The Corona Diaries: Adam Pearce

These recent times have been some of the hardest challenges we've faced and as a community, it hit us pretty hard. However during these difficult times, here at Pocket Size Theatre, we wanted to spread a little positivity and share some peoples experiences because we are all in this together. Each day we'll be speaking to our friends in the industry to share their experiences with you all so take a read and see how people are getting through these hard times.

Let's stick together, share the love and get through this as a community!

*Some information mentioned in this article may be out of date due to the progress of the current situation. Please keep that in mind when reading* 

Adam Pearce is currently playing Hotep in The Prince of Egypt at the Dominion Theatre. His other credits include Augustin Magaldi in Evita (Regents Park); ‘Viktor’ original cast of Local Hero (Lyceum, Edinburgh); Max Von Mayerling in Sunset Boulevard (UK and European Tour); understudy Javert and Thenardier in Les Misérables (Queen's); Officer Barrel in Urinetown (Other Palace); Octavious Crabbe in The Light Princess (National Theatre); understudy Judge Turpin in Sweeney Todd (Adelphi & Chichester); Squelch in Love Never Dies (Adelphi); Knights Of The Rose (Arts); Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat (Adelphi); Alice in Wonderland (West Yorkshire Playhouse) and Evita (Adelphi).

On Monday 16th March 2020, The Society of London Theatre announced the closure of all Theatres in London. This followed suit with regional venues. Where were you when you found out and what was your initial reaction?

I was on stage at the Dominion Theatre. We had just finished warm-up and our lovely Resident Director Lauren and Dance Captain Rachael were reading our the Show set up for the evening show. Then we started to see all departments (Wigs, wardrobe etc.) joining us on stage (never a good sign).

We knew deep down it was going to happen, but not as sudden. Maybe over the week or something, but not straight away. There was a feeling of emptiness, gutted and shock. Me and Silas went up to the dressing room to chat, trying to make sense of it. But I knew I just needed to get home with my wife Anita and Son Henry.

Can you tell us anything productive you’ve been doing?

Well, it has been a very productive few weeks. Just after we officially opened, I downloaded a game on my computer called Football Manager and I'm very pleased to say, that I'm doing pretty darn well at it! I started the season as Tottenham and guided them to 3 Premiership Titles and 2 Champions League titles. I left on a high, and went to relegation contenders Portsmouth, but helped them survive. Now, very pleased to say with a Euro Cup to their name, I finished 4th in the Premiership. Thrilled.

REVIEW: Sunset Boulevard at The New Victoria Theatre, Woking

Following on from Sunset Boulevard’s smash-success run at the ENO, Andrew Lloyd Webber’s much-loved musical has been touring the UK with a magnificent 16 piece orchestra. We follow struggling writer, Joe Gillis, on his quest to create a movie script which will get his name in the Hollywood history books. On his way, he meets Norma Desmond – once upon a time, a Silent Screen starlet, whose light is somewhat fading as films in Hollywood progress. Desperate to launch her return to film and fame, she shows Joe a screen-play she has been developing: a mish-mash mess about Salome – in which the aging Desmond plans to play the 16-year-old lead…. Needless to say, the plot doesn’t sit too well with Gillis, so he agrees to work with Desmond to re-write the screenplay and launch her return to the industry. In time, their relationship becomes blurred and Desmond begins to emotionally blackmail Gillis, threatening suicide and damnation if he leaves her. The story escalates and climaxes with a series of dramatic eventualities at her home, 10086 Sunset Boulevard. 

As Norma Desmond is Ria Jones, who made headlines when understudying Glen Close at the ENO in the same role. I had the pleasure of hearing her sing at the WhatsOnStage Awards last February and she received a full standing ovation after just one number. In Sunset Boulevard, she is utterly compelling and gripping as Norma. The power of her performance came from deep within her. Her eyes were so expressive that her inner monologue was almost audible. “As If We Never Said Goodbye” is one of my all-time favourite Musical Theatre songs, and the version I heard last night is my new definitive rendition. Moving and emotionally harrowing – it was perfection.