Jos Vantyler
Vantyler at 2022, Bafta Awards
Born
County Mayo, Ireland
OccupationActor

Jos Vantyler is an Irish actor.[1] He is known for his work in classical theatre.

Early life

Vantyler was born in County Mayo, Ireland, where he lived until the age of six.[2]

Career

Vantyler won The NYC Star Best Newcomer Award for his portrayal of Rodolfo in Arthur Miller's A View From The Bridge. He was also nominated for Best Supporting Actor by The NYC Review for his portrayal of Oswald in Ghosts by Henrik Ibsen.

In 2023 he starred in the film Brunswick Street, playing Jack Campbell.

Vantyler starred in The Fir Tree at Shakespeares Globe in 2022 directed by Michelle Terry the Globes Artistic Director. The production was critically well received.[3][4] It was an adaptation for stage by Hannah Khalil of Hans Christian Andersen's fairy tale.

In 2021/2022 he played Philip in Peggy For You at Hampstead Theatre opposite Tamsin Greig directed by Richard Wilson. The play received strong critical acclaim, "I have to say this was one of the best nights I’ve ever spent in the theatre. In fact, it was one of the best nights of my life." wrote Lloyd Evans of The Spectator[5] " Richard Wilson's artful, rewarding revival. Resonant and amusing" Dominic Maxwell The Times.[6]

In 2022 he joined the regular cast of the sixth series Believe It alongside Richard Wilson, Ian McKellen and Stephen Mangan on BBC Radio 4.

He appeared with David Tennant in 2022 in BBC Radio 4's critically acclaimed Macbeth.[7]

He played Anselmus in The Second Maiden's Tragedy at the newly refurbished Hackney Empire for which he received high critical praise. He played King Philip V1 of France in The Lion in Winter for Fairbanks Theaters with Chicago director Don Morrelli.[8]

Vantyler in Prophecy

He appeared in the controversial play Prophecy by New York City playwright Karen Malpede. Although certain press branded the play as a disturbing piece,[9] Vantyler's portrayal of a young soldier suffering from extreme PTSD received high acclaim[1] and resulted in Vantyler being nominated for a Critics Choice Award – Best Actor for his performance. The press described Vantyler as "a young exciting actor with distinctive looks and a powerful presence".[10] In preparation for the role, Vantyler researched the condition at a military hospital in Scotland. It had transferred from New York to London and later back to Broadway.[11] Vantyler did not resume his role in the new revised Broadway production nor was it well received by the New York critics.[12]

He played the lead opposite Academy Award Nominee Susannah York in The Tennessee Williams Season for The Hampstead New End Theatre.[13] Owing to sell-out audiences from its opening night and rave reviews from the press, the show transferred to another sellout run at the Hackney Empire.[14] Vantyler and York went on to become close friends.[15]

He played Tom Sawyer in the National Tour in James Graham's play Huck, a stage adaptation of the Mark Twain classic, Huckleberry Finn. He garnered critical praise and was named "The Mercurial Jos Vantyler" by Time Out and was a finalist for Best Male Performance Award by The Offwestend Awards.[16]

Harold Brighouse wrote The Game in 1914, and it was performed that same year;[17] it was not performed again until 2010 by Northern Broadsides. Directed by and starring Barrie Rutter. Vantyler played Rutter's son, Leo Whitworth.[1] Both he and the production received high critical praise.[18][19]

Shakespeare

In 2018 he was the first actor ever to play the roles of both Don Armado and his page Moth at the same time in Shakespeare's Globe's production of Love's Labour's Lost at the Sam Wanamaker Playhouse under the direction of Nick Bagnall. Bagnall's idea of having him play both characters resulted in Vantyler playing most of his scenes, by himself and to himself. The Independent wrote "Much less conventionally, Vantyler plays both himself and, switching from hissing Hispanic to yapping Northern, his own diminutive page ("my tender juvenile"), Moth. The resulting schizoid conversations and the solicitous care for Moth’s person are a blissfully crackpot fancy" and "Jos Vantyler is inspired as Don Armado, hilariously capturing the mangled verbal extravagance of this Spanish grandee".[20] That same year he played Gerald in Two Noble Kinsmen also at Shakespeare's Globe, directed by Barrie Rutter. This rarely performed piece was part of Michelle Terry's first season as artistic director.

