Behind the scenes with Matthew Bevan

We interviewed the cast and crew of Another Life to offer a sneak peek into the characters, the writing process and more.

Behind the scenes with Matthew Bevan large

Matthew Bevan plays Lo, an elderly Chinese man who has lived in the UK most of his life and wants to share his wisdom.

Why did you decide to audition for this role?

Writing that captures these types of perspectives is very rare in the UK right now, and I couldn’t resist the opportunity to get involved!

Tell us a bit more about your character?

Lo is an elderly Chinese immigrant who has lived in the UK most of his life, building a successful career in the takeaway food industry. He’s pushing 70 and has reached a point where he has begun to reflect on his life and the choices he’s made. He’s a fan of Chinese food, brightly coloured shirts and Clint Eastwood!

What was your first impression of the script?

After my first read, I was incredibly excited. It’s hard these days to find East Asian characters presented in such a real and humanising way, and this script manages to do just that.

How did you feel about performing in a play that is based on real-life testimonies?

Terrified that the person who gave the testimony might be in the audience!

Who would you like to see in the audience and what would you like them to take away from the experience (without revealing any spoilers!)?

Firstly, I’d love to see young creatives from East and Southeast Asian backgrounds in the audience.

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Growing up here, I was never able to see people with East Asian heritage on stage and I think that seeing people who look like you telling stories you can relate to can be impactful.

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I’d also love to see some people from British backgrounds as well! The script does a great job of capturing the lived experience of immigrants in this country, which they might not have encountered before.

Is there a particular scene in the play that really excited you? If yes, why?

We’ve got some dynamic and interesting movement sequences in the play that I really love. I can’t give too much away, but I really love the choreography we’ve been working with to build different environments and tell certain parts of the story!

Tell us a little-known fact about yourself?

I’m really into animals, and my favourite ones are shrimp! I can’t eat them because of this.

What should people who enjoyed this play and are interested in Chinese culture see next? Any plays or films you would recommend?

I’d keep an eye out for whatever Haley Yiu and Yanni Ng end up doing next! They’ve proven themselves to be great theatre makers throughout the rehearsal process, and I’m sure they’re going to continue to create some really great work!