Bum-revealing leather trousers and life in drag, actor Danny Sapani talks to Karla Williams for Afridiziak Theatre News
 Danny Sapani is the well-know British actor who has made numerous appearances on stage and screen. Earlier this year he played the lead in Radio Golf at The Tricycle and he has starred in the Big White Fog at the Almeida Theatre and appeared opposite Ross Kemp in ITV’s Ultimate Force. Now, he is playing Lucien in Tarell Alvin McCraney’s Wig Out! at the Royal Court which explores the glamour, beauty and relationships of the American Drag Ball scene.
What’s it been like working on the Wig Out?
An eye opener I suppose is the first thing that comes to mind. An introduction to a world that I knew nothing about prior to this and [learning] from the experiences of the writer and the choreographer who understand and are part of that world and one of the actors whose also been to balls before and the experience of watching Paris is Burning. It’s a film about the gay ball scene in America made in the 80’s which is the sort of template for this production - this world. So yeah, it’s an introduction to a world that as I say knew nothing about and that I find fascinating and gritty.
The character of Lucien is different to anything you have done before, what attracted you to the role?
To begin with I think it was the style of writing. I think that Tarell has a very imaginative, inventive and creative way of telling stories and it just seemed fresh. It’s [Tarell’s writing style] based on many types of theatre forms that I am very keen on, like the Greek theatre, Brecht and Shakespeare and he seems to have combined all these different elements into, what is essentially, a brand new voice and that was very exciting for me.
So you were aware of his work before?
I was. I had read The Brothers Size but didn’t actually get to see it until we were in rehearsals. I was very glad that they remounted The Brothers Size because I missed it the first time round and I just thought it was brilliant, I really loved it.
Do you find it uncomfortable wearing the bum-revealing leather trousers during the dream sequence?
It’s not something that I would wear personally (laughs) and in the spirit of the piece it seemed right and fitting. So, I’m just doing my job (laughs)!
Do you think the play is for a specific audience?
I wouldn’t say that any play is for a specific audience. I think there will be audiences, that due to their own experiences, will get certain aspects of it a little bit more regularly than others and I think than when we have gay, drag or people familiar with that world in the audience certainly it kinda lifts the space as they instantly respond to it and respond in really refreshing ways. It’s nice to get an intelligent audience, whatever you’re doing and their intelligent to that world. I do think that some of the language might be hard for other people to get but then I also think that here is a kind of universality in the themes.
So it’s not just aimed at the gay community?
In essence I guess that’s the writer’s call to say who he’s aimed at and who his specific audience are but I don’t get the feeling that he’s aiming for a specific gay audience, although it speaks about them. I think it speaks to people because the themes of loss and trauma and what it means to be part of a family are explored in this play and explored in an interesting way.
Why should people come and see Wig Out!?
For the sheer fun, enjoyment and entertainment of it and to see brilliant, brilliant acting, dancing and music in a live spectacle. It’s a total event from beginning to end and I think that’s its strength.
And finally, what is your next project after this?
There are some interesting things and productions in the offing so I hope to be part of something just as new and innovative as Wig Out has been and various other productions I’ve been in. |
