BWW Interviews: Daniel Koek, Star Of CHESS

Hi Dan, welcome to BWW:UK. How's the tour going?

The audiences during previews have been loving it - it's really overwhelming. I love the piece anyway. It's got quite a cult following, and with respect to Craig [Craig Revel-Horwood] being involved in it, I don't think it can not be a success, really.

People have tried to stage it for the past 25 years now, and it's never really worked. Why do you think it is? It's not the score, that's phenomenal.

No. It's the book, it's not the strongest book. If you strip the music away, the book, as it was originally written, it's kind of hard to follow. It's a love triangle set against the backdrop of the Cold War. Craig has definitely stripped it back to the bare bones of a love story, which I think makes it easier for people to follow. I'm finding new things in it every night - "oh, that's what that means".

When I got to know the story, I thought the characters were a little older than they've been cast in this production.

That's right, I think. Florence sings about being 35 years on - we've changed that to 25 years on, and taken 10 years off by changing that line. Whether or not most people pick up on that will be interesting. Once they read this, they'll know!

It's actor-musician as well, which is something Craig is getting known for. How's that affected the orchestrations?

Not at all, really. Effectively we have a 25-piece orchestra. Everyone's playing something at some point on stage throughout the whole show. Sarah's [Sarah Travis] taken the Royal Albert Hall production and stuck very closely to that. We've got more than most touring shows have, we're very lucky. You have to see it to believe it. When you come to see it you'll see what I play! You've got guys plieing and arabesquing while playing the violin at the same time.

Of course you get to sing Anthem. How did you feel taking that challenge on?

I've always had it in my audition repertoire. It's taken on a complete new meaning for me. It's a phenomenal piece, and again the way Sarah has orchestrated it, it's very in-your-face, there's no ignoring it. And it closes Act 1. The audiences are absolutely loving it. I've just got to keep doing what I'm doing!

What would you say is your favourite part of the show?

There's lots. I think my favourite will change as the run goes on and I find new elements. I think at this moment in time it's when he makes his decision in the final match and chooses between Florence and Svetlana. Our chemistry on stage is just extraordinary; we all get on really well in real life. It's a poignant, sad moment, but he's being true to himself. He has a battle the whole musical about who he's really playing for.

So it's a UK tour but you're not coming into London yet?

We're hoping for a transfer - it really deserves it. There are always whispers, and we all have a good vibe about it. It's not been in town for years and it's a brilliant production. Fingers crossed.

CHESS is touring the UK.
www.chess-the-musical.co.uk

 

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