Daniel Clarkson
Daniel Clarkson is in town and ready to tickle your funny-bone in the hilarious show “Potted Potter,” now playing at the Shakespeare Theatre Company’s Sidney Harman Hall through April 22nd.
According to the synopsis, “‘Potted Potter’ takes on the ultimate challenge of condensing all seven Harry Potter books (and a real life game of Quidditch) into seventy hilarious minutes. This fantastically funny show features all your favorite characters, a special appearance from a fire-breathing dragon, endless costumes, brilliant songs, ridiculous props and a generous helping of Hogwarts magic!”
Daniel Clarkson graduated from Bretton Hall in 2000 and has quickly become known for his wit and wisdom for knowing how to write and perform comedy. TV credits include “Where The Heart Is” (ITV), “Coronation Street (ITV), Emmerdale (ITV), and “Big Brother’s Little Brother” (C4). Film credits include “The Usual Children” and “The Guilty Hunter.” Theatre includes “Accidental Death of an Anarchist,” “The Little Shop of Horrors,” and “Art.”
For more information about “Potted Potter,” click here.
How challenging was it to condense all seven Harry Potter books?
It was quite a challenge! I was a huge fan and with such a rich source material at our finger tips, I think the first draft of the show was closer to all seven Harry Potter books in seven days as opposed to 70 minutes!
Where did you first meet Jefferson Turner, your co-creator and writer for Potted Potter? What makes working with him such a good, productive team?
I met Jeff on the Hogwarts Express on our first day at Hogwarts, we both got sorted into the same house (Hufflepuff) and have been close friends ever since. Working together works as we have so much in common, including a tendency to lie in interviews.
Have any of the cast members from the Harry Potter films or even the author J.K. Rowling seen and commented about your parody?
We haven’t had any of the ‘big three’ see us, but a few of the other cast have come. My favourite being Warwick Davis who played Professor Filtwick. I remember coming out on stage on my knees as Flitwick asked him what he thought of my characterisation and he shouted back ‘too tall!’
What was it like receiving your first piece of fan-mail?
Haha, I’d love to say I took it in my stride but i went out and got the best frame I could find and put it straight up on my wall! Displaying proudly for all to see! Funnily enough it was from a young Scottish boy who had seen the show in Edinburgh and wanted to get into acting. Fast forward eight years and that boy was Scott who is currently performing in the show. I don’t ever let him forget this fact!
What future projects do you have in the works that you can tell us about?
There’s always ideas and silly thoughts we are toying with, I wrote ‘King Kong (A Comedy)’ last year which premiered in London and I’d love to bring out here, but we shall see. Please if anyone has any good ideas let me know and I will totally and without shame steal them!
