BWW Interviews: Craig Mather on LES MISERABLES, Debut EP And More!

Perhaps best known for his performance as Marius in Les Miserables at the Queens Theatre and for starring as Melchior in the German premiere of Spring Awakening in Frankfurt, Craig Mather is a multi-talented actor, musician and singer-songwriter whose debut solo EP is due to be released on November 11th.

Stroud-born Craig studied music and performing arts at A Level and then went on to train at Mountview Academy of Theatre Arts. Since ending his West End run in Les Miserables, he has concentrated on the music side of his career. He plays piano, guitar, ukelele and drums, composes music and writes lyrics and has beeen busy recording a 6 track EP of his own songs.

Taking time out from preparing for the launch gig for his EP (at the Black Velvet Club on November 10), Craig talked to BWW about his acting career, his EP and more.

To begin at the beginning - when and how did you first decide that you wanted to be an actor and singer?

Well, at Secondary School I was kind of involved in the music side of things - doing GCSE music, A Level music. I also did A Level in Performing Arts and before that got involved in various school productions. My first lead was Nanky Poo in The Mikado when I was about 14/15. I think my first ever role was an Elf in a pantomime and I did loads of other little things - my final role in a school production was Jean Valjean in Les Mis. Then someone said "you should go to drama school" - I was doing it as a hobby really. Funnily enough, my music I thought would be my profession and acting would be a hobby - but actually it swapped dramatically within like three months. Then I got into drama school and that was it. I just fell into it - a very lucky boy really.

And your first professional job was Melchior in Spring Awakening in Frankfurt?

Yeah.

How did German audiences react to that show?

They loved it! We were like celebrities. I don't think I've ever been treated so well in my life. It was the German premiere of the musical. The original play had been banned there. It was quite scary at first - the show's a bit "out there"! But they really seemed to enjoy it.

And then you were cast as Marius in Les Mis?

Yeah.

What particular aspects of performing in Les Mis did you enjoy the most?

Getting to play a role that every young man dreams of playing for nearly two years - it was a dream come true. And it was a great time to join the cast - soon after the performance at the O2 - in my eyes, the best time to be in Les Mis.

What were the biggest challenges in tackling the role of Marius?

Not to play him the way everyone else played him. And also, sometimes Marius can come over as a bit "wet", so I wanted to avoid that. So I just tried to think about every scene he's in and ask myself "what is he thinking here?" and "why is he in that mind-set?" And I tried to bring a fresh energy to it.

And what about the future? Is there a particular role you'd love to play or anyone in particular you'd really like to work with?

I'd love to play Albert in War Horse but I'm not sure I'm exactly right for it. And there are loads of roles I'd love to play - but I'm in a weird kind of bracket right now. I have a mature sounding voice and I'm quite mature as a person but I look really young - so I'm too old to play a kid but look too young to play more mature roles....I'm going to start a new job in December - but I'm not allowed to tell you about it!

As well as being an actor, you're also a drummer, a guitarist and a song-writer? Can you tell everyone a little about that?

Like I said before, that's what I thought my life was going to be. I'm a drummer mainly - I've drummed for bands since I was about 12/13. I taught myself to play guitar when I was 15 - my sister had a guitar for her birthday and I started playing it - and I got hooked! Then I started writing songs - they weren't the greatest songs in the world but they've kind of grown and grown. And I love that process - nothing's wrong or right in song-writing, it's your own thing. But when you start to put them out there, it gets quite scary - they're my babies and you don't know what anyone else is going to make of them.

And you've recently recorded your first EP as a singer-songwriter?

Yes.

Who would you say are your major musical influences?

I have so many! I've grown up with so many different kinds of music. It was really hard to pin-point when working on the album - there are so many genres that influence me. So it can be very sporadic. And as an artist you need to be very specific and clued on to what you do best and then you can develop that when you become more successful. But to start with - EP number 1 is just to test the waters.... 2 and 3, you can pin-point something more specific....But back to the original question! I guess my influences range from Maroon 5 to Robbie Williams, from Jason Mraz to Jamie Cullum...and more....

Do the songs on your EP have any particular style or genre that they fit into?

Not really sure - I try to avoid that question....Definitely pop - though I think I may have invented my own genre! Not sure if that's a good thing or not!

And there's going to be a launch gig for the EP? What are the details of that?

Yes - the launch gig will be at the Black Velvet Club in Kensington on Sunday November 10. And the EP will be released the following day, Monday November 11.

Finally - would you say you see yourself now as more of an actor or more a singer-songwriter?

Neither. I'm just Craig...