Ashley Artus on Rep Theatre’s Role in Stardom

Before they were national treasures, they were actors sweating it out on creaky stages in small towns across the UK.

Ashley Artus, award-winning actor, director, and general champion of All Things Theatre, joined Andrew Kay on Latest TV to talk about why repertory theatre still matters. Spoiler Alert: it’s not about nostalgia. It’s about craft.

Artus credits local rep with shaping generations of performers. And he’s not alone. Ever heard of Judi Dench, Ian McKellen, or Patrick Stewart? Yep, they all started in rep.

“It’s intense, it’s relentless, and it’s where you learn everything,” says Ashley. “You don’t just act. You survive. And you grow.”

He also shines a light on the joy of community theatre, a space where passion, not pay cheques, drives the show. As budgets tighten and flashier platforms take centre stage, Artus reminds us that real talent is forged in the fire of the fringe, not on TikTok.

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