Alumna Storme Toolis, who studied BA (Hons) Drama and English and American Literature, was interviewed on BBC Radio 4 this morning, Tuesday 24 September, about her performance in the latest West End revival of A Day in the Death of Joe Egg by playwright Peter Nichols.
A Day in the Death of Joe Egg was inspired by the author’s own experience of raising his daughter. The play tells the story of a couple as they raise their only child Josephine, affectionately nicknamed ‘Joe Egg’, who has cerebral palsy.
Storme, who takes on the titular role, is the first disabled actor to play the part in the West End’s history. The play also feature Toby Stephens (Oslo, Lost in Space), Claire Skinner (Outnumbered) and Patricia Hodge (Miranda, National Theatre’s Money).
Storme says: ‘[The role] is something that I was interested in. My impairment and [the character’s] impairment are quite different so it did present a few challenges for me, psychologically and emotionally as an actor, but at the same time it’s an incredible story, it’s a really funny and moving piece of theatre’.
When asked about whether she’s found it difficult to find roles, Storme says: ‘it is challenging when you have a disability, but also in the last 4 or 5 years disability has become much more prevalent in the Arts’.
The Radio 4 interview is available on BBC Sounds at the link below. The segment featuring Storme starts at approx. 2 hours and 50 minutes into the broadcast: www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/m0008nvq
Storme also appeared on The One Show on Monday 16 September. Storme said of the role: ‘It’s challenging, rewarding, and I’ve had so much fun’.
The full episode of The One Show is available on BBC iPlayer at the link below. Storme appears throughout the programme: www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/m0008l3y/the-one-show-16092019
A Day in the Death of Joe Egg will run at Trafalgar Studios until Saturday 30 Nov 2019. Tickets for the play are available here: www.atgtickets.com/shows/a-day-in-the-death-of-joe-egg/trafalgar-studios/