Kyle Rowe is currently playing He in the psychological thriller two-hander play ECHO at King’s Head Theatre in London alongside Amara Okereke as She, with ECHO open until 17th August and the script written by Susan Eve Haar. Earlier this year, Kyle played Tony in Abigail’s Party at the Royal Exchange in Manchester, previously performing at the theatre in Let the Right One In playing Jimmy/Torkel/Janne, and in 2024, he played Richard in Richard, My Richard at Shakespeare North Playhouse and Theatre Royal Bury St Edmunds. On screen, Kyle plays recurring character Shane Fisher in The Devil’s Hour on Amazon Prime Video, with his further screen roles including Tommy in the independent feature film Reputation, Ehud in Amazon Prime series Those About to Die, Wyde in Mood and Larry in Sexy Beast. Also on screen, Kyle will be seen in the upcoming release of Young Sherlock, for which he worked with Guy Ritchie, who is involved with the production. We caught up with Kyle about the two-hander psychological thriller play ECHO, playing Tony in Abigail’s Party and his recurring character of Shane Fisher in The Devil’s Hour.

Until 17th August, you are starring as He in ECHO at King’s Head Theatre in London, can you tell us about the show and your character?

ECHO takes place over 20 years.

We open in Act 1 with a couple – a young couple – who have their own personal struggles, both individually and as a pair (without giving anything away). What we see unfold is raw, visceral, and, in some ways, beautifully devastating. We watch them trying to find happiness in one another and in themselves, or perhaps, someone else…

The second act comes back to the same hotel room, 20 years later. A different couple, with different struggles. That’s all I’ll say…

I play He – or Rog – and he is at the heart of this piece, alongside our female character She, played by the incredible Amara Okereke. We see him at different points in his life. That is all I’ll say.

But Rog is an incredibly generous, kind, and loving – yet complex – human being, as we all are. He is at the heart of this play and, through every beat, wears his heart on his sleeve. But sometimes, that’s the architect of his downfall.

There is so much of Rog in me, and it’s an absolute honour to bring him to life.

Was there anything that drew you to the psychological thriller play and how was it reading Susan Eve Haar’s script for the first time?

I just fell in love with the script as soon as I read it. It’s fast-paced – electric, in fact – but it’s also funny, heartwarming, and heartbreaking all at the same time. It’s not often I find myself in a love story with my work (so far anyway), be it a very complicated and twisted love story, it’s a love story and the text does the work – the language is, in some ways, poetic without being poetry.

The relationship between the characters is what drew me in: the fractured love and the fragility of them both as human beings had me so excited from the first read.

Yes, there’s science in there (which I was shocking at in school, so I hope my high school teacher is proud of me). Yes, there’s the debate of life: what it is, how it should be lived. And with every corner you turn in this play, the journey just goes up a gear.

But at the centre of it are two human beings, who love, have loved, did love? Do love? It’s humanity at the heart of this, and survival.

They are the stories I want to be a part of, to tell, and to bring to life, and I feel very lucky to be doing so with ECHO.

How has it been rehearsing for the show and meeting and working opposite Amara Okereke (who plays She)?

Amara is incredible.

We knew ‘of’ each other before we started the process – we had trained at the same acting school in London – so it was nice to have some kind of familiarity on day one because it can be terrifying, especially with this process. Being a two-hander, it’s absolutely game over if you don’t get on, isn’t it? But it’s been a dream.

This play is so intimate, and in places it pushes the boundaries of physical contact – it’s sensual and erotic – and I cannot stress enough how comfortable Amara has made me feel from day one.

We only had two weeks to rehearse this show, and it was tough at times. You live in your head a lot as an actor at the best of times – let alone when you’re staring down the barrel of a 90-minute play rehearsed over two weeks. But again, Amara and I have just put our faith in one another. We reassured one another, helped one another, confided in one another, and having someone in the room with as much creativity, flair and fun as she does has made the process a joy.

I’d be lying if I said there wasn’t an element of fear there early on – and actually at points further down the line – but we worked hard. We did our homework. And we came into the room and made it our playground, and now, hopefully, we have something we can be proud of.

It’s also difficult coming into a role that has been done before, especially when it’s with the same director. But Abigail (Zealey Bess) has been amazing at letting us find our own version – and that has been really refreshing.

How have you prepared for taking on the role of He and what is the character like to play?

Well, I looked at it and thought: right, two weeks. Better get learning those lines, haha.

But no – it all comes from research of what you have: the world of the play, the characters, their relationship, and what exists within that. You know the play touches on mental health – or certainly we see the characters experiencing struggles – and our work is to try and attempt to understand that. I firmly believe that no matter how incredible an actor you may be, you can’t fully understand it until you have lived it. So I just did all I could to get into the headspace of Rog and what he’s experiencing, what’s in front of him in life, and what he has experienced and lived through to get him to this point. Then, when you walk out on stage, you just have to forget it all and play the moment. Know that the work is there and just play.

