Boys on the Verge of Tears marks another milestone in David Carlyle’s career, showcasing his exceptional talent alongside a stellar cast, under the direction of James Macdonald.
David Carlyle graduated from Rose Bruford’s Acting BA (Hons) course in 2010 and went on to forge a successful career working on the stage and screen, notably capturing our hearts in Russell T. Davies’ acclaimed It’s A Sin series, for which he received a BAFTA nomination.
Written by Sam Grabiner and produced by the Soho Theatre, Boys on the Verge of Tears is a brutal yet tender exploration of masculinity, featuring five actors portraying fifty roles. The show has gone on to receive rave reviews from Broadway World, the Telegraph and the Times after winning the prestigious Verity Bargate Award from a pool of 1,500 entries.
Alongside Carlyle, the cast includes Matthew Beard, Calvin Demba, Tom Espiner, and Maanuv Thiara. The show, which opened on Thursday 11 April, has been captivating audiences with its bold narrative set entirely within the confines of a public toilet.
David’s return to the stage coincides with the debut of Dinosaur from the BBC, a Scottish comedy drama set in Glasgow.
We got to speak to David about Boys on the Verge of Tears.
Congratulations on the play, it’s such an energetic piece that keeps the audience on their toes. I really hope everyone gets to see it. How did you first hear of Boys on the Verge of Tears?
It was just as simple as getting asked to take a look by the casting team and going in to meet with the playwright and the director, James Macdonald. When I saw the email though, as soon I read James’ name, I was pretty sure that whatever it was…I would want to do it. I’ve always wanted to work with him. I saw the original version of COCK by Mike Bartlett which he directed back in…2010…?… and was blown away by the skill and detail of every aspect of that show. But with this play, I started to read it and knew it was something very special. The playwright, Sam Grabiner, is so talented.
The show explores generational masculinity through these really nuanced vignettes. Is there a particular scene or moment you think is most powerful to you?
I think the scene I am in – as young boys who are getting ready for their school disco – it’s such a fun scene to do. It’s very funny, but it marks a turning point in how boys change and grow up, and it really hits me. My character Ali gets changed in front of his pal and his pal berates him for the way he is changing…it’s so simple but it’s a moment where my character all of a sudden develops a body insecurity…and I think that’s an amazing moment for a play to mark. Body image probably affects and shapes every man in the world these days, no? It certainly has an impact with me…it’s a brave scene and so well observed by Sam.
And which of them do you most enjoy performing? There’s one particular character of yours that my audience went wild for, I’m sure you know which one…
Yeah, I know the one! I wear a wig, right? That’s definitely a hoot to do! But actually, because it’s essentially a comedy scene…they’re always the hardest to do because they’re so technical…you have to nail every beat to land the punchline. So, it’s satisfying to do but perhaps my favourite scene is the teenage boys scene when they’re bunking off lessons. I like that the five of us are on stage together and making the audience feel very uncomfortable with the jokes and language they share! We run the lines of that scene at every warm up so we get ourselves tuned in with each other…I love that.
As the audience, we view the show through the mirror in a public toilet. Which is quite meta for how the show really does hold a mirror up to the men watching it. At times giving them the opportunity to recognise and validate vulnerabilities, but also confront uncomfortable and toxic behaviors. Did you get to discuss the intentions of the play at all with James and Sam? What do you hope people will take away from it?
I think that’s really well articulated! That’s what it does. It’s set in a place where people literally must reveal their private parts in order to use the space. But theatrically you might think it’s a sort of dead space because most guys don’t want to have any connection to each other in that kind of place. So, there’s a great tension from the minute you enter a toilet…dramatically speaking. And I think each scene forces the audience to consider how men deal with being in a vulnerable space like that. Some lean in, some resist, some turn violent, some get turned on, some get scared…it’s a cool setting! We discussed it loads with James and Sam. Quite simply, every person has their habits in toilets so with each of the fifty characters who had to think about how they behave in a space like that…James is like a laser with detail so we excavated as much as we could in the time we had. It was an amazing rehearsal process really.
Boys on the Verge of Tears runs until 18th May, do you have any plans or desires for your next project?
I’m available for hire! Not sure what’s next…I’d like to do some screen again, to touch base with that again after a very busy and intense theatre job. But I’m also writing at the moment. I can’t say too much but I’ve been commissioned to write a TV show – mad – so I’m frantically typing, typing, typing. It might be that it ends up taking over my whole year, and maybe even next year, if it all goes to plan. Who knows…actors just have to hold their nerve, as ever.
That’s amazing! I look forward to seeing it.
“Boys on the Verge of Tears” is playing at the Soho Theatre, London, until May 18th.
Interview by Rose Bruford College’s Creative Industries Relationship Manager, Lewis Bayley.