KINGSTON, Jamaica — Jamaican-born Marcos James, best known for the pivotal guest star role of White Rat in Game of Thrones, as well as the series regular role of William French in Lifetime’s Keeping up with the Joneses, will return to the stage on June 4 as Minister Richard Allen — a leading role in the production The Fighting Quaker.

As part of the celebration of America’s 250th Anniversary, The Fighting Quaker, which will be staged at the El Portal Theatre in Los Angeles, takes a look at the story of unsung American hero Timothy Matlack. The story explores Matlack’s journey as he balances the task of hand-inscribing America’s Declaration of Independence with his faith as a Quaker.

Along this mission, Matlack (played by Christopher Hoffmann) comes across Minister Allen, with whom he forms a bond over the words contained in the Declaration and, in particular, the tenet that “All men are created equal.” In the story, Minister Allen, regarded as a great orator and public speaker, becomes a source of inspiration for Matlack, not only in admiration of the Declaration, but in challenging certain principles inherent to traditional Quaker Society.

For James, the role represents a return to the medium where his acting career first began.

“In many ways, playing the lead role of Minister Richard Allen is a return to my original start in the arts. Although I am primarily working in film and television now, I started off in theatre. The process of rehearsing has allowed me to constantly find new details about Minister Allen, enabling me to realistically not just ‘play’ the character but to embody the character. Being on stage has reminded me that the best form of acting is when the acting disappears and you become the person you need to portray,” he said.

According to the show’s production team:

“The scenes between Minister Richard Allen and Timothy Matlack are some of the most crucial in the production, not only because of the evident impact Minister Allen has on Matlack, but because their conversations resonate through generations, past and present.”

James also spoke about the unique preparation required for theatre and how it continues to shape his work across all mediums.

“The methodology that goes into the preparation for a theatre show is invaluable when applied to film and television. This process involves a lot of mental work, but honestly also relaxation and the ability to trust yourself and your instincts, while also allowing yourself to be guided by the director and creatives involved,” he added.

The play is being produced by legendary film producer Suzanne Matlack DeLaurentiis, herself a descendant of Timothy Matlack. Suzanne’s filmography includes Rocky V with Sylvester Stallone, 10th and Wolf featuring James Marsden, Mannequin Two: On the Move starring Buffy the Vampire Slayeractress Kristy Swanson, and more. The production is being directed by prolific theatre director Bryan Rasmussen.

James said the historical significance of the production made joining the cast particularly meaningful.

“Realistically speaking, it’s also an extreme honour to be involved in a production with such historical magnitude. It’s interesting that the producer is actually a direct descendant of Timothy Matlack. I have heard many first-hand stories about the Matlack family and their connection to American history, in casual conversation,” James added.

His previous theatrical productions include: The Lion King on London’s West End, as well as the lead hero role of Arjuna in the Sadler’s Wells production, The Mahabharata.

In the film and television space, James is currently guest starring in Season 6 of the hit television series The Family Business. In the show, he is in familiar territory as the villainous character Candy, an opportunistic self-styled underworld boss who squares up against Vegas Duncan (Michael Jai White) and Roman Johnson (Deyshaun Tucker).

In a pivotal moment for the series, the stand-off with Candy (Marcos James) acts as a crucial testing ground for Roman Johnson (Deyshaun Tucker), who needs to prove his loyalty and strength to the Duncan family. The Family Business is currently streaming on Paramount+.

Reflecting on his experience joining the series, James described the pace of the production and working alongside action star Michael Jai White.

“There was a very quick turnaround between being booked for The Family Business and being on set. Witnessing Michael Jai White take command of the fight scene was actually incredible. At the same time, it was great squaring up to Michael’s character as his main antagonist.

I have played quite a few lead antagonists in various productions, so I was more than ready for this role,” the actor said.

James has also been working once again with film and television production company Hybrid Productions and Vivica A Fox in a featured role for an upcoming production titled Wicked Wives (working title). He previously worked with Hybrid as a series regular in Keeping up with the Joneses (LMN, Amazon, Apple TV) and as a lead antagonist, Kody, in the Amazon film Cabin Pressure.

The Fighting Quaker will debut at the El Portal Theatre in North Hollywood, Los Angeles, on June 4 at 6:00pm.