I love walking out on stage as Rog every night. He’s a joy to play – challenging at times – but that’s what keeps you coming back for more as an actor. It’s such a roller coaster of emotions from start to finish. A lover, a hero, a villain – he’s all of them, and everything in between. At the heart of it, all he wants is to love and be loved. That’s what’s so delicate and devastating about this play.

Who do you think will enjoy watching ECHO and why would you recommend booking tickets for the run at King’s Head Theatre?

I think ECHO is a show for everyone, in its own right.

I don’t think it’s an easy watch – but that’s what theatre should be. It should be provocative. It should ask questions, get you thinking and questioning. I think this show does that from start to finish.

It’s tough being up there every night, in the best way possible. There has to be an investment in every emotion on show. We have to feel it, because there’s nowhere to hide. It’s electric. It’s rigorous. It’s physical and sensual and sexy, and to feel all them things in a day of work is an absolute dream.

There are going to be people who watch this who have experienced, lived, or witnessed someone living the events. Our job as actors is to do those human beings justice – to do our best to live in those shoes, to feel, somewhat, what they feel, and live as they live. If I can do that justice every night, then I have done my job…

It’s an actor’s dream. There are ups, there are downs, and there’s in between. As I mentioned earlier, the realism of this piece is what makes me love it so much. Yes, it’s psychological. Yes, it’s a thriller. But at its heart is two human beings – or four, if you like – trying to navigate life, navigate their relationship, and that’s what sings to me.

To specify a demographic would be silly. Old, young, single, married, trying for kids, not trying for kids – it appeals to everyone on so many levels. Scientists – the lot.

I just hope that people do get to see this show because it’s a special one. It really is.

Earlier this year, you had been playing Tony in Abigail’s Party at the Royal Exchange in Manchester, how did the run go and what was it like taking on the role of Tony?

Oh, I love that place, honestly. It’s where I discovered what theatre can be.

BRITANNIA WAVES THE RULES by Gareth Farr, which featured my now very good friend Dan Parr, was the first show I saw in a theatre that made me realise: stories like mine, about people like me, from where I’m from can make it to places like this?

I have been very lucky to work there twice now, and I just love the building. The people in there. It’s just the most special place to work. To be given the opportunity to take on the cultural classic that is Abigail’s Party was incredible.

Our cast was incredible, and it just made the whole process an absolute dream. Tony was the silent assassin, in my eyes. He says so much without saying much at all. But to exist in that space, in that story, with that cast every night, was an absolute honour.

You’ve previously worked at Royal Exchange in Let the Right One In as Jimmy/Torkel/Janne, can you tell us about this?

This was my first time at the Royal Exchange, and what an experience it was.

This is such an iconic piece of theatre, and to play this out in my hometown was the most incredible feeling. Playing three characters is always going to be a challenge, but it’s about exploration and play. Our director set up the most refreshing space to be able to explore and discover, and that is all you can ask for as an actor.

What did you enjoy most about performing as Richard in Richard, My Richard at Shakespeare North Playhouse and Theatre Royal Bury St Edmunds in 2024?

I think, for me, it was about breathing new life into such an iconic person in history – because who’s to say who Richard was or wasn’t? That was what was so freeing about the process: it was a new Richard. And – excuse the pun – it was my Richard.

Katie (Posner), our director, was the best in encouraging that. Because it can get scary, and it can get you questioning all that you do. But this was a telling that hadn’t been told before – one that hadn’t been questioned or examined. And with that came a freedom. A chance to create and redefine.

How would you describe your character Shane Fisher in The Devil’s Hour and how is it playing a recurring character in the series?

Shane feels unpredictable and dangerous, and that is absolutely what I love about him. He’s like a caged animal.

I think, playing that across the series, you have to look at his journey – his wants, his needs, his experiences – and how they have shaped him. Because we are all a product of our environment. I am a firm believer in that.

There were a lot of conversations off screen with our wonderful director Johnny (Allan), about how Shane had arrived at this point. And that’s what I find so fascinating about this work.

I find myself so lucky to be a part of the invisible stuff – the stuff the audiences don’t see – that help you, as the actor, arrive in a place where you feel, and hope, you’re doing this person justice.

What was it like filming for the independent feature film Reputation as Tommy and playing Ehud throughout the Amazon Prime series Those About to Die?

Reputation was an absolute buzz to shoot – and I mean, to get the chance to work opposite James Nelson-Joyce was incredible.

This film was shot on a shoestring budget, but that’s what made it so amazing. It was a team, pulling together for the love of the work and what we do. One thing I loved about this shoot was that, because we hadn’t locked off any roads or sets as such – obviously a budgeting thing – we were just excited amongst the community we shot it in. For me, that was so special.

Those About to Die was such an experience. Rome in the sun was so much fun. I mean, isn’t it just the dream to travel and work? I spent a few weeks out in Rome on this one and fell in love with the place – the people, the culture, the food!

But back to the work, haha – this was such a big-budget project, and it was such an incredible experience. We shot on, I think, the biggest indoor stage/studio in Europe, and the technology and the teams were just insane!

It was, of course, an absolute honour to be part of such an iconic story – perhaps one untold in some ways: the history of gladiators. Where they originated from, how they were founded and funded – it was fascinating.

