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Daniel Dercksen shares a few thoughts with Neels van Jaarsveld, who delivers a stunning performance in Boks.
Tell me something about the character you play in Boks?
I play a boxer called Tiaan Roelofse. The play starts off basically where he is preparing for his big punch-up. We've South Africanised it a little bit because it was a play written by two British playwrights - struggling actors actually - Quentin, my fellow actor and a friend of his (Teon Nel) translated it into a Parow/Goodwood scenario. This boxer, if he beats this guy he goes professional, and then he will go to Joburg. He has this friend that goes with him, his trainer, but there is a little bit of a twist in the story. They have different lives but they are so close to each other and mean so much to each other. I think it is one of the most challenging characters I've played in my life because I had to physically box and things like that. It's quite difficult to maintain that over the years, but I think we did okay and come out convincingly well.
I saw the English version of this play (Cock and Bull Story) but this translation absolutely bursts to life.
I also think it is a great translation. We also worked on the translation while we were on it. I take my hat off to them.
How do you relate to the character you play?
I think the director, Marthinus Basson, was interested in creating a character that had a charm and naivety. I stand to be corrected, but I think I might have that same sort of charm. I make little jokes, and am slightly vulnerable at times, and make jokes to get past being uncomfortable. It's weird how you grow into a character; you've got to think what it is this guy wants otherwise it will fail. You've got to make it believable. There's nowhere to run because it's such a raw, open space and such a blank canvas. If you've got the wrong colours or the wrong pen you are not going to be successful.
What attracted you to the play, to play this role?
I haven't been in a two-hander for a very long time and it's always exciting working with Marthinus Basson and Quentin, which I think is one of the best actors in South Africa we have. Not only is he a formidable actor, he also edits and writes and directs. He's an all-round actor, which I think is the right way to go in South Africa. For me it was an exciting journey, an experiment almost to see if I can look the part, and also fit the part. Not only psychologically was there this growth period, but I was also physically trained. I'm not saying that I am in tip-top physical condition but I do think I do look like I could be a boxer, as I think is the main concern.
You work in different mediums - in theatre and television - what medium to you prefer?
I get that question a lot and I have been thinking about it a lot lately. I reckon I don't really prefer one cause they're so different. It's like riding a wave in the ocean but using a surfboard and then maybe a body board, but you are still riding the wave. I would not be able to make a decision about those two because they are so different and exciting. I think at this moment in my life it's just nice to have the opportunity to actually have work. It sounds bizarre, but that's the bottom line. There are some great actors that are really struggling. It's quite an interesting occupation to be an actor specifically if you don't have work because it affects you personally. People are still people, we still have hearts. It might look like we live these wonderful lives but there's a small percentage of actors that actually make it, or make a living from it. So, for me, I'd like to do everything basically.
What excites you about live theatre?
I do think that you can actually read your audience, you can play your audience, and you can feel them. I haven't been on stage in a very long time. When we opened with the play 'Verkeer' - the other play we did - I was ridiculously nervous. It was a very strange experience for me because all of a sudden you know that you're not going to get a second chance. In theatre you don't have a second chance. It's exciting, and it scared me a lot this time. Realistically it can be quite frightening, but is still exciting too.
This play is also a particularly draining experience, emotionally?
Definitely. Obviously you get to a point when you get to that specific emotion that you have to unleash, or to perform, you tap into a previous time but it still takes a lot from you. I think it's quite interesting where you can get so connected with a character that what he does affects you, and also you have to repeat it night after night. In essence it's basically a re-enaction but you've got to keep it fresh as it happens in the moment, in the now. It makes it all very exciting to be an actor or on stage because you know the play so well but you've got to keep it fresh.
What do you hope audiences will get from watching the play?
Hopefully they are surprised at the calibre of theatre in South Africa. Hopefully they will be touched by it or taken on a journey without looking at the mechanics of the play. It's an experience for them that they can hold on to and think about it. If it has an affect on them, regardless of what it is, I think that will be positive. It's really a privilege being a part of it and I think people should see it.
What's next after Boks?
I'm still doing Binnelanders. I'm going to play a doctor for a while again. And then a two hander with Zane Meas, a comedy where I play a stupid mechanic, called Biere op die Bank. That's going to be funny.
It must be quite interesting going back to being a doctor after being a boxer?
It's going to be very interesting. What they've also done, is filtered into Binnelanders that I also box, because I've now been trained as a boxer to make it look convincing, so now in Binnelanders I get to box, which I think is quite clever. Saartjie Botha, who is working on the festival, is also a writer on Binnelanders, and is well connected with what I do theatre wise. It's cool that they gave me the chance to do a little bit of theatre in between. It's ideal.
Who is the real Neels, the person behind the actor? What do you do when you are not on stage?
I recently got into golf, which is quite cool. I tend to rest a lot; I'm fond of sleeping. Watching sport. Reading. I love wining and dining. I think when I get back to Johannesburg, I'll contemplate a little bit of a change of lifestyle maybe. I'm very much excited being in Cape Town, it's a whole different lifestyle. When I return to Joburg it will be time to just focus and look ahead into the future and see what happens because at the moment I am living the dream, but it might not always be the case.
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2008 © Daniel Dercksen/ The Writing Studio
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