How Not To Act

The cast of the 2005 British, 80's sci-fi/horror television series spoof 'Darkplace' discuss their views on acting in the show.. as their characters.. Most likely all improv.. fantasitc comedians here.
To make sense of it, this is the 'Darkplace' cast:
Richard Ayoade - Dean Learner (Thornton Reed in the show)
Matt Berry - Todd Rivers (Dr. Lucien Sanchez in the show)
Matthew Hollness - Garth Marenghi (Dr. Rick Dagless, M.D in the show)

[@KKAkuoku]

It's frightening how Darkplace was shot in the 1980s and yet all of the key players have maintained their youthful looks two decades on

[@raminybhatti5740]

I would imagine they have access to a great plastic surgeon...

[@raminybhatti5740]

***** - I think so.

[@alasdairm5171]

Adam Stringer - Really, I thought KK Akouko was joking. Perhaps I'm just delirous.

[@Morrinn3]

Adam Stringer Whooosh...

[@ArnoldJudasRimmerr]

It's the money. Imagine how wealthy Garth and his mates have to be...

[@Rintin07]

"Dean is one of the truest people I've met. He will not lie... to me."

[@saturn1returns]

He's true but lies to everyone except me.

[@MrBoBoTom]

The ironic thing, is the actual Matt Berry's acting here is fucking amazing.

[@Letmegetthatforyou]

+MrBoBoTom And the thing about blinking comes from "Michael Caine: Acting In Film"

[@davilathegreat]

Yeah, I really wish he got more work. He has a fantastic voice. He should do voiceovers.

[@TomGallagherSuperboyBeyond]

@@davilathegreat hes doing just fine. Toast of London was fantastic. Those Volvic adverts he did as the volcano were hilarious. And now he's starring in an american tv series version of the film "What we do in the shadows" by Taika Waititi (Thor Ragnarok)

[@sabatheus]

*looks to the side and puts fist to mouth* "FATHER!!!" *points* "Speak, prrrrrrriest!"

[@TwistedThor187]

@@sabatheus unhand me priest!

[@drudle]

"Mr. T is sadly no longer with us." is such an off the cuff, nonsensical phrase. It cracks me up every time. Like, what line of thought would make someone just blurt that out?

[@rgrtnyjjc]

“You and he were… buddies… weren’t you” the man should have got a goddamned Oscar for that line alone!

[@manchesterbadger]

I don't care what anyone says, Dean Learner is a damn fine actor. He had me in tears in 'Skipper the Eyechild'. It takes huge skill to act with a megaphone, it's not something you can teach.

[@Manhandle730]

Look out!!! He’s got a stick!!

[@RalphBrooker-gn9iv]

@@Manhandle730Some superb stunt work by the man who collides with the wheelchair in the corridor.

[@TheDrLeviathan]

He doesn't act, he tells the truth.

[@Wilburgur]

Just re-watched the whole show. Amazing. *NEED I SAY MORE.. NEED I SAY MORE...*

[@Foohman]

Holy shit.

[@Nagevv]

lol, I just rewatched your whole show! Shit is fucking hilarious wowee

[@phantommanass]

Holy fuck, it's you, also I'll miss autism cat immensely when he's gone.

[@dillon5155]

A truly Trumpian ego

[@blaykemarsden4204]

you did this before the Willburger Channel ?

[@sunekoo]

“Have you heard of him?” “Do you know what that is?” I’ve met so many people over the years whose own sense of self importance vastly outweighs their actual talent. The characterization here is just perfect.

[@KevinHealy87]

"How would you answer the phone at home?" - "DEAN"

[@echo1344]

i think Matt Berry enjoys cracking Richard up, as soon as Richard started giggling behind the camera, Matt smirks and keeps going. its very sweet.

[@maximillianford9301]

The actual show has its moments of genius here and there, but I vastly prefer these behind-the-scenes commentaries. It's pure improv brilliance

[@RalphBrooker-gn9iv]

One of my favourite things in Darkplace is Todd Rivers’ martial arts readiness. Also his raised eyebrow in the opening credits. Also Rick Dagless’ running. Also Garth reading at the start of each episode. Also Thornton formidable ability to hold a man’s gaze. Also the noticeable influence of Department S’s Peter Wyngarde on Todd Rivers’ development as a thespian. It’s palpable. Also Rick’s preparedness to at least rinse round the key male areas despite the pressure to get on the ward without having the time for full personal hygiene.