Again, coming back to the research, it was so fascinating to read about it all and dig into a period about which I had zero idea. I loved every second.

How was it playing Wyde in Mood and Larry in Sexy Beast and what was it like on set of both?

Wyde was probably one of my favourite shoots to date – funnily enough, along with Sexy Beast. It was just so much fun.

It was a comedy role in some aspects – although yes, there were a lot of graphic scenes, scenes of a sexual nature, and some very sensitive subjects throughout. But I don’t find myself in comedic roles very often and so it was just so refreshing to be able to play around, have some fun, have a laugh.

I think the joy in this role was the absurdity of how seriously Wyde took himself and how highly he held himself. I think that was my favourite part about this character.

Larry was a beast of its own – what an absolute privilege to be part of such a cult classic remake.

I was back home in Manchester whilst we shot in Liverpool, so it was so nice to spend some rare time with family. Larry wasn’t in the original, and so, again, in some ways, I had the license to thrill – to make him my own without, perhaps, any preconceived ideas.

He was a menace, he was a hot head, he was unpredictable and wild. I loved that about him – he always had a point to prove, and by god, did he prove it. I fell in love with him as soon as I read the script, and from the first meeting I had, I just hoped and prayed it would be mine.

The cast and crew were incredible – honestly, it was such a dream job. It’s not often you meet a bunch of people like we did on that job. From the hair and makeup team, to the runners, to the drivers – it just felt like one big family. And all these years later, I still miss it!

We understand you have filmed for the upcoming release of Young Sherlock, what can you say about this and what are you looking forward to for the release?

I can’t say much – but, as always with Guy (Ritchie), it’s such a brilliant piece of work, and I feel very fortunate to have worked on it.

I’m really excited just to see all the stunt work I was involved in. I’d spent a few weeks at fight camp with an incredible team of stunties, and in some regard, it was the first time I’d done something like this on a big scale. I was petrified at first, because it’s more like a dance than a fight, and my rhythm is all over the place, haha! But they were patient. We all persisted (more so them with me), and I hope we got some great stuff that I can be proud of!

How different do you find live theatre to screen work and what do you enjoy about each?

Do I think they’re different? In some ways yes, and in some ways not at all.

We have to adapt our skills, you know – vocally, for example, play the real space – on stage, making sure that each and every person in that audience can hear you, in comparison to TV where we are very lucky to be mic’d and almost any sound is going to be picked up.

I think the buzz of live theatre is incomparable; there’s no second chance. You’re there, you’re in the moment, and that’s all you’ve got – the here and now. No resets or ‘go again’. It’s alive, it’s cooking (hopefully), and there is no feeling in the world like it.

I also love the collaboration with theatre – just playing around with your cast and creatives, building relationships and understanding, or trying to understand everything, pick it apart, put it together – it’s a dream!

TV – you do your prep and you hope it’s right.

How did you get into acting and was it always something you wanted to do professionally?

I always played football when I was younger, and that was the career path I wanted to take. And, as always – the classic – I got injured at about 17 or 18, and so decided to go to college to be a P.E. teacher.

Very quickly, I realised it wasn’t just playing sport – it was science and maths and everything I was awful at. I’m not an academic at all!

I was studying at Loreto College in Manchester, and a wonderful teacher, Danny Price, had put his faith in me and was really the first person who believed in me to achieve something. I wasn’t the best at school – I was the loud one, the class clown, the mischievous one – and so I went to Loreto and studied a BTEC in performing arts alongside my A-levels. But I very quickly realised the acting was all I cared about.

From there, I was introduced to the idea of acting school, which I had no idea about. So I left college and, in my second year of trying, got into acting school in London. I did my three years of training, and here I am.

It sounds incredibly simple, but it wasn’t. There has been a lot of sacrifice and blood and sweat and tears along the way. Overnight Megabuses, the lot. But I am so grateful for everyone who has been there for me, guided me, and helped me become the man I am today – and I hope they are all proud of me.

Was acting something I wanted to do professionally? Hmmm, I just wanted to work. Genuinely – I know that’s a rubbish answer – but I feel so lucky and fortunate and privileged to still be working as an actor in the crazy world the industry is now. So I’m going to hold that as my answer: I always just wanted to work. And here I am! Doing it, and hopefully I continue to do so!

What are some of your favourite films, TV and theatre shows to watch, and how do you like to spend your free time?

I love Jimmy Grimble – it’s close to home, it’s about Man City!

Bronson – an absolute masterclass from Mr. Tom Hardy. And I love The Good, the Bad and the Ugly – me and my dad used to watch it all the time, and it’s just stuck as an all-time favourite!

TV-wise, I love the hard-hitting BBC and ITV dramas: Happy Valley, Little Boy Blue, The Virtues, Time… I mean, there’s a Stephen Graham pattern developing, isn’t there? But those real-life dramas, for me, hit differently!

My spare time is spent with my little cockapoo. I like to keep myself fit – at the gym, running of course – and spending time with my partner! The things that keep me sane amongst the madness of the industry. I love cooking, and I absolutely love shopping for stuff I don’t need!