On Stage: War Horse star Thomas Dennis talks with Total MK

Thomas Dennis plays Albert Narracott in the National Theatre’s 10th Anniversary UK tour of War Horse.

Thomas previously tackled the lead in The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Nighttime.  He is a pedigree performer, as audiences who have been flocking to catch a performance of War Horse at Milton Keynes Theatre will testify.

And his time here is even more special, seeing as Thomas was born in Milton Keynes!

He went On Stage with Total MK...

Tell us about your first memory of the theatre

My earliest memory  probably dates back to when I was five or six,  and went to watch The Lion King in the West End.

I remember being so petrified of the part with the stampede that I actually feel asleep just at that moment, so I missed the exact part I didn’t want to see.

I was overwhelmed by the spectacle of the show and was even happier that I only saw all the happy bits.

And the moment when you realised the theatre was your calling

There were a series of moments for me that made me realise theatre was my calling. The first was when I was sat in front of the tele watching Kenneth Branagh's film version of Henry V.

I remember being glued to the screen throughout all the grand speeches and especially the battle sequences. I found myself running around the house pretending to be King Henry after that.

The following week my school announced that they were going to hold a poetry competition and that every student had to take part.

We all had to choose a poem that we wanted to perform and I decided to challenge myself with ‘Once More Unto the Breach Dear Friends Once More’ from Henry V.

Being 11 years old, my Mum found it amusing and bet me £50 that I wouldn’t be able to learn it off by heart in a week.  I was £50 better off by the end of the week. I remember having such a strong connection to the speech that it was a pure joy to learn, even at 11.

It was that moment I truly realised what I wanted to do and I haven’t looked back since.

Any dreadful calamities, or funny happenings on stage that you would care to share with us?

I believe the stage is a sacred space and an exciting space, as I never know what is going to happen.

The fact it is live means the unexpected can happen at any time. One of the funniest moments for me during this tour of War Horse was when I actually fell off the front of the stage.

I stepped backwards and the edge of the stage was not where I believed it to be.

I fell backwards and landed in the lap of a member of the audience on the front row. There was a gasp from the audience and then a laugh.

I simply picked myself up, climbed back onto the stage and carried on, which was met by a round of applause.

Which stage actor, living or dead, would you most like to meet, and what question would you ask them?

The stage actor I would give everything just to work with and meet would definitely have to be Laurence Olivier.

A masterclass in devotion to the craft and performance, to have been able to share the stage with him would have been an honour.

I believe the best way to learn is to watch those around you, and I’m sure learning from him would have been a privilege never to be forgotten.

The question I would love to have been able to ask him would have been: 'After you have read a script that you are due to perform for the first time, what is your first step in character preparation?'

Do you have any superstitions, or pre-performance routines?

I would say I am a superstitious actor. I believe in most of the superstitions that you have probably heard of to do with the industry, however before a show I focus primarily on my warm up.

I have a unique physical routine that I will do before every show with the aim to emotionally prepare for the rollercoaster I am about to embark on.

The character I play, Albert Narracott, wears his heart on his sleeve and to be able to fully connect to everything going on around him, I need to ensure that I am open enough to allow myself to feel how he feels.

The best piece of advice given to you when you started in the business

The best piece of advice I have been given and could ever give would simply be ‘never give up and always be true to yourself’.

This show has been my steepest learning curve by far.  It is a real challenge to work on a show as demanding as War Horse.

Performing eight times a week for 18 months is the perfect playground to explore and learn as much about my craft as possible.

The challenge is always keeping the show fresh and I am proud to think that having performed this show more than 300 times I still love it as much today as I did my first day. People often ask if it gets boring doing the same thing every day.

However, I always say that falling in love with Joey every night will never get boring. It is an honour to play such an integral part in a show that commemorates all those men and women who sacrificed so much for our future. 

Nerves or excitement? Which one takes over before the curtain rises?

Neither, yet both. As an actor I relish the nerves before the show begins because they bring me to a real state of aliveness.

The more nerves I have before the show, the more exciting it gets when I step out onto the stage in front of our audiences.

How can the future of theatre be safeguarded?  What would you do to entice new blood to audiences?

A show like War Horse is integral in safeguarding the future of theatre because it is suitable for audiences of all age groups.

It is very special when I get to meet families who have come to see the show.

Every generation, sat together, using their imaginations to bring our characters to life and to collectively remember their loved ones who may have lost their lives in the Great War.

I myself, do my utmost to ensure that young people fall in love with the theatre. I speak to students, visit their schools and give as much advice as possible to those looking to follow their dreams in the industry.

As a director once said to me, ‘it is integral that we lure young people to the theatre, otherwise our audiences will die out’.

Theatre is a means of expressing oneself and is a place where magic happens. It has the power to change people’s lives, therefore it is vital that we reach out and welcome all parts of society to enjoy the theatre.

How does it feel to be playing on your home stage, in Milton Keynes?

Funnily enough, I have never actually been to the theatre at Milton Keynes. However, that only adds to my excitement of being able to perform where I was born. Most of my family live in and around the towns in this area, so this is the venue where they will all come together to see me.

I am looking forward to doing my family proud, performing on their stage and showing them that all the support and sacrifices they have made for me have been worth it.

In a way, I feel as if I am giving something back. For me, this venue will be special.

War Horse continues at Milton Keynes Theatre until Saturday, October 6.

To book your seat click here 

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