A YOUNG actor from Coventry is being kept busy by the Royal Shakespeare Company in Stratford.
Bally Gill is starring in three plays with the world-famous company. Currently starring in Oscar Wilde’s Salomé and Phil Porter’s comedy Vice Versa, which are just coming to the end of their run, the 25 year-old is now preparing for Shakespeare’s Roman tragedy Coriolanus, which opens on September 15.
The former President Kennedy School pupil got the bug for acting when he joined the Belgrave Theatre’s youth group.
But despite his passion, and talent, for the stage, he very nearly went on to study a traditional technical subject – trying to decide between maths and architecture.
But a teacher at the Belgrade saw something in the teenager, and urged him to consider going to drama school.
Bally took the plunge and attended Rose Bruford College, which is part of London’s International Drama School of Theatre and Performance, graduating in 2015.
“Growing up, acting wasn’t something I’d ever really considered”, Bally told The Observer.
“I was actually quite shy as a child, and my school didn’t even have a drama department at the time.”
In fact, Bally confesses he did not even really understand Shakespeare until he went to drama school, and a fellow student encouraged him to give the Bard another go.
And now, just two years later, Bally is treading the the very boards that bear the playwright’s name – those of the Royal Shakespeare Theatre.
“I never thought I’d be here”, he confesses. “It’s a dream come true.”
“I’m absolutely exhausted – but I love it.”
“The plays are all very different, so I’m learning a lot. Every night is unique, and I really enjoy switching styles.”
Bally has previously appeared at the RSC in Always Orange, Fall of the Kingdom, and Rise of the Foot Soldier. He has also worked on the London stage, and appeared in one-off BBC drama NW.
Visit rsc.org.uk for further details.
