Giles Davies (top) is moving to Ohio for good. Credit: Photo via Stage Photography of Tampa
You’d better catch Giles Davies’ extraordinary performance in Jobsite Theater’s “Macbeth” before it closes this weekend, because after that it may be too late to see him in anything, at least not in Tampa.

The actor has split time for many years between Tampa Bay and Cincinnati, where he has a longtime association with the Cincinnati Shakespeare Company, but now he’s decided to return to Ohio for good.

It’s a huge loss for Jobsite: He has appeared in 24 mainstage productions for the theater across 14 seasons, estimates Producing Artistic Director David Jenkins, who wrote an eloquent tribute to him.

I wanted to catch Giles before he returned to the Midwest to talk not only about why he’s leaving, but also to ask him about acting—especially about playing Macbeth (which he’s done five times).

Tickets to see “Macbeth” inside Tampa’s Jaeb Theater at David A. Straz Center for the Performing Arts Center in Tampa on select nights through Feb. 9 start at $24 and increase by demand.

You were riveting as Macbeth. I don’t think I’ve ever heard the ‘tomorrow and tomorrow’ monologue done so lucidly. Tell me how you address a speech as famous as this one.

I really try to separate the speech from all that baggage, tackling it in the arc of the character and the immediacy of the moment: Why is he at this point delivering these words, these lines?

How has this speech evolved from the first time you ever played Macbeth?

In this production in particular, I really feel the bottoming out of the character. He’s working through the emptiness that he feels in the moment, and it really is the realization of the passing of his wife that causes that expression of his soul.

How many Shakespeares have you done? Have you ever counted?

I think if memory serves, I’ve done about 30 of the 37. I’m getting very close to finishing the canon. I would love to be able to say by the end of my life that I’ve managed to do them all.

What was your first role with Jobsite?

The Marquis de Sade in “Quills” in 2004. I had to bare all on stage. There’s nothing like meeting subscribers and they say, “Oh, we’ve seen your work since ‘Quills,’” and I’m like, OK, you’ve seen all of me then.

What brought you to Tampa?

Well, in between my undergrad and graduate degree [at Ball State and Ohio State, respectively], I took about five years just traveling around the world with, you know, no plans and no home. So when the winds of fate seemed to be blowing me away from Cincinnati, I began to look, okay, so where do I want to rebase myself? And my partner at the time, her family had a winter abode on Siesta Key. After spending a few weeks there, I started getting turned on by the weather, having grown up in Hong Kong. So my partner and I found a nice, reasonably priced place in Gulfport. And then I found my first job with Gorilla Theatre, and then a family with Jobsite that I fell in love with.

And I began to call into question whether, you know, the community that I was working for was really interested in cultivating the artist community that it had.

What made you decide to make the move back to Cincinnati permanent?

It was an incredibly difficult decision. Economic necessity was certainly one motivating factor. I had a big personal-life shakeup about the middle of last year which called into question my ability to sustain myself. But that in itself was not enough reason to leave. It really wasn’t until, to be honest, the cutting of arts funding by Florida’s state government. Jobsite, luckily, has grown over the years, and David [Jenkins] truly has our best interests at heart. So when the company grew, our paychecks grew. However, after losing any sort of state funding, we then had to take a pay cut. And I began to call into question whether, you know, the community that I was working for was really interested in cultivating the artist community that it had. And that leaves a bit of a bitter taste in my mouth.

What will Cincinnati give you that you aren’t getting here?

I have a strong friendship base in Cincinnati, and better opportunities for cheaper housing. There are three Equity houses that I can immediately start working and auditioning for, all of which are easy to reach. [In Tampa Bay] a lot of the community support is for non-local arts. Whereas Cincinnati is, I think, far more supportive of their local arts community.

One of my favorite roles of yours was the amazing Caliban that you did in “The Tempest.” It felt like you’d invented your own language.

Yeah, I mean, rarely as an actor can you explore your imagination outside of the limitations of humanity—when the opportunity arises to be able to portray something that is beyond human. The set of possibilities is just so much greater.

You’re in remarkable physical shape for 53-going-on-54. What are you doing to maintain that?

Luckily, I have a bad lower back, and in order to keep the pain level down, I’m forced to keep strong abdominal muscles and keep as much weight off me as possible. I’m also blessed with a metabolism that burns whatever I give it. And, you know, I’m not rich enough to feed myself nonstop. I don’t go to the gym three times a week. As long as I’m working, the way I tackle the work I think keeps me fit.

And you also have a very distinctive face.

When Adrien Brody hit the scene, a good number of people sent me his photo saying, “Hey, Giles, this guy’s got your career.”

Have you always seen your particular look as an asset?

I have learned that because of my facial features I’m the villain. Luckily, the bad guys have the best roles, the fun roles. As a side note, I will say that I always must be prepared to be the one that is pulled out of line by TSA.

What roles do you still have your eye on?

I would take any role in any of those seven Shakespeares that I have yet to do. I look forward to growing into Lear. I would love to play Scrooge.

You’re leaving Tampa on a very high note with “Macbeth.”

Thank you. I had hoped for that. I can only hope I can come back and perform for this community that I have grown to love so much. Thank you so much for the opportunity to say farewell.

This interview has been edited and condensed.
Subscribe to Creative Loafing newsletters.

Follow us: Google News | NewsBreak | Reddit | Instagram | Facebook | BlueSky

This article appears in Jan 30 – Feb 5, 2025.