Peter O'Brien heading to His Majesty's Theatre in Agatha Christie's And Then There Were None

West Australian

a day ago

The desire to live a nomadic existence has been the motivation behind a great many decisions Australian actor Peter O'Brien has made throughout his life, especially on his career path.
Raised in outback South Australian, O'Brien was studying a Bachelor of Science and Teaching degree at Adelaide's Flinders University when he discovered great creative joy in the university revue scene.
'It wasn't like I showed some extraordinary aptitude or gift for it, but I found it a world that was really interesting; the collaborative process and the creativity,' 65-year-old O'Brien says.
'There's a similar thread that runs through it like preparing for a game of sport. It's that preparation, and then out you go. That's something that I understood quite well, and every few months there was a possibility of a new job, and travel with it.
'I certainly wasn't seeking to go and be famous or anything, but it was a great chance to find somewhere in that industry that I could fit in, whether it was in front or behind the camera, or on stage or off-stage.
'From my original desire to be creative and travel, it certainly has fulfilled that and scratched that itch.'
Film and television roles — from Neighbours, as original cast member Shane Ramsay, and The Flying Doctors to Halifax f.p. and White Collar Blue — have seen O'Brien travel back and forth to Australia for work as he has spent the past 30 years living everywhere from the UK and US to stints in China, Canada, and South America.
He and actor wife Miranda Otto have temporarily moved back to Australia while their daughter Darcey studies at university in Sydney.
'We put the pets on the plane and brought them back, but we didn't do a Johnny Depp, we brought them through the right way,' he chuckles.
The move has seen O'Brien reunite with director Robyn Nevin for Agatha Christie's And Then There Were None, having worked with her on Sydney Theatre Company's 2003 production of A Doll's House, and knowing Nevin's previous success directing Christie's The Mousetrap.
Intrigued by the stage adaptation of Christie's bestselling crime novel, O'Brien signed on for the challenge of character William Blore, also eager for the chance to tour the Australian production to Melbourne, Sydney, Perth and Adelaide.
Considered one of the greatest edge-of-your-seat thrillers Christie ever wrote, And Then There Were None follows 10 strangers who are invited to a solitary mansion on an island off the English coast.
After a storm isolates them from the mainland, the real reason behind their gathering starts to emerge, taking on a grim reality.
'Agatha Christie always puts these complicated and veiled characters into shows in a way that you are intrigued,' O'Brien says.
'There's a lot of intrigue about William and his involvement in the story. He's a lot of fun, sometimes to his and my detriment.
'Every time he walks into the room, he changes the course of the play where there is an energy or a situation that he either creates, or is involved in, that relaunches or pivots the play in a way.
'There's a tapestry to Agatha Christie's works as she weaves them. It's not that characters are deliberately being deceptive, trying to deceive people, but there's always an area of intrigue about them, of 'why are they doing that?'. It's in her writing of dialogue and situations.'
The production premiered in Melbourne in February, where it has been captivating audiences night after night with all the elements of mystery, suspense and humour expected of a Christie narrative.
Alongside O'Brien in the 11-strong cast are Nicholas Hammond, Jennifer Flowers, Grant Piro and Anthony Phelan, plus WA Academy of Performing Arts graduates Tom Stokes, Mia Morrissey and Eden Falk.
'The response has just been unanimous rapture,' he says.
'I guess you're only as good as your audience reaction, and that's been enormous. I've really enjoyed it. It takes you along with it from the moment the curtain goes up, and you've just got to keep up. Tell Perth audiences to put their running shoes on when they come.'
And Then There Were None is at His Majesty's Theatre, June 8 to 29. Tickets at andthentherewerenone.com.au.