Baggage, we’ve all got it. Holdalls, laptop bags, rucksacks with an unexplained stain in the bottom. But this new production at the Arts theatre is not a show about suitcases, rather a drama about dating, focusing more on emotional baggage than its physical counterpart… which makes much more sense.
Written by college friends John Muirhead and Mike Charlesworth, Baggage is a story of friendship and internet dating, drawing inspiration and a little content from the pair’s own personal life.
At Official London Theatre, we needed no more of an excuse than that to delve into the dating dos, don’ts, peccadilloes and disasters of the show’s cast, Richard Mylan, Suzanne Shaw, Charlie De’Ath, Nicola Stapleton, Polly Eachas and Dan Wilder:
Describe yourself in six words.
Mylan: Welsh, curly, foolish, happy, music-lover.
Shaw: Fun, don’t take life too seriously. Love spending time with my son but also enjoy a good night out with friends.
De’Ath: Always available for drinks and fun.
Stapleton: Petite, loyal, naughty, overly tidy, dog-lover.
Wilder: Outlandish bandersnatch fop ready to dance.
Eachus: Lively thoughtful fun childish curious and slightly silly.
What is the most important characteristic you look for in a partner?
Mylan: Emotional maturity, prob cos I lack it.
Shaw: Someone who makes me laugh. That’s important for me (oh and looks like Johnny Depp).
De’Ath: Fun.
Stapleton: Has to make me laugh!
Wilder: Someone who is comfortable in their own skin. I applaud nudity.
Eachus: Someone with a sense of adventure who doesn’t take themselves too seriously and laughs easily and often.
What would your ideal date be?
Mylan: Someone like Nelly Furtado.
Shaw: Night out to the theatre, then dinner and drinks.
De’Ath: Blonde.
Stapleton: Good food, good company!
Wilder:1592 at the Globe with a muse.
Eachus: Ewan McGregor, helicopter rides, champers, fireworks, gifts, sunsets and surprises. I don’t ask for much!
What is the worst dating experience you have had?
Mylan: Being stood up!
Shaw: Bored to the point of sleep!
De’Ath: No such thing as a bad date, variety is the spice of life.
Stapleton: Met a DJ in a dark club, arranged a date, looked very different in daylight! Was very short date, boring as hell! I may as well have had his earphones on!
Wilder: The Norwegian with the cheek piercing.
Eachus: He didn’t speak English and I nearly choked to death on a piece of steak.
Why should audiences come and see Baggage?
Mylan: Cos we’ve all got it!
Shaw: It will be plenty of fun and very real. You will love it.
De’Ath: A great night in under two hours and we’ll have a drink with you afterwards!
Stapleton: Cos it’s great!
Wilder: We’ve packed in an assortment of human tribulation to this journey of a play.
Eachus: Because its nice for the actors to have someone to play to!