Five Questions With: Stewart Clarke

STEWART CLARKE has recently joined the West End cast of Les Miserables at London’s Sondheim Theatre, in the role of Javert.

Stewart was recently seen in Mandela at the Young Vic. His other credits include the role of Ersnt Ludwig in the original cast of the multi-award-winning Cabaret at the Kit Kat Club, Be More Chill at The Other Palace, Fiddler on the Roof at the Playhouse Theatre for which he received an Olivier Award nomination for Best Supporting Actor in a Musical, and Loserville at the Garrick Theatre.

Here Stewart continues Musical Theatre Review’s interview series: Five Questions With…

Some performers dream of being cast in Les Misérables, particularly if they fell in love with musical theatre at an early age. Were you the same?

Absolutely. It is an iconic show for a reason. The fact that Les Mis is still going as strong as it was 40 years ago is testament to the power of the show, and the timelessness of its themes and characters. To be invited to be a part of that legacy is overwhelming, and I feel incredibly lucky. So much of the process has been so surreal already, walking into the theatre, seeing the barricade assembled for the first time, hearing the score, realising that yes, I will be singing ‘Stars’ on a nightly basis, baton very much in hand! It’s every young performer’s dream.

What is it like taking on such an iconic role as Javert – nerve-wracking and exciting at the same time? How are you approaching the character?

You’ve captured it perfectly. The absolute midpoint of terrifying and exceptionally exciting. The challenge as ever is to find something new with it, something that you bring personally that is true to you and only you. All I want is to make him truthful and bring understanding to his dogmatic approach to life. Finding beauty and glory, in order and control. Can’t wait to see what I discover!

How was the rehearsal process for the show?

Fantastic. I was astonished by the generosity of the cast, and how they threw themselves into rehearsing us all in, and also completing all their shows in the evening! The team and company were incredibly supportive. Couldn’t ask for more. I was lucky enough to see the previous cast perform and it really is an astonishing show. I’d not yet seen the new staging and it’s amazing how much is reimagined. It’s true to what you know, but also bracingly modern. It’s very exciting.

You have a number of impressive musical theatre credits on your CV, several of the shows could be described as edgy, political, satirical, discussing important themes that are still relevant today. Has that been a deliberate choice?

I’m very proud of all the work I’ve been lucky enough to do. While not a deliberate choice, I do find myself drawn to writing which has a point of view, and probably bring out my best work when really examining the depths and heights of what humans are capable of, something which is all too relevant in Les Mis.

Is it possible to pick out a highlight from your career so far? It doesn’t have to be a musical!

Too many to count! Opening night of Cabaret was particularly special though as later in the early hours of the following morning my daughter was born! Quite the 24 hours…