Could you hear the audience sweet-talking to him, I wondered?
Sure, I mean it was quite intense, he responds.
Sometimes the commentary is so intense that you just cant ignore it, he adds.
Tosin Cole; Heather Agyepong and Tosin Cole in ‘Shifters’Craig Russell
Suddenly, theyre going, Why didnt she kiss him?
Why dont she do that?!
Sometimes he found the chatter overwhelming but reasons that it showed the audience were super into it.
Adelayo Adedayo and Tosin Cole in ‘Supacell’Netflix
Yeah, more like, super into him.
It kind of helps the performance sometimes as well, he says, ignoring the bait.
The night I caught up withShiftersin late March the auditorium was packed.
It follows on fromJamie Lloyds adaptation ofRomeo & JulietwithSpider-MansTom Holland and a superb Francesca Amewudah-Rivers.
If audiences can go ga-ga over Leo Woodall in Netflix romance rompOne Day, why not Cole the Dreamboat?
Cole doesnt dismiss the chatter when I mention it.
For now, though, the plays the thing.
Where they really got into it was during discussions about bumping into your ex.
And stuff like, do you still think about them from time to time?
Theres nothing platonic about this situation, he argues.
Its a situation thats dangerous for both of them, for reasons not to be revealed here.
Its dangerous territory, which makes it even more spicy, he adds with a gleeful smile.
But its a relatable experience.
I feel like were touching on universal themes, he says.
Do they even need to be labeled as Black this or that?
Its obvious that theyre Black, but Des and Dre just live a life as normal human beings.
Its just a story about men and women, We love each other.
Yeah, weve got to scream on about it.
But sometimes we do ourselves a disservice by always labelling certain things.
He mentions Arthur MillersDeath of a Salesmanand how everyone can relate to that.
The storys just as relevant whether Willy Lomans being played by Brian Dennehy or Wendell Pierce.
We can watch an Arthur Miller play and we can see our lives with certain similarities.
I had white actors text me like Yo, Bro, I saw myself within you.
Ive just literally been in a situation like that.
No need to slap a label on it, says Cole.
Its just people telling stories about love and their experience.
I mean, if he doesnt have Dionne, theres no story.
He feels like love is the key to all, basically.
Yeah, Mr. Love, thats you, I suggest.
Mr. Love Cole, its got a nice ring to it, he says brightly.
Love certainly plays a mighty role inSupacell.
Its a mighty mirror of our world.
Rapmans script ensures that each fantastical moment is underpinned by a realistic response.
So, whats up next for Mr. Love Cole?
When something happens to him, the woolly animals try and solve the crime.
How are the sheep depicted, I wondered.
No, theyre going to be CG mixed with live-action, Cole explains.
Its going to be so cool, he enthuses.
After that, hell be back in love mode to prepare forShiftersmove into the Duke of Yorks Theatre.
