Interview: Matt Lapinskas on HORSE-PLAY at Riverside Studios
Matt Lapinskas is soon to be starring in the world premiere of Ian Hallard’s new comedy Horse-Play, opening at the Riverside Studios on 30 August.
Lapinskas performs alongside David Ames (Holby City), Jake Maskell (The Royals), Nick Sampson (The Book of Dust, Bridge Theatre) and Stephanie Siadatan (High School Musical) in the piece which explores the kinkier side of life. Matt tells us more about the show and his career achievements and ambitions.
Your first TV role was in EastEnders, tell us about that. How did it feel to fulfil a lifetime ambition so early on in your career?
Eastenders was my first role out of drama school and it was the best lesson and experience I could have asked for!.To work on such an iconic show that is fast paced and had such fantastic actors! I enjoyed every second I spent there and it set me up for what was to come in the future.
You also appeared on Dancing on Ice; did you have any previous experience of skating before you did the show?
Absolutely no experience at all! I like to throw myself 100 percent into any task I am set. My Nan was a big Torvill and Dean fan so I was buzzing to be a part of the show. The trainers and the whole team there were incredible and I got to work with them all. The thing with ice is that once you have fallen 20 times, you get used to it and it does hurt, so you work harder to not do that. But I got to the final and got to skate the Bolero!
You’re about to appear as Villainor/Karl in new comedy Horse-Play. What attracted you to the role?
The script! It’s a fun, fast paced comedy. The characters are finding out new things about the situation and themselves just as the audience are. I get to show the outlandish side to Villainor but then also the tender side of Karl. It’s a great cast with a fantastic creative team and I’m really looking forward to it.
What can audiences expect from the production?
Well, it’s all set in a sex dungeon where we are all wearing tight spandex with lots of different sexual tools… I’ll let your imagination run wild for a bit! It also will give the audience an insight into the world of sex and dominatrixes as well as some well-rounded characters with lots of laughs.
If you could choose any theatre role, (non-gender specific), what would it be and why?
Hands down, I would love to play P T Barnum from The Greatest Showman. I know they're in talks about bringing the show to Broadway and the West End, so just to let them know I’m available!
Horse-Play runs at Riverside Studios from 30 August-24 September, with tickets available here.