[@CaptainAndyman]

"He seems to remember his lines, as he should do, as he wrote them that morning." XD

[@tiggerbiggo]

Here we are witnessing actors acting as actors taking about how they acted in a show within a show This is so meta it's amazing

[@DannyWilliamH]

Matt Berry crushes these "looking back" videos and as much as I love the show I find these funnier. He gets the others to lose their shit almost every time and his general portrait of a washed-up, arrogant, alcoholic thespian is supurb. They actually teach that beat bullshit in acting classes lol

[@sz5876]

DannyWilliamH it was the first time he had acted, matt berry knew Richard Ayo who was in Mighty Boosh stage show, Matt's band would open for them.

[@DannyWilliamH]

Scott Emrich Wow. That makes it that much better/funnier. I had no idea. I got into the show a bit after it was aired on Adult Swim. They started airing British comedy shows with a lot of the same actors for a few months back in - I wanna say 2008-09 or so - and I loved it. Darkplace and Mighty Boosh were instant favorites of mine but I knew they had been out a while already because I looked up Matt Berry and he had a few credits and I heard some of his music. I just had no idea that this was his first acting gig. He crushed it.

[@yellowblanka6058]

If you haven't, I suggest watching "Toast of London" where he's the main character, a washed up actor with an ego that outmatches his ability.

[@xeaux]

@@yellowblanka6058 Matt’s show Snuff Box is great, too.

[@Manhandle730]

“Need I say more? Need….I….say…..more?

[@videowilliams]

Todd Rivers. Truly an actor's actor. Especially with that "buddies" line.

[@Nihyre]

They are such good actors to be playing bad actors. Not just doing the bad acting, but being them when they aren’t acting. Genius.

[@lettylunasical4766]

His description of EastEnders was completely true. I love that you can hear the camera-man quietly laughing.

[@echo1344]

i think it was Richard behind the camera cracking up, because he was out of character asking the questions.

[@TalkSickMass]

Even Berry almost lost it.

[@TheKitchenerLeslie]

"It was like a pantomime, my friend! Bloody awful."

[@vestibulate]

Dean Learner first came to my attention in 1983. I was working for the postal authorities at the time, and the general consensus amongst the team was that Mr. Learner was certainly a unique individual. I followed his career closely right up to the day of my retirement, and I trust that degree of interest has been maintained within the department.

[@EricWolfborn]

"How do you answer the phone at home?" "DEAN."

[@dannytheman1313]

All of these people are highly skilled actors who have to act in the interviews like they are so far up their own asses all they know is shit, but also have to act like they don't know how to act. This show was absolutely amazing.

[@VinylSamuraisMusic]

Sanchez aka matt berry is a legend. This guy is comedic genius. To be honest Garth Marenghi should be considered classic. This is on level with any great British comedy. It's perfection.

[@SuperSquishface]

+ChelseaFC _Buzz Everything I've seen with Berry is prime. Toast Of London is amazing, as was Snuffbox.

[@VinylSamuraisMusic]

+The Joker honestly feel he is the most unique comedian we have had in years. Was it snuffbox with the guitar lesson? That kills me

[@SuperSquishface]

ChelseaFC _Buzz Yeah it was. My favorite one is where he says it's dedicated to his brother who committed suicide & this slow guitar jaunt starts, then this tacky 80's disco type music starts blasting, hilarious

[@rawkustime]

+The Joker Suicide pt iv (The empty room) Absolute gold!

[@SuperSquishface]

rawkustime Yeah, The Empty Room, that's it! Classic! Matt Berry is gold, we need him writing & starring more than he has in the past. Glad Toast is on now though. Him & his silver cowboy boots.

[@sausas8209]

"Mr. T sadly is no longer with us." Why is that so funny?

[@torgosaves427]

I think it's because he's so confident that he's right

[@MegaDonGallo]

Matt Berry has a voice that could make a wolverine purr

[@MainDrainStudios]

+vomittie how 'bout that Toast Of London ey? total brilliance!

[@54spatula]

+vomittie So true. I didn't expect Mr Reynholms son to produce something like 'Kill the Wolf'. A stroke of genius.

[@KatieCatWalker]

Matt berry has a voice that could make a wet beaver purr

[@andrewrobertson3894]

Cathleen Walker "Whiskey!"

[@A-small-amount-of-peas]

He's a man lion with a lavender voice

[@MichaelCasanovaMusic]

"Garth and Dean? They wouldnt be aware of any beats or any style at all" hahahaha

[@yellowblanka6058]

"Floating objects?!?! It beggars belief!........goodBYEE"

[@WolfGr33d]

11:55 Richard giggling in the background and Matt trying not to smile too much from it.

[@Samn3212]

5:02 where he progressively gets more pissed off and crescendos into that 'no' will stay with me for the rest of my days. Amazing.

[@cluckendip]

They did a great job of recreating the 80s setting, don't know how hard that would have been in 2004 but they nailed it.

[@edward4840]

"If you can't get it in one take, then you're not a real actor" I think that sums up the fake show in a sentence

[@whowantsabighug]

I love how you can slightly hear the crew hiding laughter in the background.

