Hamilton And Me: An Actor’s Journal – Giles Terera

HAMILTON AND ME: AN ACTOR’S JOURNAL – Giles Terera (Nick Hern Books – Hardback, Ebook and Audiobook)

Star rating: five stars ★ ★ ★ ★★

Giles Terera MBE is an award-winning actor, musician and writer. In 2017 he was cast as Aaron Burr in the London production of Hamilton. It was in that role that he won the Laurence Olivier Award for Best Actor in a Musical. Terera is also an avid diary keeper. He writes about what has taken place and his thoughts and fears. That diary from the beginning of the Hamilton journey is the basis of this wonderful new book.

He shares his every day thoughts starting with the exhilaration of learning he had been successful in his audition and would be cast in the role of Aaron Burr, through the fear of what was to come, the burden he would carry, the rehearsal period where he would gradually inherit the character and through to the final apex where the show would open… and beyond.

This is a thoroughly readable journal of an actor’s voyage through the rough and the smooth. He doesn’t hold back and sugar coat the experience. And what an experience it was. Many people have absolutely no idea what an actor goes through during the rehearsal period for a musical (or a play), or the thrill and numbness that hit you on the opening night. Terera has taken a careful note of everything through from the preparation to the finished product and given us a book to treasure.

This book is an absolute must for the millions of Hamilton fans out there. So much insight into the songs and scenes from the award-winning musical. All written with an openness and honesty that comes through on every page. Brilliant.

Nick Wakeham