Richard Jackson stars in one-man show at Oliver’s Village Café in Belsize Lane
Published: 18th November, 2010
by DAN CARRIER
ALL the world’s a stage, thespians like to say, and for actor Richard Jackson it couldn’t be more true.
Working in a café in Belsize Village has given him the chance to write and produce a show – as he has based it in the place he grafts each day to pay the bills between jobs.
The former drama student at the Central School of Speech and Drama is showing his one-man play at Oliver’s Village Café this week – after deciding that instead of waiting for calls from his agent, he’d use his time serving behind the counter to perform.
Richard said: “I have been running the coffee shop since leaving drama school a year ago.
“I used to go into there as a student and then started working while between jobs.
“Last year was quite quiet for me as an actor so I thought, while working here I should use the space and make the most of it.”
Richard and his drama school friend Natasha James wrote and produced the play, called Served, for their theatre company C54. It is about four different customers, all played by Richard. While gearing up for his first performance, tonight (Thursday), he added: “The technical aspects of doing this are quite limited – it is a working café – but it is also handy as we don’t have to worry about props, as it is set in a café.”
• Served runs from November 17-20 and November 22-25 at Oliver’s Village Café, 92 Belsize Lane, NW3.