One wild and windy night, The Gruffalo's Child tiptoes out into the woods. Duncan MacInnes, a Hull-born actor, tells Will Ramsey about his part in this much-loved children's story.
He has "terrible tusks and terrible claws". Or at least he does when he's not an owl, a snake, or a fox.
Duncan MacInnes, a Hull-born actor, is starring in a new adaptation of Julia Donaldson's The Gruffalo's Child.
Featuring this fearsome-looking giant – the joke is that the Gruffalo is a friendly sort, despite appearances – Duncan has been juggling a range of character types.
Alongside the booming-voiced lead role, he also plays the Predators, the creatures which lurk in the deep, dark woods in this Tall Stories production.
"Because the company is actor-led it has all come from what we've devised," said Duncan.
"The Fox is like George Cole in the St Trinian's films, with his jacket and a trilby hat. He talks like that – 'You do a deal, no quibbles, no returns'.
"It is easy to get chatting with the audience like that, but it can get quite dangerous. I can talk, and talk, but you can get to the point where you realise the children are getting restless."
The Gruffalo's Child – which follows his offspring's adventure into the woods – appeals to both adults and children.
Duncan has often read the stories to his nephew and niece, and is well aware of the fascination they hold.
"The books are like a litmus test – I know they love them and are obsessed by them," the 36-year-old said.
"It is the same when you are performing. You can see the kids listening to the story intently, and even finishing off some of the stories."
Understandably then, he is enjoying his turn as the lead character.
"The Gruffalo's slightly like David Bellamy, with a bit of Brian Blessed thrown in. He is very green fingered and is a lovable, cuddly character," he said.
"He does think he is a god of comedy – though one with the sort of lines the audience groans at."
His performance as the Snake is, Duncan says, like Bruno Tonioli from Strictly Come Dancing – a flamenco-obsessed showman.
"My Owl is Welsh," he added.
"There's a little bit of Rob Brydon in there, he's always asking everybody how they are."
Duncan began the role last year, with a month-long performance in Birmingham at Christmas.
"I remember enjoying the audition so much that I came away thinking I'd sweep the floor for them if they wanted me," he said.
Duncan, who grew up in Summergangs Road, began his journey towards becoming a professional actor at nine, with Hull's Northern Theatre School.
"I grew up working with Richard Green at Northern Theatre," said Duncan, who later trained at the Liverpool Institute of Performing Arts. "That's how I got into drama – I owe my career to him. It gave me an all-round training with like-minded people."
In the cast of creatures he conjures up in The Gruffalo's Child – from the sly, to the self-obsessed – those early years at Northern Theatre have also proved invaluable.
"We did a lot in rep – so we were rehearsing one show while performing another, which is the most wonderful training," he said.
"You get used to splitting your brain from rehearsing to performing, you are always on the go.
"That has never left me."
• The Gruffalo is at Hull New Theatre on Tuesday, July 23 (1.30pm and 4pm), Wednesday, July 24 (11am and 2pm) and Thursday, July 25 (11am and 2pm).