In September 2013, Sir Jonathan Miller directed the Gala Performance of William Shakespeare's King Lear at The Old Vic in London. Vantyler played Oswald opposite, Joss Ackland as King Lear, Michael York, Tony Robinson, Greta Scacchi, Honeysuckle Weeks, John Nettles, Robert Young, Tony Britton, Shaun Dooley, Barrie Rutter and Felicity Dean.[21]

Sir Jonathan Miller's 2015 "revelatory" 5 star[22] production of King Lear again saw Vantyler in the role of Oswald for Miller, this time opposite Barrie Rutter as Lear. Vantyler was highly praised for his comedy in the role of Oswald. Standard Magazine wrote "Jos Vantyler shimmered and glowered as a camp, dastardly Oswald and his death scene was truly gripping... you could tell he was a Miller choice".[23] Others went on to add "Jos Vantyler gives a scene stealer of a performance as Oswald, up front but perfectly controlled, making a real person of someone who could easily be just a cypher".[24] WhatsOnStage wrote " Jos Vantyler turns Oswald into a classy comic turn "[25]

"There were many outstanding performances including Jos Vantyler who played the comedic role of Abraham Slender and had the audience in fits of laughter with almost every speech he made"[26] and "Poor Slender, for example, beautifully played by Jos Vantyler, captures our hearts"[27] describe his performance as Slender in The Merry Wives of Windsor in Northern Broadsides' anniversary production of the play.

New Writing

Emmy Award winning writer Ron Hutchinson's play, Dead On Her Feet is set in the American Great Depression. The action takes place during a Dance Marathon contest.[28] Vantyler stars as Mel Carney the Dance Marathon promoter, the protagonist of the piece, directed by Barry Kyle, Honorary Associate Director of the Royal Shakespeare Company. Critics praised Vantyler as a "tour-de-force", Howard Loxton of The British Theatre Guide noted that Vantyler gave a "stunning performance" continuing with "The promoter may be an exploitive conman but the actor is charismatically watchable. He gives the man a capacity to charm as well as making him ruthless, yet his face is a mask, and it is not painted on".[29] Bella Todd of Time Out offered that "Jos Vantyler's sensuous-lipped, sinister-eyed Master of Ceremonies ... conjures romance, rivalry and crises from thin air".[30] For his portrayal, Vantyler received a Best Male Performance of 2012 Nomination by the OffWestEnd Awards[31] and the Theatre Choice Awards for Outstanding Performance In a New Play.[32]

In 2015, Vantyler played the intelligence officer and Foreign Office official Guy Burgess in the television series The Secret Files.[33]

Working again to great success on the world premier of Flying Into Daylight for Belfast writer Ron Hutchinson and Live Theatre Artistic Director, Max Roberts with writer, Hutchinson, making his directorial debut. The play was a two hander and told the story of Virginia ( Summer Strallen ) and her journey of self-discovery through finding herself obsessed with the Tango. Jos played tango teacher Marco as well as every other male role in the play. The press said of his performance "Best Actor goes to Jos Vantyler for his versatile performance in Flying into Daylight.".[34] He received The Journal Culture Award for Best Actor.[35]

In 2016, in the Film Short, Tango Down, by Emmy Award winning writer Ron Hutchinson, Vanyler played the lead Tim. The downtrodden finance who turns to murder to save his upcoming wedding.

Political playwright Shaun McCarthy[36] wrote Circus Britannica, "captivating and unusual, new play creates a disturbing world".[37] The play explored immigration and xenophobia set within the British Circus. Vantyler played Stevie, the young protagonist if the piece. The character Stevie was a trapeze artist, and so Vantyler had special coaching and choreography on trapeze from Britain's oldest professional woman aerialist Helen McCall. Whats On Stage said of Vantyler "Jos was born to play that role" and gives "an outstanding performance".[38][39]

Musical Theatre

Chitty Chitty Bang Bang (musical) written by Richard and Robert Sherman with book by Jeremy Sams was revived by director James Brining and multi Olivier Award winning choreographer Stephen Mear in 2016, Vantyler took over the role of The Childcatcher to major critical acclaim "the amazingly talented Jos Vantyler".[40] He is one of the youngest actors to ever play the part. The Bristol Post wrote "the scariest villain of all time is The Child Catcher (Jos Vantyler), and he was no less frightening on the stage than he was on the big screen, so be prepared for those fears to be reignited."[41] "the show's limelight is overwhelmingly pilfered by Jos Vantyler's malevolent Childcatcher, performing a less snivelly but equally intimidating interpretation of Robert Helpmann's original villain. Preceded [sic] onto the stage by his own silhouette, Vantyler's scourge of childhood happiness induces boot quaking from adults and children alike, making his fellow villains seem mildly mediocre by comparison." Edinburgh Guide.[42] "The Childcatcher has to be most people worst nightmares, everyone remembers that character as a child. To bring that to life on stage and be absolutely terrifying is a challenge, one that Jos Vantyler nails. He was the perfect Villain, the children around me (and possibly even myself...) were shivering in their seats whenever he came on. A performance I shall remember for a long time!"

