RSC actor shares stories of the stage and screen

This week, our Shakespeare class was treated to a truly inspiring guest lecture from renowned Royal Shakespeare Company (RSC) actor, Jo Stone-Fewings. Jo has numerous stage, TV and film credits to his name.

Pictured L-R: Students Eliza, Samih, Meyrem, Alyssia, Maleeka, Emmy and Libby, with visitor Jo and their teacher Debs
 
Jo, who also happens to be the brother of RNC teacher, Debs Burrows, shared his wealth of experience and knowledge with our young 'Bardolators'.

His passion for acting started from around the age of 12 and his journey began at the National Youth Theatre, followed by studies at Hereford College of Arts and the Welsh College of Music and Drama. He has been a member of the Royal Shakespeare Company since 1994, captivating audiences worldwide with his performances.

During his visit, Jo delved into the fascinating world of accents and dialects, emphasising the importance of a keen ear for the intonation, nuance and rhythm. He shared insights into his own experiences with different accents and how they have shaped his performances.

The students, in turn, were eager to share their own thoughts and introduce themselves. Some discussed the origins of their names, while others revealed their chosen stage names. Jo highlighted the significance of names in shaping identity, both on and off stage.

He went on to provide a glimpse into the life of a professional actor talking about the itinerant lifestyle. He touched on how he met his wife, fellow actor, Nancy Carroll, and how it’s somewhat easier to be married to another actor who understands the way of life.

He also had some great anecdotes. One about working on the revival of Dr Who with Christopher Eccleston. He worked on two episodes, where he got to shoot at daleks! As a result he is now part of Dr Who folklore and often encounters Whovians at the stage door waiting for autographs.

One particularly fascinating aspect of Jo's talk was his love of audio work and voice acting. He loves radio, has read for Audible and Big Finish and particularly loves video games – most recently working on The Witcher.

‘There’s something about radio and audio work that makes the listener have to use their imagination and you can travel much further and lose yourself in that medium,’ he enthused.

Getting on to Shakespeare, Jo shared his experiences of performing Shakespearean plays in various countries, highlighting the diverse ways in which audiences from different cultures respond to the Bard's work. He also emphasised the importance of understanding the underlying poetic structure of Shakespeare's language, particularly iambic pentameter, to truly appreciate its power and beauty.

Jo has performed about a third of the 37 Shakespeare plays, including King John at The Globe Theatre. When pushed on his favourite – he chose King Lear.

One of the most inspiring messages from Jo was the importance of constant learning and practice. He emphasised that even after decades of experience, he still approaches each role with a sense of curiosity and a willingness to learn.

An hour was just not long enough! Our students were absolutely captivated by Jo, and we are incredibly grateful for his time and generosity, and hope that he can come back and visit again soon.

For more information on Jo's work, visit his:

IMDb page here.
Wikipedia page here.