This week, Signature reached out to actor, Lara Peake. Lara, who recently starred in William Mager’s BBC Thriller, Reunion, shares with us how her passion for acting evolved and more about learning BSL for her most recent role. With warmth and insight, Lara gives us a behind-the-scenes look at what made Reunion such a special project and why storytelling in all its forms has the power to connect us more deeply than ever.
Photo Credit: Matt Squire/BBC/Warp Films
- Hi Lara, thank you for collaborating with Signature, can you share with us a bit more about yourself?
I’m thrilled to be asked- thank you for having me! I’m Lara Peake and I’m a 26-year-old actress from Nottingham. I play the role of Carly Brennan in the television series, Reunion, written by William Mager for BBC One.
- How did you find your passion for acting and was there anyone in particular who inspired you?
My mum took me to see a West End show one Christmas when I was ten years old. I had never been exposed to a performance like that on such a grand a scale before and I couldn’t believe that was a genuine job for some people. The group I joined in Nottingham- Inspire Academy, founded by Luke Gell focused more heavily on naturalism and screen work rather than musical theatre. I guess I would say the majority of people in the group at that time were the people who quite literally ‘inspired’ me. I joined when I was 12, and I massively admired the older actors in the group, I looked up to them a lot, and felt a need to match their level. I still do, I have such huge respect for the work Luke does there and the young actors emerging from the group.
- Can you tell us a bit more about your character in Reunion and what drew you to this role?
Carly Brennan is a young woman fending for herself when we meet her at the start of the series. When her estranged father, Daniel Brennan pays her a surprise visit having been recently released from prison, she embarks on a journey of revenge and redemption with him. I was drawn to the role of Carly for a multitude of reasons. I emotionally related to certain aspects of her life, I enjoyed her rebellious attitude, her resilience, and the fact that like her father, not everything is what meets the eye with her. She wears her heart on her sleeve, she forgives time and time again, but deep down all she’s longing for is honest communication and connection.
- How did you prepare to portray your character in a BSL thriller, how did you find learning some BSL for this role?
I always find the locations that a character is surrounded by really helps to inform who they are, their physicality, image, and personality. Music also really helps me get into a certain mindset. But the most obvious route into preparing for a role is the script, and William Mager’s scripts are just incredible. They’re delicate, intimate, angry, and poignant all at once which made dissecting them fascinating.
Learning BSL for the role was hands down one of the most life changing experiences of my life so far, it allowed me to approach scenes in a more raw, instinctive way because so much of the communication relies on what your face, sign or body language is saying. Matthew Gurney, who plays my father in the series took me out to deaf club, introduced me to his friends, and took me along to Sheffield United football games. I went along to Fagan’s pub in Sheffield with the deaf cast and crew and threw myself in at the deep end. None of which could have been done without the amazing patience, humour, and warmth of my brilliant tutor- Brian Duffy.
- Did working on a BSL-centred thriller change your perspective on communication or storytelling?
Yes! In the sense that we should do more of it, and why haven’t we done more until now? BSL is a beautiful language, it’s funny, it’s direct and it’s intrinsic to performance and so suited to screen and theatre. There’s so much nuance to it, how people sign, what sign they choose to use for certain word depending on what region they’re from. Every day was eye-opening. I laughed every single day. As a hearing person I hadn’t really encountered the deaf community, but now I have, I long to be around it more. Any opportunities people have out there to learn and embrace BSL and the deaf community, do it.
- How does Reunion differ from other projects you’ve worked on?
It’s the first bilingual show I have ever worked on. Making it felt ground-breaking, how we approached the day, how many deaf crew members were integral to the making of the show. We had a whole department of interpreters. Myself and the director Luke Snellin, despite both being hearing found ourselves signing through windows from afar when he wanted to relay a quick note for the next take. Everybody just embraced the experience, and through doing so it became a project that ended up having an incredibly powerful, lasting impact on us. Both communities coming together was beautiful.
- What do you hope audiences take away from watching Reunion?
Patience, resilience, forgiveness, and warmth in the heart.
- Finally, are there any upcoming projects that you can tell us a bit more about and if not do you have any future aspirations moving forward?
I hope to keep signing! I’m about to start a long job which I’m really looking forward to. But on the whole I love anything that forces me out of my comfort zone, challenges a set image or idea and creates an impact strong enough to bring about change.
Here at Signature, we would like to thank Lara for sharing with us more about her time on the BBC Thriller Reunion. Lara shares with us the beauty of learning BSL and its compatibility with the arts, specifically with acting. She shares with us how eye-opening this experience was and the effect learning BSL has had on her. We wish Lara the best of luck in all future endeavours and hope to see her signing on our screens in the future!