SPOTLIGHT ON... PHIL JONES

We're heading over to West Lindsey, and an in-depth chat with local creative Phil Jones...

Q. Where in Lincolnshire are you based, and what was your first ever live performance that you participated in? 

"We are based in Gainsborough in Lincolnshire and the Old Nick Theatre in Spring Gardens is our home base. The first live performance at the theatre that I participated in was a play called 'You're Only Young Twice' in 2015 where I played the part of a pensioner who had found a new lease of life through finding love after the loss of his wife."

Phil Jones (c) Phil Jones

Q. What was it that first drew you to the local theatre/arts scene? Has it been a constant in your life, or was there a hiatus due to work/life commitments? What sparked or, indeed, re-ignited your interest?

"I first started to get involved in the theatre as a way of meeting people and making connections outside of work. My job was very full-on and it proved to be a great way of interacting and getting to know and work with people in a completely different environment. It has in many ways remained a constant in my life, wherever I've lived I've always sought out the local theatre scene, and finding ways to fit rehearsals in around work commitments. There is a special bond that forms between people who work in theatre and perform for the public which I've found build into long term friendship. I think it's the fact that each night you take risks and rely so completely on others to support you, that this creates a level of trust unlike anything else. The lockdowns stopped everything as everyone knows and we were mid-production when the theatre had to close down. However as soon as we could we were back and launched a brand new original play to welcome the audience back and signal Workhouse Players had returned."

Q. Quite simply, give me three words that describe what theatre means to you.

"Inspiring, welcoming, fun."

Q. Workhouse Players... Can you talk us through how the company came about, and what it strives to do for the community?

"The company began when I met Gill Blow during the production of 'You're Only Young Twice'. We became friends during the rehearsals and she asked me to read some of her monologues with a view to performing them. She had written around 12 and we built our first performance 'Take 7' around 7 of these stories which we developed into a performance. We used multiple actors and found that we quickly developed an audience who were ready to be engaged by stories taken as snap shots of different people's lives told over the course of and evening. We took this on tour and it proved popular. The company was born from this and we then went further and wrote full length original plays, helping to develop local talent as writers, actors and stage crew. The theatre company has now grown considerably and we have an active and very engaged group of followers and supporters who fill the theatre and support us around the county."

Q. What's been your favourite Workhouse production thus far?

"I think it would have to be a play called 'The Leading Man'. It was the play that we chose to perform as a welcome back  to the audience after the lock downs were lifted and it was the first full length play that Workhouse players had produced and the first play I had written. It was a story very personal to me about the way in which certain tabloid papers had sensationalised the AIDS epidemic and demonised the gay community during the 1980's. It was principally a two hander and it was met with a nightly standing ovation and full houses and that really set workhouse players off on what has been a fascinating and very rewarding journey."

Q. What is the current production you're involved in, and your role within the company?

"The current production is a double bill. The first half 'Four Told' are three monologues and one duologue which tell very different stories about five fascinating characters. There is the odd and unsettling meeting in a hospital grounds between a recently bereaved woman and an old man with special needs who achieve and kind of peace in one another's company. The second in the story of Marty who, after his mother's funeral finally reveals the secret about her he's been keeping for decades. Then there is the woman who carries a burden of guilt that she can never admit to and finally Beryl who after getting stuck in a dress in the fitting room of a dress shop decides to go out and learn the Argentine Tango. The second half is a one act play 'The World and Everything Else', which tells the story of Julius, the finance minister of Baldavia who finds himself confronted by losing the election and facing the new prime minster who holds him to account for his failures. It's a satire based closely on events in this country over the last decade and presents a sharp commentary on the state of our democracy and trust in politics. It's also very funny. I am playing the old man in the first duologue and I wrote, directed and am performing in 'The World and Everything Else'.

Poster design (c) Workhouse Players

Q. Talk me through 'FourTold' and 'The World And Everything Else'... What can audience members expect?

"Laughs, a fair bit of pathos, unexpected twists, excellent story telling and relatable moments that should have them groaning in recognition.  We think they'll go away having had a great night in the theatre."

Q. How can be people be kept up to date with all the Workhouse productions and news?

"Everything is on our website: www. workhouseplayers.co.uk.  as well as Tik-Tok, Instagram and Facebook. We produce newsletters and tickets can be booked for all performances through there."

Phil Jones (c) Phil Jones

Q. What are the other Workhouse productions on the horizon?

"Our big Christmas production will be 'A Munching Christmas' and will be running at the Old Nick from the 9th to the 13th December. It's a comedy romp telling the story of the Much Munching players based in the small village of Much Munching and their attempts to put on their Christmas play; whilst also fighting against a property developer who wants to knock down their performance space and the new director who wants to present and searing social commentary on the ills of modern day life to an audience of famers. Should be fun!

It has a cast of 11 so we are making use of almost all of our actors, many of whom have developed their skills alongside the company as we have grown.

Next year we've been asked to run 'The Leading Man' again and that will be happening in April and the summer production is 'She Sits' which tells the story of two women who tell the same stories from very different perspectives. 

Q. Back to this week at the Old Nick Theatre, could you give me one popular song title that describes the double-bill experience for the audience. NB. It doesn't have to be a song in the show, but it may well be.

"As it's a double feature for Four Told I would choose 'When we were young' by Adele.

For 'the world and Everything Else' I can only really choose the 'Baldavian National Anthem' played by the Baldavian Emergency  Austerity Orchestra and which was written and produced for this play by our in house musical wonder 'Gribbles'." 

Tickets for the double-bill plays (Friday 18th July & Saturday 19th July 7.30pm) can be purchased via the link below.

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