What was it like working on a television set?
Very exciting! There are a million people all around you making things
happen. There’s a great team mentality that everyone has their own
piece to fit into the puzzle to make the show what it is. When the
final product arrives and it’s just the actors that everyone sees, it’s
very easy to forget how many people have been behind the camera
working tirelessly, long after the actors have left the work room. There
can be long hours, but just like any job the people you are with make
all the difference.
Where did production of Molly and Mack take place, and how
long were you involved in the production?
We filmed in various locations round Scotland, but the show is set
under the Firth of Forth bridge in the fictitious ‘Bridgetown’. We filmed
over seven weeks.
Are there any special stories you can share with us from the set?
The scenes with the animals were always eventful. For episode 4 – ‘No
Pets Allowed’ - we had two puppies to play the part of ‘Little Mo’, in
case one got restless during a take. Now and again they were allowed
to roam around on the floor and everyone would just stop what they
were doing to play with them. They were so cute and distracting. So
those scenes took ages!
You are starring alongside fellow QMU graduates, James
Mackenzie and Katrina Bryan, both of whom have gone on to
star in shows like ‘River City’, ‘Nina and the Neurons’, and even
a rather infamous Irn Bru television advertisement (naming the
baby, anyone?!). What’s it like appearing on-screen alongside
fellow members of the QMU family?
It’s lovely to look up to and learn from James and Katrina who have
gone on to achieve great things. I grew up watching James in CBBC’s
‘Raven’ so I was really excited to be working with him. Katrina is
such a warm, kind person and we just all got along well. It’s nice to
see that even though years have passed since they were students
together, they still remain good friends. It just shows how strong the
bonds you make at uni are.
What would be your dream role? Or where would you like to
see your career take you?
My dream role would be anything at the Royal Shakespeare Company
(RSC). I’d love to reprise Rosalind one day, professionally. Also musical
theatre, since that’s what I started off doing growing up. I’d love to
be in ‘Hamilton’ or ‘Heathers’.
It will be my first full year outside of education so it’s important to look
at that optimistically, especially in this unpredictable industry when
you never know what the future holds. But I’m really grateful for all
the opportunities I’ve had since graduating and am ready to embrace
whatever is around the corner. ❒
Andrew John Tait, Danielle Jam and Ali Watt in 'It Wisnae Me',
A Play, Pie and a Pint at Oran Mor. Photo by Jamie Sim
James Mackenzie,
BA (Hons) Acting
James graduated from Queen Margaret University
College in 2002 from the BA (Hons) Acting programme.
He has worked for many theatre companies including
the National Theatre of Scotland, Dundee Rep, The
Tron, The Royal Lyceum Theatre, Stellar Quines,
Oran Mor, Random Accomplice and has performed
throughout the country in a wide range of productions
from Macbeth to Sunshine On Leith the Musical.
His TV credits include ‘River City’ (series regular Gary
Trenton), ‘Danni’s House’, ‘Still Game’, ‘Rebus’, and
‘Taggart’. He is perhaps best known for playing the
lead in the double BAFTA award winning CBBC series
‘Raven’, which ran from 2002-2010. ❒
Katrina Bryan,
BA Acting
Katrina graduated from Queen Margaret University
College in 2001 from the BA Acting programme.
She has starred in a host of well-known Scottish
productions, including ‘Taggart’, ‘Nina and the
Neurons’, ‘Rab C Nesbitt’, ‘See You, See Me’ and
‘Sea of Souls’.
She also appeared in an Irn-Bru advert where she
names her newborn baby Fanny, much to the shock
of the baby’s father. ❒
Chiara Sparkes and Danielle 'Jam in The Snow Queen' at
Dundee Rep. Photo by Tommy Ga-Ken Wan
QMYOU / Student Interview
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