A decade on from when the critically acclaimed Captain Amazing first caught the theatre-world’s eye the creative team behind that first success have reunited to do it all again.
Alistair McDowall (Playwright), Clive Judd (Director) and Mark Weinman, the actor who the play was written for, always knew this work had more to give.
Captain Amazing tells the story of the transformative power of fatherhood, everyday acts of courage and how even the invincible aren’t immune to tragedy.
Mark took time out from his busy schedule to bring us up to speed.
Why revive this play?
“The first run of the show was such a hit and left a lasting impression on audiences. And after the final show, Clive said, ‘We’ll come back to this.’ I immediately knew what he meant and why he’d said it.
“It had been a tremendously exhilarating and exhausting experience for us relatively young theatre makers and despite its success and the fact that I looked old enough to play Mark, there was still more to be explored when I was closer to that character’s age and life experience.
“Fast forward 10 years and here we are with Clive and I hoping to bring our collected years of experience into the restaging of this beautifully funny and poignant play.”
Were you all connected before this play?
“Yes, we became good friends at the University of Manchester where we were studying Drama and worked together across numerous productions.
“Even at student level we were making work that was getting recognised by the industry and so we all continued to collaborate in those early years after graduating where you’re trying to navigate what you think the industry wants from you.
“Clive directed me in Herons by Simon Stephens, which served as a brilliant platform.’
Have you worked together since the play’s first production?
“Not as much as we would have liked to!
“We are all still incredibly close as friends, but all went on to such different things after Captain Amazing.
“I was delighted when Clive directed my first play as a writer called ‘Dyl’ of which he crafted the most beautiful production and for which I will always be grateful.”
Tell me about the play and your character?
“Aside from being Captain Amazing (Mark) I get to play a whole host of characters, which was one of the main attractions for me, as not only does it allow me to be silly and playful but it also forces me to explore my range.
“We’ve always tried to make sure we are as thorough and detailed in our creation of each of these characters, no matter what the size of their role in the story.
“Mark is a very ordinary guy. He just kind of blends in without making any fuss. He is inarticulate, kind, caring yet somewhat lonely and totally used to his own company.
“When out of the blue he suddenly finds love his life is catapulted through a turbulent ride of complex real-life events where only the use of his imagination, encouraged by his inquisitive daughter, seems able to save him.
‘What strikes me most about this play is how recognisable and familiar it is to its audiences; exploring the tiny and mundane things people are prepared to do for the good of other people.
“It doesn’t feel like it’s trying to be reactive, provocative or pass comment but instead makes you think about all the incredible people in your own life who have helped shape you.
“Its strength lies in its ability to be laugh out loud funny one moment and poignantly nuanced the next.
“I have had people approach me at parties, in the street and at music festivals to tell me just how much Captain Amazing meant to them and has stayed with them – something I’ve never had before with a piece of work.
“There might be times when you question the demands of being an actor, but those moments are the ones that keep you thinking about the next job.”
The PR blurb tells us this: “Have you ever met a superhero? A real superhero? What if superheroes were all around us? Mark, a reticent young man, is impelled into articulacy, action and superherodom by the arrival of his daughter, Emily. You see, some superheroes don’t know they are superheroes until they become fathers.”
But Mark Weinman is not just a super-hero on the stage, he is the founder of The Ten, a not-for-profit mentorship programme designed to support undiscovered talent from underrepresented backgrounds.
Tell me about The Ten and why you founded such a programme?
“I am particularly interested in working with actors from underrepresented backgrounds who may not have access to the opportunities required to help break into the industry.
“I wanted to try and champion mentorship to try and help encourage actors to support one another.
“The industry is already incredibly competitive and I believe those early career performers deserve full transparency as to the realities, demands and complexities of the industry as they attempt to navigate it.
“It’s grown so quickly into something I never quite imagined but I’m incredibly proud of it and the people I get to work with. I truly believe mentorship is the best way we can try and promote the changes we want to see within the industry.’
So far, Mark tells me, many in the programme have got into prestigious drama schools, found work and got signed up by agencies.
“One of our mentees from our first cohort was announced as the lead in a major new AMC Television Series,” he said like a proud dad.
With The Ten work, working on writing a new play, performing in Arthur Miller’s ‘The Crucible’ and preparing to bring Captain Amazing back, Mark Weinman proves that he is a Superhero both on and off stage.
For more information on The Ten visit www.thetentalent.co.uk
Southwark Playhouse Borough, 77-85 Newington Causeway, London, SE1 6BD. Dates: 1st – 25th May. Times: Mon – Sat 8pm; Tues & Sat matinees 3.30pm. Admission: £24, £19, Previews £16, £10.
Booking: https://southwarkplayhouse.co.uk/productions/captain-amazing/
