Interview: "The Play is So Human"; Actor Sophie Melville on Imposter Syndrome, Physicality and The Joy of Working on CLARKSTON

Clarkston, a new play by Samuel D. Hunter, opens at the Trafalgar Theatre this week. Directed by Jack Serio, the show, described as a “modern frontier story,” follows Jake [Joe Locke], who meets Chris [Ruaridh Mollica], in a Costco in Clarkston, Washington.

Recently, we had the chance to speak with Sophie Melville, who will be playing Trisha. We discussed how she first got started in the world of theatre, what it’s like to perform new work versus classics like Shakespeare and how she gets into character for her roles. 

How did you first get started in the world of theatre?

Oh, God, it was a total accident!  I didn't really know what to do when I was a teenager. I had very little aspiration, actually, because growing up very working-class, jobs were jobs and they were for money, not for aspirations or dreams as such. So I didn't dream, and it's something that I'm still having to work on - to allow myself the right and to be entitled to dream. That is something that I'm still actively trying to work on. So I went to dance school from when I was very little, because I've got a lot of energy.

There was a director there called Viv Buckley, who I owe my life to. And she was like, “Come try some acting stuff.” And I was just like, “No, it's not for me. It's all these posh people in frocks saying things that I don't understand.” And she was like, “Okay, let me prove you wrong,” essentially. And she gave me a play written by Gary Owen, an incredible Welsh playwright, and it was called Ghost City. And I read it, and I remember being like, “Oh, my God, there are people like me on these pages. Maybe I do fit into this world! Maybe there is space for me!”.

I went to Royal Welsh College and realised, “Oh, yeah, this is what I'm supposed to be doing.” But it took me until I was in drama school to be like, “I think I can do this.” And imposter syndrome is still something that I battle with. 

Kick me out, I dare you! 

Exactly! So that was it. And I've just been so lucky. I've basically not stopped working, which, is an incredible thing. I'm very, very proud of myself. I work bloody hard! But I know how lucky that is, because this industry is really hard. But I also think a lot of the reason I do work so much is because I wasn't so desperate for it. I love it and I really want to do it, but also it's not my entire life.

And what made you want to be a part of Clarkson? Had you been familiar with Samuel D. Hunter's previous work?

Yeah, he's extraordinary! His writing is just effortless and beautiful. And he's in the room as well, which is an incredible thing to have. But I'm at a point where I really want to do screen work, so I'm trying to be a bit more choosy when it comes to theatre. But my agent sent me the script over. She's like, “Have a look at this,” and I was like, “Oh, yeah, we'll do that, please!” It's amazing. And my character's not in it as much as I am used to with past shows that I've done, but what she has to do is very pivotal to the play. So it's great. It's incredible.

Can you tell us a bit about Clarkston and the role that you play, Trisha?

It's a bit hard to explain, because it's about our love and life and our legacy, and the mark that we leave on other people and the planet - how we're remembered and the impact that we have on each other, but you don't realise that until the end.

So it's about these two boys working in a Costco, and they're discovering themselves. They're in their early 20s, they've got their whole lives ahead of them, and they've both got things in their lives that are very difficult to deal with, and it's just how they sort of navigate the world. Essentially, one of them is trying to travel west - he wants to see the Pacific Ocean. And my character comes in and is the play's disruptor. She causes a lot of chaos, even though she's trying very hard to not. It is about love, life, legacy, and what it means to be human. The play is so human, and it's just beautiful. Sam is such an amazing writer. It's like butter - it's so smooth, it feels like the most natural thing ever, the lines are just flying out of everyone. It's gorgeous. 

What is it like to get into this character?

I work physically. So whatever I do, I will try to know what that body shape is first and then emotions will arise because of that. She's quite mercurial. She doesn't have much stillness, like me. It's probably why I got cast as the character! And there's a yearning to her in every sense - it's like she's looking for something constantly. So it's physically quite fizzy. But she's great, and I get to do some amazing things. It's quite epic in a play that seems very natural. She’s almost off a different world. 

What is it like to be a part of a new work versus something that's already been established?

New work is my favourite! You don't need to think about anyone else, and you're not swayed by anyone else's opinion on what it should be, so that's really exciting. But also, the way it's written is just bang-on. It's just exciting to share new stuff with people! You go and see Shakespeare, and you have an idea of what you might see. But I think a lot of people will come to see this, not knowing what the hell is going to go on, because it's hard to explain what it's about! And I think everyone will have their own individual reaction to it, because it hits people in different ways. 

Do you find you have a preference for stage versus screen?

I've done more stage, so I'm more confident on stage. And also, when you're in the theatre, it feels like the actor's medium. When you're doing screen work, you don't know what's going to happen in the edit. You could be cut entirely - you don't know! And also, not having a live audience, I find that bizarre! You might have just eaten your lunch, and then you're trying to do this big emotional scene, and there's cameras in your face. I find that hard, but I do love screen. I just love it all, to be honest! But I feel like I've done so much theatre that now it’s time to do something else. I just want someone to pick me up at 5am every day and take me to combat training and make me a warrior. That's what I want to do. Train me up for a Marvel film!

What do you hope audiences take away from Clarkston?

I don't think there'll be a universal experience - it's going to be very subjective. I can't say too much! I hope what they take away is the thing that is most important is human connection and how we show up for other people, how we have the potential to make someone else's life a better place. That's really at the core of it. It's about love.

And we talk a lot about Lewis and Clark - that's why it's called Clarkston - who were the pioneers that discovered the West Coast of America, and the impression that they left on the land and on the people that were already there. So it's reflected in Ruaridh and Joe's characters, and the impression they leave on each other. It's how we communicate as human beings, and how we are a collective. It'll be a very subjective individual response, but hopefully, something that is hopeful and heartwarming and will leave people wanting to be better and to assess the relationships in their lives and how they can have a greater impact on humanity as a whole.

And finally, how would you describe the show in one word?

Hopeful. It makes me want to be a better person. We'll see if that happens!

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