Interview: Indonesian El Haq Latief on Their Role in Cabaret (West End) and Being a Professional Actor in the UK

El Haq Latief, Indonesian non-binary actor and performer, will join the cast of Playhouse Theater’s acclaimed production of Cabaret starting this September. It will be their seminal performance after graduating from Royal Academy of Music’s (RAM) Musical Theater program.

Starting their musical theater journey in Jakarta, El studied Performing Arts Communication at The London School of Public Relations for their bachelor’s degree. Afterwards, they performed as an actor in productions such as NURBAYA, HAIRSPRAY and THE MESS WE MAKE, and choreographed shows such as WEST SIDE STORY, DREAMGIRLS, and COMPANY.

Our regional contributor got in touch with El Haq to talk about their upcoming role as well as their experience at RAM and what it’s like to be a professional performing artist in the UK.

Hi El. Congrats on getting the role! How are you feeling right now?

I feel all sorts of things; excited, happy, emotional, grateful etc. I’m somehow still in disbelief that I’m gonna have my West End debut. 

I remember back when I arrived in London; obviously, one of the things that I was excited about was watching West End shows. But I couldn’t; in fact, I still haven’t seen most of the West End shows because of financial issues, etc etc, and it’s just expensive? (at least for me). 

When I went strolling downtown with my little skirt, a crop top, and a pair of heels, I would see them West End billboards and posters everywhere. One of the shows that really caught my attention was CABARET. At the time, I hadn’t seen the show yet, but there was something about the posters being very queer, inclusive, and free. So I quickly looked at their social media, and I just FELL IN LOVE. 

The show had just won 7 Olivier Awards, including Best Musical Revival, Best Director, Best Actor, and Actress (Eddie Redmayne and Jessie Buckley). For god’s sake, it was and still is one of the hottest West End shows in London. 

Can you tell us a bit about the show and your role?

Cabaret is a musical by John Kander and Fred Ebb. The story was set in Berlin around 1930 with Nazi ascending to power. The musical focuses on the nightlife at Kit Kat Club and revolves around Sally Bowles, a cabaret performer and Cliff Bradshaw, an American Writer. 

The show had just won 7 Olivier Awards, including Best Musical Revival, Best Director, Best Actor, and Actress (Eddie Redmayne and Jessie Buckley). It was and still is one of the hottest West End shows in London. 

I was offered the role of Helga and she is one of the Kit Kat girls. I feel so honored that as a queer person, I get to play a female identifying role. These things don’t happen very often for me, and I’m so grateful that I have the opportunity to do it on a West End stage. 

What was the audition process like?

The audition process was quite long. I had technically 5 rounds with the casting team as well as the creatives. I had my first round in early April. In the first round we learned a combination from the show, Willkommen. And then they made cuts right away. 

Second round, we learned another combination from the show, Money. And again, they made cuts. And the third round was the Singing round. I was torn whether to choose a ballad or character song from my rep because not only do I want to show my range but also character. So I decided to sing a cut of Dance: 10, Looks: 3 from A Chorus Line. And I believe they made another round of cuts. 

The 4th round was the semi finals. Before I went in, they sent us materials; songs and sides (scenes) from the show to learn. They also taught us another combination from the show, Kickline. We ended the round with re-doing the 2 combinations from the first round.

And for the 5th round, or the finals, they called me in again to sing some songs from the show, Don’t Tell Mama and Mein Herr. 

All and all, I think it was one of the most fun auditions I’ve ever been to.

After you got the role, what's the process like in getting ready to join the show? 

After graduating from RAM, I have around 4 weeks before I start rehearsals. After an intense year of training, I have used the time to really rest up and also try to get my endurance and strength back again by doing some physical exercises. 
I had also been given the script and I took the time to read and sort of analyze the script, trying to understand more about the show. Additionally, because the show is so stylistic and set in Berlin in the 1930’s, I had to delve and get more understanding about the political situation at the time in Germany and globally — which of course will help grasp the idea of the show. 

This is your first production since graduating from RAM. How did you feel your studies help prepare you as a performer?

After having one of the most intense training periods in my life, I feel like now I know more about what I’m doing (if that makes sense). I feel much more secure. RAM really provided me with the tools to become a better performer than I was before I came here. Also, the teachers and mentors have a great impact on my progress. The best thing is that they are also working artists in the industry. Sometimes I see them on a West End stage, a movie or Netflix. It’s just unreal!

What were the biggest challenges you faced in studying and working in musical theater, especially as someone not from the UK?

I feel great imposter syndrome whenever I go to auditions. Maybe it’s because of the thought that I have never had that sort of intense training before like these people did. Or I didn’t do musical theatre as my undergrad. It was just different. Like you know that they do this for a living, 24/7. But it was such a humbling experience and it gives me more motivation to work even harder. 

What are some differences between performing professionally in Indonesia and in the UK?

I feel like in the UK, the industry has become so inclusive. Like it is for everyone regardless of the gender, sexual orientation, size, skin color, race, ethnicity, etc. Like those are  not a playing factor to cast someone, do you know what I mean? The impression that I get is that they cast solely based on talent first. Period. 

Any words you'd like to share with aspiring performing artists here in Indonesia?

It feels so surreal that 15 years ago, I dreamed about being where I am right now. Then sometimes I look back, and I’m just like goddamn,  all those years, the sacrifice, the effort, the loss, the battles I was fighting on my own, it was all WORTH IT. 

Also, how liberating is it that I get a chance to do this professionally without having to hide my sexual orientation or gender expression so that I will be ‘marketable’? Instead, I get to celebrate it, flaunt it, cherish it, and most importantly, I get to be honest.

Where I’m from, there’s not a lot of queer representation—and in the few instances in which we are brought to the forefront, it often comes with its limitations. And that is why I’ve always been a part of Jakarta Performing Arts Community and then created my own community theatre, Jakarta Art House, because they were and still are the platforms for me to grow creatively and limitlessly and have allowed me to be myself. NOW, I have the CHANCE not only to be myself but also to CELEBRATE it. In a show. WEST END SHOW.

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Cabaret is running at the Kit-Kat Club, London. El Haq will debut in the musical on Monday, September 25th in the role of Helga. This production, directed by Rebecca Frecknall, has been running since 2021 and won 7 Olivier Awards. Tickets are available via their website.

El Haq's headshot by CMR Photography; all other photos by Craig Fuller.

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