A darkly comic glimpse into the world of the film extra is to be given to audiences at Bolton’s Octagon Theatre in a revival of the award-winning play Stones In His Pockets.

Set in a rural village in Ireland, life is changed when a Hollywood studio arrives to film an historical blockbuster.

The mayhem which ensues is seen through the eyes of two extras on the film - Charlie and Jake - played by Gerard McCabe and Shaun Blaney.

Gerard McCabe in Stones in His Pockets (Picture: Alex Tabrizi)“It proves to be a tough four weeks for Charlie and Jake and the audience gets to have this affinity with the characters as they experience everything that happens to them,” said Gerard.

When it was first produced 25 years ago, Stones in his Pockets ran in London’s West End for four years. It picked up both the Olivier and Evening Standard Awards for Best New Comedy, as well as three Tony nominations on Broadway.

“This production has been completely updated,” said Gerard. “For example the original script would talk about video shops which no longer exist.

“Also technology has changed which means that we can bring that into the production.”

As a result the scenes Charlie and Jake have been filming as extras can actually be shown on screens to the audience.

“You get to see the rushes, as they call them” said Gerard. “That allows for some lovely comedy moments.

“The only issue is that we filmed all the scenes to be shown on screen over a year ago. We have been touring the production since then so both Shaun and I are a little more lithe than we were. We just tell people that the camera puts 10 pounds on you!”

Review: Stones in his Pockets is a masterpiece in multi-tasking

A two-hander, Gerard and Shaun play 15 different characters between them including assistant directors, a Hollywood starlet and a priest as well as the two main protagonists Charlie and Jake.

“That does stretch you to the limit as an actor,” said Gerard, “but we have got it down to a fine art now having been on tour for a while.”

The show is a co-production between the Octagon and The Barn Theatre, Cirencester and Wiltshire Creative.

“Shaun and I didn’t know each other before we started work on this but we quickly became close friends,” said Gerard. “We’ve grown together as we’ve gone through the rehearsal process. There are so many different layers in this play and I think we have found them all now.”

The pair were also heavily involved in updating the show.

“The writer Marie Jones and director Matthew McElhinney, were very generous,” said Gerard. “They allowed us to have real input and some of the lines were changed as we felt that’s what characters would say in certain situation. That makes everything seem more natural. From the start Marie said she trusted us not to ruin the piece."

Shaun Blaney and Gerard McCabe in Stones in His Pocket (Picture: Alex Tabrizi)

Although a comedy, there is a dark side to Stones in his Pockets.

“Not wishing to give too much away but the title perhaps explains what one of the main themes is,” said Gerard. “In Northern Ireland at the moment, mental health issues affecting young men and suicide rates are at an all time high.

“Since the play was written the peace process has happened and the dividends we were supposed to reap included young people getting a better life. Something has gone wrong if we still have these issues.

“But we tackle them in a tongue-in-cheek way. I think it’s the Irish way to use black humour, use a joke with a jibe.

“The audiences go away having laughed a lot and later think about the issues. I certainly don’t want people to think it’s all doom and gloom, it’s not it’s very funny.”

Stones in his Pockets was a production which made Gerard want to be an actor.

“It was one of the first things I went to see when I was younger. I went with my mum to the Belfast Opera House,” he said. “I’d left school and my dad had got me an apprenticeship. I was supposed to be building planes for Bombardier in Belfast. I hated it and lasted two weeks.

“I went and auditioned for a B-Tec in performing arts. I had to tell my mum because she had to sign the forms but we agreed not to tell my dad until Christmas.

“It was only when I was forced to ask him for some money and he asked why I hadn’t got my apprenticeship wages that the truth came out. He wasn’t very happy about it.

“After we’d seen Stones in his Pockets my mum said ‘if you’re going to be an actor, you’ve got to be one of the best and you’ve got to be this good’.

“So I guess I have a real connection with this play. I’d never have thought that 25 years on I’d be playing Charlie in it.”

Given his experience, how realistic is the life extras Charlie and Jake experience on the movie?

“I think things are on the whole a lot better now than they used to be,” he said, “although there will always be the odd person who gets affected by the power or lets stress get to them and treat others badly.”

Given Bolton’s recent popularity as a location for film and TV, Gerard thinks Octagon audiences will be able to relate the to show on a personal level.

“They will have seen all the trucks and lights that come along with filming and the disruption that this can sometimes cause,” he said. “We can’t wait to be in Bolton with this production as we’ve been told that Northern audiences are much more responsive. They’ll get it and they will laugh out loud.”

Stones in his Pockets is at the Octagon Theatre, Bolton until Saturday, November 2. Details from www.octagonbolton.co.uk