The Bromley Boys is the feel-good film of 2018 starring Alan Davies, Martine McCutcheon, Jamie Foreman, Adam Deacon, Gareth Hale, TJ Herbert, Mark Dymond and Ewen McIntosh, and rising star Brenock O’Connor. This funny yet touching coming of age football memoir is played out to the sights and sounds of Britain in 1970, with over 90 minutes of non-stop laughs and calamity in the poignant story of the worst football team in Britain.
To celebrate the launch of the DVD and digital release of The Bromley Boys – for one very special night only – The Assembly Hall Theatre, Tunbridge Wells will play host to an exciting, and interactive mix of hilarious live action sequences featuring (at least) three key cast members of the film combined with a full length screening of The Bromley Boys, in a unique, immersive night of fun for all the family. The show will play on Saturday 6th October with “Kick-Off” at 7.30pm.
In 1969, while England were preparing to defend their World Cup crown, and George Best was delighting crowds with his virtuoso skills at Old Trafford, 15-year-old Dave Roberts fell in love…head over heels in love… with his local Non-League club, Bromley FC.
Bumping along at the bottom of the bottom non-league division, Bromley FC had reached breaking point. Desperate for a change of fortune and deluded by his own overactive imagination, teenager Dave hatches a plan that he hopes will see Bromley grabbing the headlines on national TV.
Featuring the timeless music of Dusty Springfield, Manfred Mann, Georgie Fame, Spencer Davis Group, The Small Faces and many more, this show is an exclusive opportunity to be part of an exciting new concept…an unforgettable and unique experience where cinema meets live theatre!
The star of the film, Brenock O’Connor, was born in Worthing and performed with The Theatre Workshop in Brighton. It was here that our paths first crossed as I reminded him when we chatted about the film….
It’s a couple of years since we last spoke, when you were working with The Theatre Workshop in Monologue Jams. Rather a lot has happened for you since then hasn’t it?
Yeah, well, I’ve just been in the Bromley Boys which was really good fun. I did a series for Sky called Living the Dream and I’ve just finished the second series of that and I’ve also been doing some of music outside of that too.
Wasn’t there a little thing called Game Of Thrones as well?
Oh yeah, that one. Yes, I started on Game of Thrones while I was preparing for Monologue Jams. That was a long job, an amazing job, and really really good fun. I did three years of that which was just so good.
And now you’re starring as Dave in The Bromley Boys with Martine McCutcheon, Alan Davies and Gareth Hale!
Yes it’s been a completely mental journey for me. In the film I play Dave who, to be totally honest, is a bit of an idiot. He’s the typical teenage boy. He doesn’t really know much about life and all he really cares about is Bromley FC and, for him, it’s a forbidden love because his Dad won’t let him support a football team but his Mum helps him on the sly. He goes to watch every single match at Bromley football club who were, at the time, the worst football club in England. It’s quite a beautiful story really of how a seemingly hopeless love can actually flourish into something worthwhile.
So how, at the tender age of 18, do you suddenly find yourself as the star of a movie?
I’m still trying to work that through myself! It’s just been totally crazy. I only really got into acting because it was just great fun and then I joined a theatre group, The Theatre Workshop in Brighton, and they had an agency attached and I started auditioning for stuff and getting it. The work was always fun and I’ve been lucky enough to work quite a bit and I somehow found myself here – which is just great and, hopefully, a good set up for the rest of my career really.
I have a feeling that there is more to this film than just the football. Am I right?
Yes, there really is. I’m not a major fan of football myself but I got sent through the script and, to be frank, I was ready to hate it because it was all about football but as soon as I read it I fell in love with it. The era that it’s set in is full of my favourite music and my favourite style as well. I dress like I’m from the 60’s so it was perfect for me.
Then I saw who else was attached to the film, in the casting notes, and it was just an incredible list. Everyone was so lovely. It was just a beautiful time working on that job, really joyous, and the film itself is just superb. The cinematography is stunning, unreal, and I’m really proud of everyone who worked so hard to make the film what it is.
And this is quite an unusual way to show a film as well.
We’ve got a live screening in Tunbridge Wells, yes, where you get to see the film with some added live theatre aspects as well. Sadly I can’t be there but I’m looking forward to hearing all about it because it will be great to hear what the general public think of the film and of the live showing too. I’m really sorry but I’ll be out of the country that day as I’m at a film festival in France.
I am so thrilled that you are doing so well because when I reviewed Theatre Workshop’s productions I picked out a few names to watch like yourself, Evie Hooton, Rosie Taylor-Ritson and Declan Mason and it’s great that you are all doing so well.
Thank you. Yes, we’re all on our way. Evie is studying at Oxford, Rosie is working with Bristol Old Vic and Declan has just finished at Guildhall School of Music & Drama, and, I just heard today, he’s working straight away.
So, what’s next for you?
I’m just back auditioning and seeing what’s out there. I’m back to the life of an unemployed actor, that’s what it all comes down to after you finish a job. When you have a job you’re a working actor and everything is great but as soon as you come off a job you’re straight back looking for something else and you just have to fill the space in between. As much as you love acting it’s absolutely crucial to have something else to constructively use that time.
At the moment, as well as heading off to the auditions that are coming in, I am also working on my music. I have been writing songs for majority of this year. I’ve been recording my own stuff at home and putting it out on SoundCloud to get people to hear it in any way possible really. So, until the next acting job, that’s what I’m doing.
The Bromley Boys ‘Live’, an exclusive theatre and film screening event, takes place at the Assembly Hall Theatre, Tunbridge Wells on Saturday 6th October at 7.30pm. Tickets are priced from £12.00 and are available from the Assembly Hall Theatre box office on 01892 530613 or online at www.assemblyhalltheatre.co.uk.