Interview: 'It's a Gift of a Character'; Actor Alex Sawyer on Learning on the Job and Playing The Lead in HAMILTON

Actor and musician Alex Sawyer is currently playing the lead role in the West End production of Hamilton at London's Victoria Palace Theatre - and BroadwayWorld sat down with the Alexander Hamilton actor to find out more about the show.

You’re currently playing Alexander Hamilton, after previously starring in the West End production as the alternate in the role. How are the shows going so far?

It’s been great and what’s really nice about this show is, it’s easier to do after doing a few in a row. I’ve really appreciated settling into it more and exploring new things.

How are you making your performance different to those by performers who were previously in the role?

There’s been so many many amazing people who have played this role and one thing I’ve learnt from watching some of them do it, is that you can play it in so many different ways. People really bring their personalities to it.

When I first watched the show in 2017, in previews when it came over here, I was in rehearsals for Rosencrantz and Guildenstern at The Old Vic and it was such an important moment when the Hamilton tickets came out. I managed to get tickets to the previews and I watched the entire show, thought it was phenomenal, but at no point did I ever actually see myself in the show. I've been an actor for a long time but I never thought of myself in it.

What’s really nice is I feel like there’s a lot of me that I can bring to the character. Things that I can explore within myself and present to an audience. I think the most important thing for me is, right now, is trying to figure out how I can tell the story in the most efficient way. It’s a very important story.

You mentioned performing in Rosencrantz and Guildenstern at The Old Vic in 2017, which you starred in alongside Daniel Radcliffe. There’s a brilliant Hamilton connection between yourself and Daniel, as Daniel recently starred in Merrily We Roll Along with Jonathan Groff, who of course played King George in Hamilton!

It is a very small world. In 2016, I was doing this Michael Jackson biopic and when I was there, I was playing a late teens/early twenties Michael Jackson. We did scenes as the Jackson 5 and there was this kid there [Jordan Benjamin] playing Tito Jackson. He was phenomenal and there was this one time we just randomly backstage broke into song. He started singing ‘I want you back’ and he was really getting into it. I thought, ‘this guy is really good.’

A year ago I was in an Equity meeting and I saw him as one of the representatives, and I was like ‘wow that’s amazing - this guy has made it into musical theatre.’ He’s so talented and it was so great to see him again - and then he got cast as John Laurens [in Hamilton] and he’s the John Laurens that I’m playing against. We now get to work together and he is so amazing. Even if you think you’re outside of it, stuff like that just comes back around.

Speaking of TV, you’ve starred in House of Anubis and Get Shorty. Do you find that you take skills that you’ve learnt on film and TV sets and apply them to your work in musical theatre?

Absolutely. I didn’t go to drama school, so I had to do a lot of learning on the job…I was talking to Thomas Vernal about this - the new Washington - he’s a phenomenal actor. His voice is incredible. We were talking about how every moment of life inspires what you can do in acting…all of it can contribute to what you bring onstage. It’s a part of you and becomes part of what you can bring to a character, or you find it in a character. I think that’s also what keeps this show fresh…What’s nice is because we’re constantly evolving as people, we’re constantly finding new things we can show. We’re constantly able to explore new things with each other onstage.

You’ve spoken about bringing bits of yourself to the role of Hamilton and as well as being an actor, you're also a musician. In 2021, you released your latest EP, The Illusion of Perfect. Do you find that creating music has influenced your performance in Hamilton, and that there will be skills you’ve learnt performing in Hamilton that you will apply to your future music?

Absolutely. After being in Hamilton, I gained so much confidence in my singing and my rapping...That is the gift that Hamilton has given me.

Which are your favourite songs in Hamilton to perform?

I think it changes a lot. We get notes, so one of my recent notes for doing "My Shot" was just to enjoy the rhymes more. "My Shot" is always great to do - I genuinely do think that "My Shot" is my favourite song to do. Even just being able to think more about enjoying the rhyme scheme.

What advice would you give to performers who want to act in musical theatre productions?

I think always strive to improve, because there’s always a way you can improve. Also, it makes it more interesting and it makes you better...In terms of mindset, always think of yourself as doing the thing you want to achieve already and improve where you need to improve - and then have the humility to be like, I can do better at this. When I got this role as the main role, I always want to improve. I want to get to my last show and think, there’s more I can do.

Is there anything you’d like to add about Hamilton?

Hamilton and Burr are gifts of characters for an actor, because you get to explore so much and I’m just incredibly grateful. I’m grateful to have been helped by all the people that have given me the help I need on the way. I’m grateful that I’ve been given the opportunity.

Hamilton is currently playing at London's Victoria Palace Theatre and is also on a UK Tour.

Production Photo Credits: Danny Kaan