Laura Redpath chats with Emily Raymond, who plays Mrs Danvers
in the stage adaptation of Daphne du Maurier’s Rebecca
SO WHAT IS REBECCA ABOUT?
I think Rebecca is about loss and finding oneself. A young woman with no family falls in love with an older man whose wife has died recently. On returning to his family home after the wedding, she finds that her husband’s dead wife has a far stronger hold on her husband and the house than she had imagined. The story unfolds with many twists and turns – spooky and scary in equal measure – but she emerges as a changed woman as a result.
DID YOU READ THE BOOK OR SEE ALFRED HITCHCOCK’S FILM? WHAT DID YOU THINK OF THE STORY?
I did read the book many years ago and re-read it before rehearsals began. If a play that I am doing is based on a book then I will always read it, as it holds so much information about the thoughts and world of the character I’m playing.
Normally, I wouldn’t watch any screen version. However, in this case, I did, as I felt the film was so iconic that I needed it as a reference point. I then tried to forget everything but the script and character that had been adapted for the show.
WHAT ATTRACTED YOU TO THE ROLE OF MRS DANVERS?
I have found playing the role of Mrs Danvers very interesting and enjoyable. I like to try to work out what makes someone who they are and act the way they do, so playing someone as enigmatic and damaged as her has been challenging, but very satisfying and fun.
HOW DID YOU GET IN TO ACTING?
Both my parents are actors, so it was a profession that was very familiar to me. However, when I went to drama school, I discovered for myself how fulfilling a career might be, so I embarked on that path, over 25 years ago now.
WHAT’S YOUR FAVOURITE STAGE PLAY?
I have always loved doing Shakespeare and although I haven’t been in it, I think that The Winter’s Tale is one of my favourite plays. Hard to chose, though.
IN WHICH VENUE DO YOU MOST LIKE PERFORMING?
I like performing in different venues, so in that respect a tour suits me as I love arriving at a new theatre and getting a feel of what the stage is like to play and the history of the theatre, etc. But if I had to chose one space, it would probably be The Swan in Stratford-upon-Avon, both to play and to watch.
IF YOU COULD PLAY ANY CHARACTER DURING YOUR
CAREER, WHO WOULD IT BE?
As I say, I love Shakespeare. I have performed in many of his plays. But, as the years go by, I have to say goodbye to some of the roles I would have loved to do – Rosalind in As You Like It, for example. But I would love to play
Lady Macbeth one day and I think I could probably still get away with playing Beatrice in Much Ado About Nothing.
WHAT’S IN STORE FOR YOU AFTER REBECCA?
The tour of Rebecca finishes in December and I haven’t got anything lined up for when that’s finished – fingers crossed, something exciting will come up – but the not knowing is part and parcel of being an actor.
Rebecca runs at HM Theatre from Monday, October 26, to Saturday, October 31. Tickets are available from www.aberdeenperformingarts.com