Queen Vic to Henry V

James Alexandrou, right, photographed by Barrie Foster

James Alexandrou may be known as mouthy, stroppy Eastender Martin Fowler but the 22-year-old actor is anything but. He’s down-to-earth and self-deprecating – although refuses to talk about his relationship with Kara Tointon, his former co-star who plays Dawn Swann on the show - and is now swapping cockney capers for polished vowels and swordplay in his theatre and Shakepearean debut.

James left the hit BBC soap back in February – although he says ‘never say never’ to going back – and is starring in the Britsh Theatre Company’s summer, open –air  tour  ( i amazingly it hasn’t rained on a performance yet ) of Henry V ( playing Pistol)  and As You Like It ( playing  Orlando)
He’s relishing the baptism of fire.

 “I was on EastEnders for 11 years and wanted to do something different. I did my first audition ( for the play)  and it was awful but I begged my agent to let me try again and the second audition was much better, thankfully.”

How does being on a soap ( when he was in ‘Enders Martin killed Sonia’s husband Jamie, married the grieving widow,  she left him for another woman then mum Pauline carked it in the Square)  compare to treading the boards?
“ The main difference with being on-stage is that you can’t mess it up!
On TV you can go again and again – although we didn’t have rehearsal on EastEnders so having two weeks for the plays was a luxury.
And in theatre every performance is different, you react to the audience.”

James was catapulted to a mass market and fame aged 11 but now he’s entered a very different world.
“ I haven’t pissed off the snobs yet!” he laughs.
 It’s welcome, though, that theatre is attracting an increasing number of telly actors, and, as a result, opening up to a bigger and new audience.

“If my mediocre celebrity can get more bums on seats then that’s great,” asserts James.
“ But you have to know what you’re doing. It’s not the same as putting a reality star into a musical.
I struggled with Shakespeare’s language at first. I went in with the arrogant attitude that I could say it my own way and make it great, but that didn’t work.
There’s the rythmn of his language, it’s guided – it’s all wanky actors stuff – but that brings out the emotions of the characters. It’s quite a revelation. Now, I’ve immersed myself in it, it’s like second nature.”

What do all his former EastEnd mates think about him going all posh?
“They’re coming to see me, it’s quite a long way for them but they’re being really supportive.”
And does he keep up with the goings on in Albert Square?
“ It’s weird watching it as an outsider, but it’s nice to see what’s happening.
“ I saw someone else on my fruit and veg stall and I thought, ‘who’s that?’
I’m still quite protective of it.”

Loma-Ann Bonner


Kirkstall Abbey Cloisters, Kirkstall Abbey, Leeds  at the 13th Leeds Shakespeare Festival
Tuesday 24 July to Saturday 18 August 2007
Box Office: 0113 224 3801;

Wadham College, Oxford
Tuesday 21 to Sunday 26 August 2007
Box Office: 01865 305 305

For more information visit www.britishshakespearecompany.co.uk

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