TWO - Kellie Shirley Interview

Following a sold-out run at Greenwich Theatre, Jim Cartwright’s iconic love letter to pub culture transfers to Park Theatre.

Behind the bar of a London local, the Landlord and Landlady are the ultimate hosts—serving up drinks, laughter, and a listening ear for tales of love and loss. But as the pub fills, their own masks begin to slip. When a lost boy arrives searching for his father, the bickering couple are forced to stop performing host duties and finally face each other.

In a tour-de-force performance, Peter Caulfield and Kellie Shirley inhabit all 14 characters over one glass-clinking, soul-baring night.

We caught up with Kellie to learn more about the play.

What can you tell me about TWO and your roles?
It’s a brilliant beast of a play, set in a pub, our production is semi immersive - so we’ll be pulling some pints ourselves! There’s so much for us to get stuck into and it’s all in under 90 mins - with lots of laughs as well as a few tears along the way and some 80’s bangers too - it’s the perfect theatre!

How have you and Peter Caulfield approached stripping away the tropes of the roles to find the real human pulse in each of them?
Pete and I have worked together twice before and we’re good friends, so there’s a real connection between us. The writing is so good and the characters feel real. It’s all there on the page for us to bring to life and delve into.

Moving from the Greenwich Theatre to the intimate Park90 means the audience is practically at the bar with you. How does that physical proximity change the stakes of the Landlady’s more private, haunting monologues?
You’ll have to come and see! But it was a very intimate setting at GT too - so Park90 will have a similar feel - except we’re now North of The River.

The British pub is often called the 'living room of the community,' yet they are disappearing. Do you view this production as a celebration of a culture that still thrives, or a bit of a eulogy for a 'third space' we’re losing?
I’m extremely concerned about spaces like our ‘British boozers’ post offices, theatres, libraries banks etc all shutting down… I want my kids to have access to these places when they’re older. As Al Murray (aka The Pub Landlord) says: ‘use it - or lose it!’ Too much is collateral damage from everything being on phones these days - I HATE it. Community, humanity, real life is everything. I’m a huge fan of the public house - it’s the working man’s theatre.

The Guardian describes this as an 'authentic working-class voice.' As a vocal advocate for working-class talent in the industry, what does that authenticity mean to you personally, and how do you ensure it stays grounded rather than theatrical?
Again, it’s the writing - it’s real. Authentic. The characters feel real. Go in any pub and they’ll be one of our characters in there. Pete and I love every single one of them. It’s gritty and funny and we bring as much of our own life experiences to the roles. Jim Cartwright is such an important working-class voice. And there’s nothing wrong with a dash of the theatrical - it’s theatre after all! ;)

What is it about that 1980's 'beautiful brutal poetry' that still resonates so loudly in 2026?
People love nostalgia - so for 80 minutes get to The Park Theatre, get off a screen and enjoy being transported back - maybe even order a babysham to drink - it’s gorgeous writing and funny too.”

From the high farce of One Man, Two Guvnors to the grit of EastEnders, you’ve always balanced light and dark. Which of your previous roles do you feel 'showed up' most in the rehearsal room for TWO?
Pete and I play 14 Characters between us - there’s so much to get our teeth into and we relish it. We’re both in our early 40’s so we’ve both lived a life and can draw from lots of personal experiences - my main role I suppose that’s shown up, is that I’m a mum.

You came up through the BRIT school during a legendary era. How did that environment—where you had to be scrappy and multidisciplinary—prepare you for a play that is essentially a 90-minute marathon?
I wish I could go back to The BRIT school, it’s an incredible place and shaped me as both a person and actress. I’ve ran 4 marathons in my life - so maybe that has helped! Ha.

When you’re behind the bar as the Landlady, are there specific people from your own life whose spirit you’re channeling?
Course - all the 'Enders Matriarchs and some real South London ones too!

If your version of the Landlady could give one piece of unsolicited advice to any of the regulars she serves—the advice she’s too professional to actually say—what would it be?
I think the Landlady’s one who needs advice!

If you could take one element of the 1980s 'boozer' community and plant it firmly into our modern, digital world, what would it be?
Put your phone down. See the world that’s under your nose. Go into your local and have a random chat.

Quickfire Round!
· Packet of crisps or a pickled egg? Crisps
· The best song to play on a pub jukebox at 11:00 PM? Come on Eileen.
· If you were actually running a London boozer, what would it be called? The Actress!
· The most annoying thing a customer can do at the bar? Be on their phone all night!
· Which of the characters you play would you most like to have a pint with in real life? All
· If you weren’t an actor, what would your "Plan B" career have been? No idea!
· The last book or play that made you cry? Guess how much I love you - Royal Court
· A "guilty pleasure" TV show you’re currently binging? Gogglebox
· What’s your "power song" before you go on stage? We have an 80’s play list - featuring songs like ‘The only way is up’!
· The most "South London" thing about you? My accent & my love for CPFC!

What keeps you inspired? 

All the great films, theatre & audio made by real people, with real actors, written by humans, about real things - authenticity is everything - AI can do one!!

What would you hope someone takes away from seeing TWO? 
to save their local boozers - keep pubs & community spirit alive!

TWO runs at The Park Theatre from 1st - 25th April 2026. For tickets and more information visit https://parktheatre.co.uk/events/two/

Kellie Shirley.