Troublesome Theo is on his way to the Bay, and he has an eye for both the girls and the cars, according to Home and Away.
But, when Theo settles in and raises a commotion, it is revealed that he is Leah’s nephew – and that he has a deeper motive for showing up on her doorstep.
We spoke with Matt about Theo’s history and how he’s adjusting to life on the soap.
Matt, welcome to Summer Bay! How have you found the first few months of filming for Home and Away?
It’s been a dream come true for the first few months of my life. For the first time, I stepped onto the set with no experience and no understanding of what was going on! The Home and Away crew has been really caring and has helped me feel at ease. I am overjoyed to have been given this opportunity and would not swap it for anything.
Could you give us any background on your character, Theo? What adjectives would you use to characterise him?
Theo is a bit of a women man who enjoys being the class clown he is… yeah, and don’t forget about fast vehicles… He is a huge fan of fast vehicles. Theo is the sort of child who lives in the moment, acting first and thinking afterwards, which, as you might expect, gets him into a lot of trouble. Theo is charming and relies on his charm to get by in life, but his charm finally catches up with him.
When Cash catches Theo speeding, he has a rough start in the Bay… Is it safe to assume that Theo will be wreaking havoc in the coming weeks?
Oh, yes! Expect nothing less than a cart full of problems from Theo. He’s travelling to the Bay to find a family member, but he’s not afraid to have a good time while he’s there. Summer Bay will be inundated with inquiries as a result of his tongue-in-cheek nature.
Theo is Leah’s troubled nephew, so can you tell us a little about what has driven him to the Bay to meet his Aunt?
Theo and his father have a strained relationship. He’s always been a little harsh on him as a kid, and it’s because Theo has repeatedly messed up. Theo has no idea what genuine love is and has never experienced it from his father, so he behaves out in order to be the centre of attention in every place he enters. As a result of this, his father is always harsh with him.
Is Leah looking forward to meeting Theo when he arrives?
Leah is perplexed as to why Theo has arrived, but once she figures it out, she is glad to have him around. When it comes to Theo getting himself into trouble, Leah is a little blinded by her love for him.
When Theo shows up suddenly, Leah’s partner, Justin, is apprehensive. Do you think Justin is correct in his caution?
Absolutely. It’s clear from the moment Theo walks in the door that something is awry. His tales never fit-up, and Theo’s arrival in the Bay seems suspicious.
Then we learn that Theo has been having problems with his father at home; can you guess what’s causing their feud?
Theo worked at his father’s auto dealership, where he committed insurance fraud. You can only imagine how this has erupted in their family, and Theo simply couldn’t take it any longer, so he had to go.
What has it been like working on set with your castmates? It seems like you’ve been working with some Home and Away legends, such as Ada Nicodemou.
It’s been a really bizarre experience. Because I grew up watching the programme, these individuals are true icons to me. So working with Ada has been fantastic, and I can’t emphasise enough how stunning these individuals are when it comes down to it. Ada is one of the most lovely people I’ve ever met, and she was so friendly to me that I’ll never forget it. They are all still there and working because they are consummate professionals and simply wonderful individuals. I also have to mention that James Stewart has been a tremendous mentor to me, and I am grateful for all of his assistance during this wild trip.
Is there anyone in the cast with whom you haven’t yet collaborated and who you’d want to collaborate on a future storyline?
I haven’t worked with my flatmate Jacqui Purvis, who has recently aired, so having a plot with her may be interesting.
What are your plans for the premiere of your first episode?
When I booked the role, my acting agencies got me a bottle of Moet, which I had kept just for the night! However, I’ll be working the day of and the day following the show, so it can’t be too large! We’re also on lockdown, so it’ll just be Jacqui and myself in front of the TV, but that’s still fun!