Actor David Payne Brings C.S. Lewis to the Stage | Episode 026

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On this week’s On Faith’s Edge, actor David Payne talks about his portrayal of C.S. Lewis and how answering a newspaper ad on a whim, changed his life’s path. 

Philippians 2:3-6 (HCSB)
3 Do nothing out of rivalry or conceit, but in humility consider others as more important than yourselves. 4 Everyone should look out not only for his own interests, but also for the interests of others. 5 Make your own attitude that of Christ Jesus,6 who, existing in the form of God, did not consider equality with God as something to be used for His own advantage.

David Payne
Actor ∙ Creative Director ∙ Speaker
“God is NOT someone that I always see eye-to-eye with”

“Auditions for Shadowlands, British accents a help!” read an ad for a production to be staged at Nashville’s prestigious Tennessee Performing Arts Center (TPAC) in 1996. Payne, who had never been on stage before but who did have a British accent decided to audition hoping for a minor part. He staggered everybody (including himself) when he won the lead role of C.S. Lewis. The rest, as they say, is history…a successful acting career had been launched! The TPAC production sold out, Lewis’ stepson Douglas Gresham flew in for the opening night and director, Sylvia Boyd, said of Payne afterwards, “I took a chance on someone who had never acted before but was rewarded with a performance of great power and sensitivity – I felt we had found the real C.S. Lewis!”

David Payne shares his incredible journey into acting and portraying one of modern Christianity’s most beloved; author of Chronicles of Narnia, Mere Christianity, Screwtape Letters and 50+ other books, C.S Lewis.

After seeing David’s production, it’s no surprise “An Evening with C.S. Lewis” has been so well received by audiences worldwide.

Follow David:
Website: www.davidpaynedrama.com
David on Facebook and YouTube.

Writings by C.S. Lewis available on Amazon