Since graduating in 2019, promising young actor, Rose Quentin has already filmed a leading role in the upcoming horror film, York Witches Society for MSR Media, and created the role of Katrina Van Tassel in the current nationwide tour of The Legend of Sleepy Hollow, a new play from writer Philip Meeks. On the road since the end of September, she, and the play, arrive at the King’s Theatre, Edinburgh, on the 8th November, playing through to the 13th
Rose was kind enough to sit down for a quick chat, between performances, to tell me more about the show, and about her burgeoning career on stage and screen.
[Me} So, what are the Cliffs notes on Rose Quentin? What makes you, or what made you, the actor you are today?
[Rose] I graduated in 2019: this is my first big job, which is super exciting. I trained in musical theatre, so the show [The Legend of Sleepy Hollow] was particularly interesting. My mum’s an actress too, so I suppose it’s nice to have someone in the family who does it also.
I actually completed a horror film last month, so it seems I can’t escape!
[Me] And did you ever consider any other career?
[Rose] Really sad but I’d say no! Mum always said, “you can do whatever you want, be a lawyer, a doctor, anything! But no, I wanted to do this; you could say it’s the only career I ever considered. It’s nice to finally be doing it.
[Me] So you’ve been on tour since September, so this a deep dive into the theatrical world, how has that been?
[Rose] It’s been great, because it is new work, and it’s been such a creative process; everyone’s been so encouraging, and it’s great for my first one.
I’ve learned so much. We’ve all been collaborating to help create the show.
[Me] Now, why did you want to be involved in this production of Sleepy Hollow?
Well, when it came up, and I read the script, I immediately thought it was interesting, and not something done before. That, and I’d just done a horror movie, so I suppose I was in the groove. There’s great storytelling involved, and right now, audiences want to escape from reality, and into something quite fantastical. It’s a good part for me, you could say that’s a little selfish, but there’s lots to do, and to get my teeth into!
[Me] And, how is Philip Meek’s new take on the story bringing something new to it? After all, quite a significant part of your audience will think they know the score pretty well?
[Rose] I mean it’s more true to what the village of the time, would have been like, heavy on community, and on traditions. Then you have the feeling of Ichabod Crane, the protagonist, coming in and feeling like an outsider.
In this take on Sleepy Hollow, the relationships between the characters are different, Katrina is less a parasol twirling clilche, and more a girl of the land, boisterous, and practical. Bronn (her erstwhile suitor) takes more of the traditionally feminine qualities. So, it [the play] plays with the typical expectations of love stories and such.
There are lots of Hammer horror references, Phil loves Hammer and the weird paranormal qualities of those films. For people who like horror, they should find quite a few references creeping in.
[Me] And what would you say have been the biggest challenges of bringing your role of Katrina to stage?
[Rose] Katrina van Tassel, she is lots of fun to play, because she is very, erm, confident, but I can’t necessarily say what I don’t like about her without revealing a plot point. But she has a great arc in who she is. She’s so much fun to play every night, because of journey she goes on.
[Me] Have you had any memorable moments on tour so far? Would you say the performance, and yours in particular, has evolved, or changed since you got underway back in September?
[Rose] Yeah, first of all, everyone’s relaxed more, and our relationships have grown closer, so it actually feels more like a village community.
We’ve had lots of lovely audiences. The first school group we had in sticks out. I suppose when we get older, we stop laughing, like we need permission. When kids are in, it gives everyone that permission, and more freedom to react as they want, big or small, however we feel.
[Me] How have your fellow cast members been to work and tour with? Is continual exposure to each other breeding affection, or are you all swearing blood oaths not to see each other again for at least 30 years?
[Rose] We hate each other! Joke! Actually, we really get on, yeah, I couldn’t have asked for a lovelier cast…I suppose that means I’m the horrible one! I’ve been very lucky, they’re all so very hard working. Very boringly, then, they’re all lovely. It could be me, of course, maybe I’m the rotten on, but we all get on so well, and I hope it translates onto stage.