During the 2018–19 season, Vantyler played the part of Ms Gulch/The Wicked Witch of the West in The Wizard of Oz at the Birmingham Repertory Theatre, directed by Liam Steel. The production was the first of its kind, " electrifyingly bold reworking of The Wizard of Oz.".[43] The Times "Jos Vantyler as the Wicked Witch of the West sports thigh-high patent spike heels and a blood red wig alongside the traditional green visage, and speaks in a genteel drawl...its an enjoyable quirky portrayal: part bitter Tennessee Williams-ish faded belle, part drag queen"[44]The Guardian wrote of Vantyler's performance " Jos Vantyler cackles as a turbaned, cocktail-swigging Wicked Witch of the West. But this performance is played with sincerity and smarts, avoiding easy camp which might have diffused the peril."

Awards and nominations

  • Won - BEST NEWCOMER AWARD The NYC Star Awards - Rodolfo A View From The Bridge
  • Nomination - BEST SUPPORTING ACTOR NYC Review - Oswald Ghosts
  • Nomination - BEST ACTOR Critics Choice Awards - Jeremy Prophecy
  • Nomination - BEST MALE PERFORMANCE Off West End Awards - Tom Sawyer Huck
  • Nomination - BEST MALE PERFORMANCE Off West End Awards - Mel Carney Dead On Her Feet
  • Won- OUTSTANDING PERFORMANCE IN A NEW PLAY Theatre Choice Awards - Mel Carney Dead On Her Feet
  • BEST ACTOR in PERFORMING ARTIST OF THE YEAR - The Journal Culture Awards - Flying Into Daylight

