Page 535 - Guildhall Coverage Book 2020-21

6 October 2020

Nikesh Patel: 'Don't be afraid to

speak up in the rehearsal room'

Actor Nikesh Patel tells John Byrne about his first job – in a play directed by Indhu

Rubasingham at London’s Royal Court – and sharing his advice as an Arts Emergency

mentor

Nikesh Patel. Photo: Nathan Johnson

My first job was Anupama Chandrasekhar’s play Disconnect, directed by Indhu

Rubasingham at the Royal Court Upstairs in London. I signed with my agent after she saw
me in a final-year production at drama school, and, pretty quickly, she started putting me up

for auditions. At the time, I remember feeling precious about wanting to finish my training.

My agent said: “If you leave drama school early, it’ll be for something that’s worth it.”