JACK STEWART
Drama | Musical Theatre
Representing Musical Theatre we met Jack Stewart, a WACI Ambassador, from Calderhead High School. Jack talks about when his interest for Musical Theatre first began and his top music and musical recommendations.
What is your first memory of loving your artform?
I remember being really young and going to see a production of Peter Pan by a local amateur dramatics group with my grandparents. I was in the audience and had no real idea yet of what going to the theatre meant or what a production would entail. As the performance progressed, I found myself becoming more and more engrossed in the story- the magic- that was unfolding before me. By the end of the performance, I was still unaware that this could be a possible career path, yet there was something inside of me telling me that I had to be a part of what I was seeing somehow.
What are your top musical/music recommendations?
Musicals I would recommend are ‘Falsettos’ by William Finn and ‘A Chorus Line’ by Marvin Hamlisch, Edward Kleban, James Kirkwood Jr. and Nicholas Dante. Other songs I would recommend are ‘As It Was’ by Harry Styles, ‘Why am I like this?’ by Orla Gartland and ‘Dance With Me’ by Beabadoobee. Furthermore, a play I would like to recommend is ‘The Pillowman’ by Martin McDonagh’.
What’s your biggest aspiration?
My biggest dream is to obtain a successful career in Musical Theatre and to be performing with theatre credits in London’s Westend and New York’s Broadway. I hope to be given the opportunity to originate a role in a new play/ musical. Furthermore, I would hope to use my success to help other young performers like me who may not have the easiest access into their artform.
What is your favourite thing to do when not playing music?
Besides performing, my favourite things to do are cook, read, and create my own art whether that be theatre or painting/ drawing.
Why has being an Ambassador been important to you?
Being a WACI Ambassador has been immensely vital in shaping and broadening my knowledge of inclusion within the arts. As an aspiring Musical Theatre performer who has had to face many barriers, from costs to access to creative subjects at school, I have learned a lot about myself because of my experience as an Ambassador. It is because of WACI’s help that I have been able to use my training to fight for my own access to my artform. For example, I used my knowledge of the importance of studying a creative subject to be successful in studying Higher Drama, a course that my school would otherwise not provide. As a result of this, my school is now discussing the possibility of offering Drama as an official SQA subject for younger years.
If you’d like to get involved with WACI, read more here about who can take part and register for the programme here.
