Talking Theatre: Jessie Wallace Discusses DeathTrap

The UK tour of Ira Levin’s Tony-nominated classic thriller Deathtrap starring Paul Bradley and Jessie Wallace comes to Cardiff New Theatre during October.

A spine chiller written by the award-winning playwright and author Ira Levin, the story follows Sidney Bruhl (Paul Bradley), a once- successful writer of stage thrillers, in the grip of chronic writer’s block. Out of the blue, young playwright Clifford Anderson (Sam Phillips) sends Bruhl one of the only two copies of his brilliant new whodunit, Deathtrap.

Desperate to set Broadway alight once more, Sidney spies his chance to invite Clifford to his remote country home. and to bring the only other copy of Deathtrap with him! If Bruhl can kill the newcomer and pass the play off as his own, he could once again be the toast of Broadway.
Playing Bruhl’s wife Myra in the play is actress Jessie Wallace, best known for her role as Kat Moon in EastEnders.

“Myra tries to talk him out of it and suggest Why don’t you collaborate with this man?” Jessie tells Andy Howells, “My characters got a heart disorder so there’s a lot of nervous acting going on.”

The production will be mid-way through a 12 venue UK tour when it reaches Cardiff and is already been well received by audiences across the country.

Jessie continues, “They’re loving it, you hear people jumping out of their seats at certain parts of the play. There’s lots of twist and turns and when you think you’ve sussed it something else happens and you hear the audience reacting to that.”

Has the role posed any challenges for Jessie?

“Maybe grasping the American accent but hopefully I’ve got it now!” she says.

  • Deathtrap runs at Cardiff New Theatre from October 10 – 14. Call 029 2087 8889 for details.

%d