[Me] So, obviously, there are two well know/or well-kent as we say up here faces in the cast. Has working with Wendi Peters, and Bill Ward, inspired you to look for work on Coronation street or in Albert Square?
[Rose] Well yeah, but they still are wonderful to work with, just watching and observing their ways. Wendi (Peters) and Bill (Ward) have done lots of theatre, and it’s great having two more mature, worldly people in the cast to show what has worked and hasn’t in the past. I suppose it helps with the fine tuning, particularly for younger cast members, who can really benefit from that refining influence, to balance out the adrenaline and the like.
[Me] What’s next for Rose Quentin? Where can we see you next? If you found a bottle on the beach, and it duly produced an affable genie, what project, part, or show would you ask for?
Hopefully somewhere, or something else! I’m on tour till March, and hopefully things will go well till then, and after.
In 2023, I think, I’m going to do a play with my mum, so that’s a bit in the future, but hopefully it’s happening. Other than that, well, maybe not another horror, or maybe I’ll not be able to escape it now! Maybe horror’s in my system!
©MSR Media
Talking of that, it was a great time with the horror film (York Witches’ Society currently in post-production for MSR Media) playing Jessica, my first job right out of drama school. It was shot in York, and it’s about young women, a witches society, getting killed off one by one. The other girls were all so lovely, I’ve really been very lucky with the people I’ve worked with. There was lots of blood on that set — not quite so much in Sleepy Hollow — but there’s certainly screaming, and I guarantee a few shocks!
[Me]What’s the last thing you do before you step out on stage / the curtain goes up?
[Rose] That depends, really: taking a deep breath, normally we’ll say, “go well,” or “have a good show,” maybe touch arms. It’s a close cast, always encouraging, saying “well done” after. There’s only 6 of us, and I’m really enjoying the whole experience.
[Me] And when the curtain comes down, what will the audience be thinking when they’re walking out of the King’s Theatre? Do they need tranquilizers at the ready?
[Rose] I think they will be thinking…hmmm…it’s very intricate, there are stories within stories, but hopefully in a way the audience can get on board with. We’re playing with narrative traditions, and I think they’ll be wondering if there was trickery or not, if things happened the way it seemed, and what happened next. You know, in Irving’s original, you never really know what happens to Ichabod Crane in the end, so we’re doubling down on that. They’ll be wondering if things were real, or not.
I think they’ll have positive feelings though! The show isn’t too scary, well yes, there are a couple of jump scares, but it’s all fun, honest!
[Me]Lastly, who’s your favourite actor, and would you like to be them, or be like them, when you grow up?
You know what, I don’t know. Always admired Kate Winslet, ‘cause I’m sat in a Leisure Centre (the show is currently playing in Oldham), surrounded by water and my name’s Rose!
I see so many incredibly people these days, so it’s hard to pick just one. I take something from everyone I see, good or bad. I’m at a stage where I like most of everything and want to be involved in more and more things. I’m just excited for my next project whatever it is.
[Me] Well it’s been wonderful to talk to you, and thanks so much for making the time. Is there anything else you’d like to add before we wrap up?
[Rose] Well, this show is a very fun, storytelling piece, which revolves all around stories telling and their telling, and the kind of fantasy that emerges from that. The programme, you’ll see, has a comic strip feeling to it as well.
In the end, if people enjoy it, that’s our job done.
It’s actually going to be my first time in Edinburgh! I worked with a girl from Edinburgh on the film and was told it would be great. When I booked the job, I was looking through all the places I’d be going, and Edinburgh was the place I was most excited about. My Dad’s going to come up and see me whilst I’m here.
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It was a real pleasure to talk with Rose, who is clearly having a ball on tour with the show. In my experience there’s a regular correlation between how much a cast enjoys life behind the scenes, and how much an audience should look forward to curtain up. I’m looking forward to the show’s arrival at the King’s theatre, and you can catch my review of it shortly thereafter.
You can find tickets and more about the show’s imminent arrival in Edinburgh here.
Not based in Edinburgh? No problem, you can find details on the nationwide tour here.
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