Time Machine bringing mayhem to The Lowry not H G Wells!

The Time Machine comes to The Lowry next week at the start of what is effectively the third incarnation of this madcap adventure - and Amy has appeared in it throughout.

“I must be mad,” she laughed, “but actually I just love it.”

The show came to Bolton’s Octagon Theatre last year as part of its world premiere and over Christmas had a residency in London. Now it hits the road again.

And even though she has spent so long with it, Amy genuinely doesn’t know what to expect.

“That’s the beauty of it. We go into the second act not really knowing what is going to happen.

“Without giving too much away, we do rely a great deal on audience participation in the second half.”

It may share the title of H G Wells’ classic novel, but anyone expecting a faithful retelling of the story based on the book is going to be disappointed.

“Actually we did have to get new photos and a new poster done for the tour,” said Amy, “because several audience members in the early shows left saying ‘well that wasn’t what I expected’.

“But it’s not the book and it’s not meant to be.”

To give an idea of the plot, it centres around Dave Wells, great great grandson of the author who with two friends is in a theatre company about to stage The Importance of Being Earnest.

During rehearsals he discovers his famous forefather’s original manuscripts and his time travelling chair and becomes convinced that he was writing about fact not fiction.

He persuades his fellow performers to abandon Oscar Wilde and instead put on a dramatisation of this scientific discovery. From there all sorts of chaos and mayhem ensues.

“I had never read the book,” said Amy. “But when I got invited in to audition after submitting a tape I thought I better had. Then I got a copy of the script and realised there was never any need to have read the book in the first place.”

The production is a three-hander and its frenetic pace and improvised format means that the trio on stage have to have complete trust in each other.

“I know a show like this would be a nightmare for some actors who like structure and to know exactly where they are going,” said Amy. “But I love this kind of thing. It’s like being a kid in the playground making up stories with your friends.”

By inviting the audience to become involved in the show puts extra pressure on the actors.

“Most of the second act is improvised,” said Amy. “It has a structure to it and we know where it need get to go and we have to stick to a timeline for the story. So although there is a lot of improv, we can’t afford it to just go anywhere. Having said that we do sort of have to wing it. Touch wood we haven’t had an issue yet. We just have to trust each other as actors to save you if something crazy gets thrown our way.

“I must admit it took me a while to get used to that, being so exposed but I just love it now.”

Amy and Michael Dylan from the original tour will be joined for this leg by George Kemp.

“That’s been really interesting to get ready for this part of the tour with George as he brings a totally different energy to the role.

“We’re also going back on tour after spending several weeks in the same space in London so again, it does feel as though we are embarking on something new.”

By the time the current run ends, Amy will effectively have spent more than a year in the Time Machine.

“I had no idea what would happen with the show when my agent first got in touch and suggested I look into it,” she said. “When I read the brief and it said H G Wells and Time Machine I really wasn’t sure but it did say it was a comedy so I thought I'd give it a go. They wanted a tape first so I dragged my two brothers in to read the other parts and sent it off.

“It was only when I got a recall and met the director and one of the writers in person that I realised it was going to be crazy and that I really wanted to do it.

“It’s been a fun experience from the start. Every week in rehearsal the script would change. I think we even got a new script the day before we opened. Now it’s been printed it can’t change too much.”

One thing Amy didn’t expect was to be asked to perform a Cher song, complete with full length wig.

“Oh, they were very cheeky about that,” she laughed. “It was never mentioned in the audition that I’d have to sing but when the script came there as my name against a complete Cher song. But what do you do?

“I just went for it - we’ve all sung in the bathroom mirror with a hairbrush. I’m just doing it on stage. But there’s no way I’ve got a career as a Cher tribute act that’s for sure.”

For anyone thinking of coming along Amy just has two pieces of advice.

“One is to come with an open mind,” she said. “It’s not H G Wells, it’s not the book. And pay attention in the first half because it will pay off in the second. It’s almost as though we have two shows which are interlinked.”

As for life after the Time Machine Amy is just waiting to see what might happen.

“I’m just so caught up in the show. I love it,” she said. “I’ve got a play I’m co-writing with friends so we’ll see what happens with that. But for me the whole thing is about helping people escape from their daily lives and have a laugh.

“I think I’d quite like to stick to that kind of work - I really enjoy being a silly idiot on stage.”

The Time Machine, The Lowry, Salford Quays, Tuesday, January 23 to Saturday, January 27. Details from www.thelowry.com