Reuben Johnson’s new play Arthur/Merlin is a contemporary retelling of a classic tale where audiences can experience the Arthurian legend like never before in a rip roaring, open-air family show, created and delivered by outdoor specialists Iris Theatre, running from 4-22 August at the Actor’s Church, Covent Garden.

We caught up with Michael Elcock who is playing Arthur in the piece.

First and foremost, how are you and how have you found the last 16 months?

I’m very well, feeling wholesome and the sun is slowly starting to show its face, and the sun is one of my best friends. The last 16 months have been truthfully mad, falling out and in of love, reconnecting with my family, and discovering a new intimacy with them that I didn’t have as a teenager, because I was always too busy! I started therapy in lockdown because I had the time to address some anxieties so in that way it’s been a great opportunity to savour time. My baking skills are semi-pro by this point, which only fuels my aggressive sugar addiction, and my thundercat concert tickets have just been getting postponed every 6 months which I’m not too mad at.

How does it feel to be back in a rehearsal room again?

A long time coming! I’ve been filming a tv series for the past four months, which was a joy, however there are hardly ever rehearsals in TV. That’s what I missed, the opportunity to rehearse and therefore be silly. I’ve realised while rehearsing for Arthur/Merlin that it’s probably the most invaluable part of my process into working out a show. The silliness is mad important.

You are starring as Arthur in this new contemporary production. How are you finding playing such a legendary character?

It’s an honour, but in a different way I think. I don’t really focus on the legend of it, in our interpretation, but also in the tale when you trim away all the excess hairs, the bare bones of it is just a normal dude who has some issues with his family, and is struggling with his identity. Aka.. adolescence. And he’s called upon to go on an adventure of self actualisation. It’s not that complicated when you think about it. We’ve been talking about these characters and who they are and we’ve discovered that less is really more. We’ve started from the ground and built our way up to great heights in that respect.

How have you brought the role into the 21st century for a modern audience?

Paul-Ryan [Carberry], our director, is an absolute legend. He’s really passionate about the terms and conditions of license over storytelling. Who owns which narratives and what effect does that have on people? Two lads from Salford have taken it upon themselves to reimagine this story which is usually associated with royalty. Arthur is played by some young black dude whose grandparents came to this country on a ship and built its roads with blood sweat tears, and Merlin is played by a woman… I know. A real life woman playing a legendary hero associated with masculinity…oh, and she can rap her socks off. I don’t think there’s anything more contemporary about it to be honest. Without even starting the play, the set up is a political statement itself. We’re just doing work by us and for us!

The company is made up of actor-musicians. Does bringing an instrument into your performance change your personal creative process?

Unfortunately I’m not an actor-musician, I don’t possess that superpower, but it’s been such a cool experience to build a show so closely to musicians. Their minds work twice as fast, and their ears are so fine tuned, they take it seriously, it ain’t a game, but it’s still so fun. The music is so beautiful and I’ve never really heard it in any show I’ve seen before!

How would you encourage people to buy a ticket for the show?

THEATRE IS BACK!!! COME AND CELEBRATE THIS REIMAGINED CLASSIC TALE WITH US! COME AND LAUGH, BE SURPRISED AND INTRIGUED, or not, it’s your choice at the end of the day haha!

For more information and to book tickets for Arthur/Merlin, please click here.