Milly Thomas has made a splash across the pond, and New Yorkers are about to find out why. The actor-playwright brings her solo show Dust to New York Theatre Workshop鈥檚 Fourth Street Theatre beginning August 29.
Thomas plays Alice, a woman who, after dying by suicide, watches the impact of her death on her family and friends and realizes her passing doesn鈥檛 get her what she鈥檇 hoped. Thomas brings her full sensitivity and wit to the play, a performance that earned her the Stage Edinburgh Award at the 2017 Edinburgh Fringe Festival. The drama transferred to Soho Theatre in 2018 and then to the West End鈥檚 Trafalgar Theatre. Now, Thomas is adapting Dust for television. But before the story hits the small screen, Thomas is excited to share the play with Off-Broadway audiences.
Here, Thomas relates her experience writing her first play, her favorite part about her first paid acting role (opposite Tatiana Maslany), and her first thought when she takes her bow after Dust.
What was the first piece of theatre you ever saw?
Milly Thomas: When I was super small, my mum took me to see a children鈥檚 theatre production of Fireman Sam: The Pantomime. This is bananas for lots of reasons, but I would urge all Americans to Google 鈥減antomime鈥� and then Google 鈥淔ireman Sam鈥� and let your imagination run wild.
What was the first piece of theatre that truly impacted you?
Lots of snippets spring to mind, but when I was 18 I saw the cycle of Shakespeare鈥檚 History Plays (Henry VI Parts I-III) at The Royal Shakespeare Theatre in Stratford-Upon-Avon. It was part of an education trip, and spoiled brat me didn鈥檛 want to go. I thought it sounded boring, and it was like Games of Thrones but better and my mind was blown.
What was your first creative piece you ever wrote?
A duologue about a guy asking a girl out that I showed to an ex who said it was bad and I didn鈥檛 write for three years. Don鈥檛 do it, guys!
What was the first play you ever wrote?
I wrote a play about babies and who gets to have them and a dystopian future that lives on my laptop that reminds me how far I鈥檝e come.
What was your first audition ever?
It was for Poldark. I didn鈥檛 have a clue. Everyone was so nice to me that I wasn鈥檛 spooked and wanted to keep going.
What was your first paid acting gig?
It was in Woman in Gold opposite Tatiana Maslany and Max Irons. I played an air hostess in the flashback bits. Incredible wig.
When was your first time on a television set?
First telly job was a British show called Doctors (which I recommend you all Google). A true baptism by fire with good eggs all round.
If you weren鈥檛 performing your own solo show, who would be your first choice to star?
Oh God, that鈥檚 not fair. Too many amazing people. But probably if Natasha Lyonne wanted to play me in my life I鈥檇 happily step aside for her.
How did you first learn Dust would be coming to New York?
I was at Kings Cross station standing near the Harry Potter platform 9 3/4 queue when my producer rang me and I cried and a lady offered me a tissue. (London鈥檚 nice, mostly.)
How did you first learn Dust would be adapted for the screen?
A long long time ago鈥攖o the point where sometimes I forget and then remember and yelp a bit. (Telly takes a long time.)
What was the first line you wrote in Dust?
Probably the word 鈥淔uck.鈥� First word of the show because it was the first word on my mind and I was scared to write.
When was the first time you felt like Alice?
I鈥檝e done shows where I forget we鈥檙e not the same person. I鈥檝e occasionally turned around when someone鈥檚 said the name. Little things that sneak up on you. I鈥檓 Alice, but Alice isn鈥檛 Milly.
What is the first thing you do when you get to the theatre?
Have a wee and sit the hell down.
In one word, what was your first performance of Dust like?
Vommy.
What is your first thought when you make your entrance each night?
鈥淲ho am I going to be playing with today?鈥�
What is the first thought you have when you take your bow?
鈥淚s everyone OK and did we have an alright time?鈥�
What is the first thing you do when you get back to your dressing room after the show?
Check my phone. (Narcissism is a disease).
What was your first night like greeting fans at the stage door?
Oh man there鈥檚 no feeling like it, especially as the story feels bigger than me. Strangers want to say hi because we鈥檙e all feeling raw. We鈥檙e all hear to bear witness to depression and anxiety and what it can do to a human being in a safe and cathartic space, and so it feels like meeting old friends and it鈥檚 a meeting of minds and sharing of griefs. But fun.
