Tales From The Dressing Room: Jacob Aldcroft

We’re back with another entry in our Tales From The Dressing Room series, this time featuring the delightful Jacob Aldcroft, who’s playing the romantic young prince, Florizel, in The Winter’s Tale. We caught up with Jacob in between rehearsals to talk about his character, the challenges of Shakespeare, and the joy of performing in the round.

Tell us about your character, Florizel.

Florizel is a prince who’s full of life, passion, and love. He’s a bit of a dreamer, and definitely a romantic at heart. What I love about him is his ability to find joy and beauty in everything around him. He’s young and emotional, but I think that’s a strength, not a weakness. He wears his heart on his sleeve, and I think there’s something really admirable about that. He follows his instincts and never holds back from feeling deeply. Some people may see him as naïve, but I think he’s wise in his own way.

How were rehearsals?

Rehearsals were such a blast. There’s something really exciting about working on a play as epic as The Winter’s Tale. Every day felt like a new discovery. There are moments where things feel tricky, but I always know that a breakthrough is just around the corner. I feel so lucky to be working with such an incredible group of actors and creatives. It’s been an opportunity to learn so much from everyone involved. And we’ve had some genuinely funny and heartwarming moments in the room as well.

What’s your approach to performing Shakespeare?

Shakespeare is such a joy to perform, but it can be tricky. From day one, our director Heidi Vaughan was passionate about telling the story clearly and simply – which is a bit of a challenge when you’re working with language that’s over 400 years old! But it’s been so rewarding. The characters in this play really wear their emotions on their sleeves, which I think makes it easier for audiences to connect with them. Hopefully, they’ll see something of themselves in the emotions that the characters go through.

What have you learned from your career so far?

I’ve been really fortunate to have had some amazing teachers along the way. One of them, Philippe Gaulier, always says that as a performer, you should have fun, even when you’re playing something tragic. It’s such an important lesson for me. Even in the most emotionally intense scenes, it’s about enjoying the process of telling the story. When you’re having fun, it feels truthful, and I think that energy helps me give everything I have, night after night.

How does it feel to perform in the round at Tobacco Factory Theatres?

The round is such a special way to experience theatre. The audience is right there with you, all around you. It’s intimate and electric. You can feel their energy, and it makes every performance feel alive in a unique way. I hope the audience enjoys being so close to the action, and that they can really feel the emotions of the characters in a more personal way. There’s nothing like the energy of a live audience, and in this space, it’s impossible to ignore!