Naman Ramachandran From masterminding elaborate heists for a global TV audience to sharing intimate moments with 640 theatergoers nightly, Álvaro Morte is embracing a different kind of dramatic tension in London’s West End. During a break at London’s Duke of York’s Theatre, where he stars opposite “Emily in Paris” lead Lily Collins in the play “Barcelona,” the Spanish “Money Heist” actor reflects on his return to theater after a decade dominated by screen work. “I love the vibe,” he tells Variety.
“I love the people from many places all around, together in this wonderful, vibrant city.” The play, which follows a late-night encounter between an American tourist and a Spaniard, provides Morte with a complex character harboring multiple layers. “It gave me the opportunity to perform a guy that is, in a way, performing two things at the same time,” he says. “When you have a character that you can keep discovering layers and layers, it’s always something very interesting for any actor.” While avoiding spoilers about the plot, which evolves from what appears to be a casual encounter into something more politically charged, Morte offers that the play touches on significant historical events in Spain.
“I’m so happy that I can perform a Spanish guy who is talking about something very important that happened in Spain a few years ago,” he says. The intimate Duke of York’s Theatre, seating around 640 people, has proven ideal for the production. “The stage is very connected to the audience,” Morte explains.
“You feel embraced by the audience, and I can feel how connected we are with the people.” This connection has already yielded memorable moments — after a recent performance, he met a fan who had traveled from Japan to see the show. “What you want to do as an actor is please, I want to make it worth it for her to come from Japan,” he says. Working with Collins has been a highlight of the experience.
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