Enter Shikari’s Rou Reynolds tells us about his acting debut in ‘The War Of The Worlds’

Enter Shikari‘s Rou Reynolds has spoken to NME about his upcoming acting debut in Jeff Wayne’s musical adaption of The War Of The Worlds – as well as his determination to support grassroots venues and plans for the future.

Set to hit UK arenas next spring, the production tells the story of H.G. Wells’ 1898 sci-fi novel, in which an extraterrestrial race threatens the survival of humankind. It’ll see Reynolds appear on stage with The Wanted’s Max George, and take on the role of The Artilleryman — a character which has previously been played by Jason Donovan, David Essex, Kaiser Chief’s Ricky Wilson and more.

“I came across it when I was around six-years-old because my uncle was a massive fan,” Reynolds told NME. “I remember being scared by it as a kid, but then coming back to it repeatedly throughout my life. It always sparked so many emotions and made my imagination run wild, especially at that age.

“I always remember loving it, but also finding it a bit menacing. The reason why it sticks with me now though is because there are so many parallels between what H.G Wells was writing about and our world today,” he added. “With both the book and Jeff Wayne’s version, I’ve never seen it or anything like it, so to now be a part of it is exciting.”

Check out the full interview with Reynolds below, where he also told us how the plot reflects the struggles of the UK’s grassroots music spaces, his upcoming plans for Enter Shikari, and what it was like to see Coldplay follow suit in supporting the Music Venue Trust.

NME: Hi Rou. Congratulations on landing your first acting role. How did this come about?

Rou Reynolds: “Up until now, the extent of my acting has been for Enter Shikari music videos, which I don’t think really qualify! So when I got the call from Jeff’s people about the role I was as shocked as anyone. I jumped at it because not only is it an incredible opportunity, but it also meant got to tell my uncle — who introduced me to it — that I was going to Jeff Wayne’s studio. I don’t think he’s ever been more proud.

“I went to meet Jeff and he was very kind about Enter Shikari. He said he’d been following us and listening to us for a while. That meant a lot to me by itself, but then I was blown away because he basically offered me the part there and then. It felt right too because, with Enter Shikari, we also try to use theatrics and stage effects to create a show that takes you on a journey. There’s common ground, but also I know I’m going to learn a lot from it.”

Had you considered exploring acting opportunities before?

“Never. A few people in my family thought I’d go into acting because I loved drama as a kid and I loved writing stories. That interest in theatre has always been there, but I instead channelled it into what I’m doing with Shikari. To be offered an actual acting role, I was terrified – and I still am!

“I think Jeff tried to dampen my worries because he said Ricky Wilson had the same response when he was approached for the same part. Apparently he was also completely struck with fear because he’d never done anything like it either. All I can do is practice. I’ve done politically-motivated speeches during my Shikari sets before, but this is completely scripted so it’s going to be a challenge. That being said, you don’t say no when Jeff Wayne comes knocking, do you?”

It’s been over 120 years since the book was first published, and this adaptation has been on the road for 19 years now. Why do you think the story still speaks to people?

“It was so seminal and the first famous story about Earth being invaded, so it captured the imagination of so many people back then. It stood the test of time, because it’s still relevant today in all sorts of ways. Not only can you see how it inspired film and literature, but there are parallels to the existential threats that humanity faces today. Thankfully malevolent Martians aren’t at the top of our list, but there are still impending disasters like anthropogenic worries, climate change, nuclear war, and antibiotic resistance.

“Even with my role is as The Artilleryman — who decides to live underground and protect only himself from the threat — it resonated with me because I compared it to how some billionaires now are building vast underground bunkers to protect themselves from issues that might accelerate in coming decades. It’s a type of cowardice, hiding away and only looking to protect yourself. It’s a classic example of the self-interested motive that is prominent in capitalism.”

Like the plot, the music industry can also feel a bit dystopian at times. Enter Shikari have taken huge steps to help protect grassroots venues on the brink of closure. Does it feel like progress has been made since you introduced the £1 ticket levy into your tour?

“I do think there has been a revitalisation of the strive to secure grassroots venues. Even with the outrage over the Oasis ticket situation, it seems like protecting the UK live music sector has been at the forefront of people’s thoughts. We recently saw that Coldplay are going to be supporting music venues in the same way that we did! I was told that Chris Martin mentioned our name when they were deciding to do that — that was such a nice nod because we’re in a really dire position.

“We’re losing music venues up and down the country every week and it’s clear that something more concrete needs to be done. Everyone’s fed up, not just emotionally but rationally with austerity around it, and realise that it’s the public finances that have to support these venues and the arts in general. That’s something that Enter Shikari have always been behind and always will be.”

What was it like for you to hear that Coldplay were following in your footsteps?

“It was brilliant because for us it was mainly a move out of frustration since bigger venues weren’t doing their bit to support their smaller brethren. The £1 ticket donation was purely to try and apply pressure, not just to other bands, but to the live industry as a whole. I didn’t expect it to reach the level of Coldplay, so we’re absolutely overjoyed at that, but we’re still hoping to see more from the venues themselves and the government.

“It’s frustrating because so many countries support the arts so much better than we do, yet, when you think about British culture, our music is a tremendous export. It’s part of this country’s history, both culturally and financially. Hopefully there’ll be a bit more support now that we’ve got a Labour government.”

Having taken on this role, could you see yourself putting music on hold and getting into more acting?

“It’s not something I’ve thought about too much. Maybe once I’ve started rehearsals I can get a gauge for how much I enjoy it. As much as I’m happy that I’ve pushed myself to do this, I don’t see it as something that will overtake music. For me, the reason to get up in the morning is to create to write music to produce — those are still the things that really drive me. But who’s to say? I might decide that acting is something that I enjoy even more, so I’ll keep my horizons open.”

As well as The War Of The Worlds, you’re also going to be heading out on tour again with Enter Shikari soon. Have there been any talks of new material?

“We’re at the early stages of new music. We recently revisited the farmhouse where we recorded the last album [2023’s ‘A Kiss For The Whole World’] to start the process, but it’s very early days still. We’ve got a lot of touring to do first — six weeks in America this month, and then we’ve got the UK and European tour. I can write new music while on the road, but it won’t be until the start of 2025 that things really start accelerating.

“Normally, the thought of what we could do differently in a new album fills me with anxiety, but I’ve started to relax a little more this time. I know these things will naturally come and we’ve already got some good ideas brewing, but in terms of an overarching direction, we’re not magnetised in any direction at the moment which is exciting. Who knows what the world might inspire… it might be a prog rock album!”

Rou Reynolds will appear at arenas around the UK as part of Jeff Wayne’s The War Of The Worlds tour between March and April 2025. Visit here for tickets and here to find out more.

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