[@rhyssanders9122]

I bet Matt Berry's apartment smells of rich mahogany, and that he owns many leather-bound books

[@Lawful_Rebel]

That goes without saying. 😏

[@AM-bf1hx]

Shite patter

[@Gordon.Pinkerton]

@@AM-bf1hx bit rich coming from someone with that username

[@AM-bf1hx]

Ok....Jacob 👀🤭

[@MsMurphster123]

"I said Dean, think about next months rent" hahaha

[@davidiainmcmahon]

The best thing about this is I got most of the stuff he's talking about in lectures on my theatre course. I feel like such a wank looking back at it now.

[@patrickmoody33]

Love how you can hear the interview just cracking up with Matt Berry Just holding it together and smirking

[@sununconquered]

"reach the MAAAN... at the back of the hall..."

[@yellowblanka6058]

"While keeping the INTIMACY for the front row"

[@Retrostar619]

"He's not an actor but uh, not many of them were.."

[@tkhushrenada]

I wonder if Matt Berry actually does theatre. He's got the presence

[@JMC77]

Hearing the corpsing at the end is hilarious.. You can see Matt feeding off of it. Genius.

[@PuissantAlgernon]

Pretty sure that at 12:00 you can hear the cameraman (possible Richard Ayoade) desperately trying not to laugh

[@samlatifi3254]

He seems to remember his lines... which he should do since he wrote them... that morning! 😂😂😂 Dean's not an actor... Dean will not lie... TO ME 🤣 It's all going so well until the last couple of words. Great writing.

[@OldCouches]

I feel like these bits were mostly improv once they started doing direct interviews

[@marcuswalters8093]

This is magic. Goddamn magic. Mr. T is still alive BTW.

[@lordhoot1]

The thing is, Todd Rivers is right: Peter Wyngarde was genuinely a very good actor.

[@PhilosophyLeckie3]

lordhoot1 true & he died this yr

[@mburkhart13]

You can hear the camera man starting to lose it at 11:58. I lost it way before then...

[@nigelwalker6103]

Some of this rings true. When I did acting classes for camera there was a lot of focus on eye lines. So the whole look at the door then look at him then back at the door actually could be a real direction given to an actor. Also, the thing about blinking making you look weaker is true or at least something that is taught. Michael Caine, in particular, said that.

[@kreilly1875]

The best 12 minutes and 43 seconds on you tube.

[@raminybhatti5740]

10:04 - 11:07 Probably the finest bit of comedy in this genius show, and that's saying a lot because it's not even part of the main "hospital" storyline.

[@brieflycake]

Quite refreshing to hear someone accurately describe EastEnders. I don't think that part was even acting. It was the truth.

[@anndra8687]

That's what the show is about. Eastenders has actors. Darkplace had the Truth

[@spartan.falbion2761]

I enjoy the improv extra material even more than the cutting-edge scifi series. You can tell from their deep insights that they were years ahead of their time.

[@theviledelinquent3920]

This is so surprisingly subtle in a lot of it's character building I'm beginning to wonder how much of this was intentional. What I mean is that the framing for interviews is totally wrong. You never want to have the person you're interviewing center frame, which they do numerous times.😂🤣

[@AJ-ep9is]

Matt Berry is a God. End of.

[@Dougal-Mcguire]

love matt berry

[@DannyWilliamH]

He's a champion

[@youlikeyoulike8682]

Yes....He's a great high winds actor as well.

[@ChronoKatie]

It is genuinely incredible how they came up with these fake lines. XD These 3 are absolute geniuses.

[@Jaytheradical]

I always thought if they were to make a movie about the Tom Baker era of Doctor Who, there's your Tom, Matt Berry, right there.

[@CERTIFIEDBABEWRANGLER]

This is the most serious I've ever seen Matt berry

[@leebarron3017]

If you can count Dr Sanchez as a buddy, then you have made it in life.

[@cruciferousvegetable]

That is the guy from Snuff Box. He is genius Snuff Box is brilliant!

[@GenericWhiteNPC]

whiskeyyyyy!

[@UrgersDogsbeef]

It was like a pantomime, my friend

[@19822andy]

I like how they probably killed Madeleine because she criticised Garth's writing.

[@rubberface1424]

I feel there's a lot of Oliver Reed in Todd. That blinking advice is something he mentions in an interview as well.

[@gordondean9839]

a delight to watch such brilliant actors and comedians, thank you for posting

[@TheConciseStatement]

…"But it can actually." Ayoade is a genius.

[@sonnieM]

Love everything about these actors and series... just awesome I love you all 😂 humour that most don't understand but my fave! Xx

[@Paddington_Clifford]

You're a woman....