References

  1. 1 2 3 "News - The definitive guide to London's Off West End theatre scene, featuring listings and details for over 80 theatres, news, discussion and exclusive special offers". OffWestEnd.com. Archived from the original on 14 September 2011. Retrieved 3 August 2012.
  2. ↑ "#1 Site for Broadway Shows, Theatre, Live Entertainment, Tickets & More!". Broadwayworld.com. Archived from the original on 19 July 2011. Retrieved 3 August 2012.
  3. ↑ Davis, Clive (7 June 2023). "The Fir Tree review — a witty reboot of Hans Christian Andersen". ISSN 0140-0460. Retrieved 7 June 2023.
  4. ↑ Akbar, Arifa (22 December 2022). "The Fir Tree review – a must-see festive family fairy tale". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 7 June 2023.
  5. ↑ "One of the best nights of my life: Hampstead Theatre's Peggy for You reviewed | the Spectator". Archived from the original on 21 June 2022. Retrieved 21 June 2022.
  6. ↑ Maxwell, Dominic. "Peggy for You review — Tamsin Greig is superb in this Alan Plater revival". The Times. Archived from the original on 21 June 2022. Retrieved 21 June 2022.
  7. ↑ "Macbeth review: Something wickedly brilliant this way comes".
  8. ↑ "Stage Voices website". Stagevoices.com. Archived from the original on 16 July 2011. Retrieved 1 February 2018.
  9. ↑ Austin, Jeremy (18 September 2008). "The Stage / Reviews / Prophecy". Thestage.co.uk. Archived from the original on 12 October 2012. Retrieved 3 August 2012.
  10. ↑ "Arts & Culture | the Times and the Sunday Times". The Times. Archived from the original on 21 June 2022. Retrieved 21 June 2022.
  11. ↑ "OffWestEnd.com - News - The definitive guide to London's Off West End theatre scene, featuring listings and details for over 80 theatres, news, discussion and exclusive special offers". Offwestend.com. Archived from the original on 14 September 2011. Retrieved 1 February 2018.
  12. ↑ "Prophecy - Reviews - Jun 9, 2010". Theatermania.com. 9 June 2010. Archived from the original on 25 June 2022. Retrieved 3 August 2012.
  13. ↑ "Susannah York". London: Telegraph. 16 January 2011. Archived from the original on 6 January 2018. Retrieved 3 August 2012.
  14. ↑ "What's Onstage website". Whatsonstage.com. Archived from the original on 20 October 2012. Retrieved 1 February 2018.
  15. ↑ "jos vantyler | Search Results | Tom Wicker". Tomwicker.wordpress.com. Archived from the original on 30 March 2012. Retrieved 1 February 2018.
  16. ↑ "Huck at Southwark Playhouse - Fringe". Time Out London. Archived from the original on 18 October 2012. Retrieved 1 February 2018.
  17. ↑ Jamie Doward and Henry Dearlove (22 August 2010). "Harold Brighouse's The Game: Pampered stars, bankrupt clubs – a tale of football in the 1920s | Stage | The Observer". London: Guardian. Archived from the original on 13 March 2016. Retrieved 3 August 2012.
  18. ↑ High, Chris (24 September 2010). "The Stage / Reviews / The Game". Thestage.co.uk. Archived from the original on 12 October 2012. Retrieved 3 August 2012.
  19. ↑ Billington, Michael (26 September 2010). "The Game | Theatre review | Stage". The Guardian. London. Archived from the original on 7 April 2017. Retrieved 3 August 2012.
  20. ↑ "Love's Labour's Lost, Sam Wanamaker Playhouse, London, review: Enchantingly daft and dexterous". Independent.co.uk. 2 September 2018. Archived from the original on 14 June 2022.
  21. ↑ "The Old Vic | King Lear". Archived from the original on 29 October 2013. Retrieved 22 June 2014.
  22. ↑ Brennan, Clare (8 March 2015). "King Lear review – Jonathan Miller's production is revelatory". The Guardian. Archived from the original on 8 March 2017. Retrieved 1 February 2018.
  23. ↑ "Theatre review: King Lear - Standard Issue". Standard Issue. 10 March 2015. Archived from the original on 29 May 2015. Retrieved 1 February 2018.
  24. ↑ "King Lear. Northern Broadsides at the Stephen Joseph Theatre. 23-04-15". Patricia Rogers' Weblog. 26 April 2015. Archived from the original on 1 June 2016. Retrieved 1 February 2018.
  25. ↑ "King Lear at the New Vic Theatre". Whatsonlive.co.uk. Archived from the original on 4 March 2016. Retrieved 1 February 2018.
  26. ↑ "The Merry Wives". Manchester’s Finest. 23 March 2016. Archived from the original on 2 February 2018. Retrieved 1 February 2018.
  27. ↑ Cochrane, Valerie (23 March 2016). "Review of The Merry Wives at The Rose Theatre Kingston". London Theatre 1. Archived from the original on 2 February 2018. Retrieved 1 February 2018.
  28. ↑ "Oxford Theatre Events @ The North Wall". Thenorthwall.org. Archived from the original on 8 August 2012. Retrieved 3 August 2012.
  29. ↑ "Theatre review: Dead On Her Feet at Arcola Theatre". Britishtheatreguide.info. Archived from the original on 14 July 2014. Retrieved 1 February 2018.
  30. ↑ "Dead on Her Feet". Time Out London. Archived from the original on 21 October 2012. Retrieved 1 February 2018.
  31. ↑ "Subscription". Archived from the original on 15 July 2014. Retrieved 8 August 2016.
  32. ↑ "The Theatre Choice Awards - 2012 Nominees". Archived from the original on 26 June 2013. Retrieved 2 March 2013.
  33. ↑ "Jos Vantyler". IMDb.com. Archived from the original on 6 April 2017. Retrieved 1 February 2018.
  34. ↑ "Theatre review: Flying into Daylight at Live Theatre, Newcastle". Archived from the original on 13 March 2018. Retrieved 13 March 2018.
  35. ↑ "Culture Awards Performing Artist of the Year finalists: Hyde and Beast, Jos Vantyler and Nadine Shah - The Journal". www.thejournal.co.uk. Archived from the original on 30 June 2015.
  36. ↑ "Shaun McCarthy, Playwright and Author". Shaunmccarthy.co.uk. 31 May 2010. Archived from the original on 15 May 2011. Retrieved 3 August 2012.
  37. ↑ Broom, Anne (1 June 2011). "The Stage / Reviews / Circus Britannica". Thestage.co.uk. Archived from the original on 12 October 2012. Retrieved 3 August 2012.
  38. ↑ "Circus Britannica Reviews at The Bike Shed Theatre - Exeter". Whatsonstage.com. 1 June 2011. Archived from the original on 20 October 2012. Retrieved 3 August 2012.
  39. ↑ "A brilliant cast in immigration play". This is Exeter. 10 June 2011. Archived from the original on 29 March 2012. Retrieved 3 August 2012.
  40. ↑ "Mysite". Josvantyler.com. Archived from the original on 2 February 2018. Retrieved 1 February 2018.
  41. ↑ "Review: Chitty Chitty Bang Bang at the Bristol Hippodrome | Bristol Post". Archived from the original on 26 January 2017. Retrieved 19 May 2017.
  42. ↑ "Chitty Chitty Bang Bang (2016), Festival Theatre Edinburgh, Review | Edinburgh Guide". Edinburghguide.com. Archived from the original on 3 July 2017. Retrieved 1 February 2018.
  43. ↑ "Review: The Wizard of Oz (Birmingham Rep) | WhatsOnStage". Archived from the original on 26 August 2019. Retrieved 26 August 2019.
  44. ↑ Marlowe, Sam "Review: The Wizard of Oz at Birmingham Rep" Archived 26 August 2019 at the Wayback Machine thetimes.co.uk 3 December 2018, Retrieved 26 October 2019 (subscription required)
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