscape?

A: As I mentioned earlier, Screwtape is refreshingly confronting. Whatever world view you hold, this show asserts that we as human beings don't actually have ultimate control over our decisions and destinies. The setting is fictional, but as the scenes unfold; the concepts of our human frailties begin to resonate as facts. Interesting theatre should push us out of our comfort zone, and Screwtape does exactly that… including for me, and I'm on stage!

The Screwtape Letters by CS Lewis (adapted and directed by Hailey McQueen and starring Yannick Lawry and George Zhao plays in Sydney at the Seymour Centre until 10 December, 2017.

It comes to Melbourne’s Chapel Off Chapel 13-17 December and then the Canberra Theatre Centre 19-23 December. For more information and bookings, visit www.screwtapeshow.com.au

Photographer: John Leung.