[@gabrielmartel4710]

Richard can barely keep it together during the phone bit, love it haha

[@mariapocalypse6314]

My head canon has always been that Rivers is Steven Toast in earlier days; that he filmed Dark Place In between the time he was smoking too much Children in Need and the first series of Toast.

[@allaboutdmagic]

Matt Berry and Peter Wyngarde in a film together would be incredible. Make it happen, internet.

[@chrisgadarowski9946]

Bring back these characters in a new flick!

[@buckrogez87]

I Fuckin love this show!!!!! What a brilliant concept. Why or HOW is this not on?????? Could have wen't on and on

[@bingefeller]

I don't see Garth as an actor, he can act ... but I see him more as a dreamweaver.

[@stevokennington4350]

DEAN

[@nickjerrat]

how funny is the bit about the drum kit and acting. so good

[@Demendred]

Englands most precious treasures, these three.

[@gothcaillou]

Why does Todd Rivers always sound like he’s holding back a burp

[@pendafen7405]

He's likely fucked his stomach acid with alcoholism, plus he's taking too many deep breaths and sighing a lot (actorly mannerism). Lethal combination.

[@ferdinand1357]

You and he were...buddies...weren’t you

[@christschinwon]

I've sat in Dean's front room and watched him make a lot of love

[@dave790]

I never want this video to end!

[@r16117]

Todd Rivers (Todd, not Sanchez) is Matt Berry's greatest creation.

[@TrevorWongMusic]

Chuck Norris is not a Shakespearian actor.

[@genki2genki]

The word buddies has never sounded funnier.

[@amightyatom]

“How’d you answer the phone at home?.........”DEAN”

[@toddburgess5056]

Garth Marenghi is a man, he is a man and he is also a visionary, dream weaver, part time dimension splitter, and statesman.

[@AlphaApexAffirmations]

Oh my goodness this is brilliant.

[@ArcanePath360]

I know exactly what he means about East Enders. It's a blight on our nation.

[@nigelcarren]

'This next story is a true story... which is good news, because it meant I could knock it out in an afternoon"! I still love that line... Such a great show.

[@neilsharpson996]

It worries me how much of what Todd says actually sounds like good advice.

[@ronburgundy244]

Todd Rivers is supposed to be a classically trained actor whose career went downhill because of Darkplace. It makes sense that his advice would sound good. The part that makes it funny (and probably what made his career go down the drain) is that his acting in the show goes completely against his advice.

[@pendafen7405]

@@ronburgundy244 Yes, exactly. The joke isn't particularly that Todd is an incompetent or clunky actor who doesn't realise his own ineptitude, far from it. He knows what he's doing in terms of performing, and in the right setting is clearly good at it. Todd's risible qualities are his inflated expectations (of himself, of his career, of life in general), his condescending way of speaking and relating, and his pretentious taste (e.g., he pretends a soap opera is too good for his precious eyes, yet he gratefully took a job on Darkplace)

[@danburycollins]

Todd Rivers very much channeling Michael Cane's acting masterclass.

[@dragon6414]

“Dean, stop. . . “😂😂😂

[@dazman76]

Thanks for uploading :) I bagged the Dark Place DVD as soon as it was released, and I've watched it far too many times since then! I love this kind of stuff - in fact, I'm off to watch the first episode again now :) lol. Thornton and his shotgun make me chuckle every time...

[@nomukun1138]

He had indeed kissed the bottom of Lucifer.

[@MrBuch169169]

You and he were....... BUDdies. Weren't you?

[@ArcanePath360]

Can't believe how young Matt Berry looks compared to now

[@garyedgar9778]

Life Goals : Open a shop called Beelzebook .

[@Michaelderwogutist]

Matt Berry is just bloody AWESOME :D

[@IGameChangerI]

Matthew Hollness looks and sounds a bit like Jim Sterling.

[@Jonohobs]

IGameChangerI I was thinking the same thing! I looked at the credits below to see if it was.

[@TheShadowVendetta]

I was actually introduced to this show on one of Jim's podcasts where someone pointed out how fucking much Jim sounded like Garth Marenghi

[@anthonyleighton4754]

Matt Berry's voice is definitely his fortune ....... Mr voice over.......

[@NateHail]

Not all American's are closed-minded and unaware of different cultures. So glad I watch British TV shows.

[@borismuller86]

Scotch mist? WHAT'S SCOTCH MIST?

[@mrandresitoquerido]

man they showed this like ONE TIME in the sci-fi channel and it was the funniest thing I had ever seen

[@jarrodcross1482]

Certainly the last 30 seconds are mesmerising ...

[@trailersic]

He will not lie....to...me

[@bonesintheriver]

i can't believe how funny this is i can't i can't