Actor Cillian Lenaghan sat down with fairypowered to answer 20 questions. Cillian is currently playing Laurie on tour in Louisa May Alcott’s classic Little Women. Due to appear at Leeds Grand Theatre from 10 June, tickets available here
Let’s start with a few favourites
Favourite show (whether you have been in it or not)?
Cyprus Avenue by David Ireland
Favourite book?
The Men who Stare at Goats – Jon Ronson
Favourite theatre?
Grand Opera House Belfast- first place I performed.
Favourite song?
Christy Moore- Back Home in Derry
Favourite music?
Rock and Irish trad
Favourite food?
Dried mango
Favourite drink?
Dark chocolate chai from Dishoom
What is your favourite role?
Richard the Third. I think he is misunderstood.
What was your first role?
School production of Joseph and His Amazing Technicolour Dreamcoat
And what role would you really like to play?
I would like to have a go at playing Macbeth or Banquo
If you weren’t a performer what would you be?
A train driver in London at the turn of the 20th century
What made you decide to be a performer?
I did a production of Les Misérables with MT4Youth in Belfast in the Mac theatre, we had a weekend to create the show out of chairs and newspaper rolls. It was incredible but intense. We pulled it off in just three days.
Do you enjoy touring?
I enjoy visiting all the different cities and seeing what they have to offer, as well as all the beautiful venues we get to play.
What advice would you give 16 year old you?
Stop caring about what other people think of you. Do it for yourself.
Do you fancy branching out in Producing or Directing?
I’d like to have a go at directing if anyone was mad enough to trust me.
What was the last stage show you saw and really enjoyed?
Inside No.9 Stage/Fright at the Wyndham’s theatre.
Favourite line from any show?
They may take our lives but they’ll never take our freedom.
If you could be anyone else for the day, who would it be?
George Orwell
What are the nicest/weirdest things you have ever received from fans?
I once received a lemon with my headshot attached to it. I thought that was quite bitter of them.
Can you tell us what you will be up to next?
I’m doing a play directed by Academy Award winner Terry Geroge. It’s called The Tunnel and it’s about a prison escape in Belfast in 1976.Little Women is on tour around the UK. Tickets can be found here