Interview: Holly Godliman on reprising role of Chloe in West End transfer of ARCADIA
A dazzling collision of science and romance, Tom Stoppard’s acclaimed play Arcadia is transferring to the West End this June after an Olivier Award-nominated run at The Old Vic. We spoke to actress Holly Godliman, who will be reprising the role of Chloe Coverly, to find out more.
How has your experience with this production been so far?
It’s been a real dream coming back to this production. We had such an amazing run before, and returning to it now with a mix of new and familiar faces makes it feel like a completely fresh experience in the best possible way. This company is full of playful, curious and generous minds, which means the play keeps opening up in unexpected ways. It feels incredibly alive in the room, and I think a lot of that comes from the heart of Tom's writing and Carrie's [Cracknell - director] brilliance in breathing new life into it. So getting to dive back into a play like Arcadia with such a talented bunch feels like one of those special opportunities that doesn't come around often. There’s already been a lot of laughter and silliness in rehearsals so needless to say I’m very much looking forward to spending my summer in the 1800s/1990s with this lot.
What do you think makes Arcadia such a fascinating play?
I think it’s the way Tom Stoppard manages to bring together so many big ideas in one story. It moves between science and mathematics, poetry, love and desire across two timelines, but never loses the humanity at its core. It’s incredibly witty and intellectual, but fundamentally it’s about people trying to make sense of their place in the world, which is something I think we can all relate to. Even after performing it for eight weeks, there’s still so much more to discover and play with in rehearsals, which is a real testament to the depth of Tom’s writing. It just keeps revealing new things, even when you think you know it inside out, it never quite stands still.
What do you find most interesting about your character, Chloe Coverly?
She’s incredibly intuitive. Having grown up around all these scientific ideas, she seems to understand them instinctively in a way that surprises everyone around her. I think Chloe knows far more than people give her credit for. She can deliver something so profound almost flippantly with a cup of tea in her hand. And in many ways, she mirrors Thomasina; both characters seem to grasp truths that other people spend the play trying to catch up with. She’s funny, sharp, confident and underestimated, which makes her a real joy to play.
How do you prepare and get into character before a performance?
I try to keep my routine pretty casual and pretend I'm not about to perform in front of hundreds of people. We do a company warmup, check in with each other and usually have a bit of a giggle, gossip and sweets exchange. Then I'll head back to my dressing room and put some music on. I have a playlist for Chloe that always helps me get into her mindset. It's a mix of '90s music I imagine she'd be obsessed with, lots of Cocteau Twins, and artists I think she'd be listening to now, like Wolf Alice. Chloe’s fun, flirty and completely unapologetic about taking up space, so it’s a nice energy to step into before going on stage.
Are there any other classic plays that you'd love to be a part of reviving?
If I think too much about it the list never ends. I’d love to do a Shakespeare soon; I had great teachers at drama school who really helped me connect with his work, and after seeing some brilliant recent revivals, I’m even more keen to sink my teeth into some of his verse. I’d also love to tackle Chekhov, there’s something about humour and heartbreak sitting side by side that really appeals to me. And then some Miller, Rattigan… shan’t go on.
What do you think audiences will be talking about on the way home from Arcadia?
If our last run is anything to go by, I think it’ll be a real mixture. What I love is that everyone seems to latch onto something different. Some want to come out and talk about the science and maths, others are completely swept up in the romance, and some are still trying to piece together who knew what when. If people are still debating the play on the train home, then we’ve probably done our job.
