Zacharias Chan in Blood Brothers

Tell us about your role in Blood Brothers. Did you do anything special for character development?
I played the role of Eddie, he's the twin given away to the rich family. I already have quite a posh British accent so I didn't have to do much in terms of changing the way I spoke. I think the important thing about playing a seven year old is to remember their energy and ability to live completely in the present. Eddie always has this willingness to engage because his own life at home isn't very exciting, so meeting Mickey was probably the best thing that ever happened to him. As he gets older he retains his energy and willingness to engage with the world, but now there's an essence of naïveté to his character that contrasts with the older Mickey down on hard times. What struck me most when I watched this play is how much you can fall in love with these characters and how necessary it is for that to happen to make the second act all the more devastating. And the audience will only fall in love if you&'re completely engaged and wide-eyed about everything in the beginning. I also had to gel my hair which I generally don't like to do.

How was this production different from past productions you've been in?
I feel as if people place pre-conceptions on YAF productions simply because 'Youth' is in the name of the organization. YAF take what they do and their performers very seriously - age doesn't excuse professionalism. I think that's probably the biggest difference I've felt from past productions I've been in. YAF demand a commitment to equal their efficiency and organization. However, YAF still manage to provide a space that allows for personal growth under the pressure of the production and everything put together creates such a mutually supportive and loving community that you end up calling it a family. I am very proud that I can say I'm a part of the YAF family.

What do you think was unique about this production?
Firstly, the musical itself is an absolutely brilliant piece of work; the book, lyrics, and music are unique in their own right. YAF's re-interpretation included a mind-bogglingly beautiful ethereal set and amazing dance numbers by three brilliant choreographers which only added to the brilliance of the musical.

What was the process of moving into the theatre from the rehearsal studio like?
People expected the theatre to be bigger. The realization of how close the audience would be dawned on us. It dawned on me very hard. It was a little more cramped but otherwise I feel we transitioned really well, mostly due to the amazing planning and preparation done by the creative team.

I enjoyed and going to miss…
The rehearsals! They were all I looked forward to during my week. The shows! They were all I looked forward to during the last week of November. Basically any time I got to spend with everyone else :)

The most challenging thing was…
Singing! I didn't consider myself a singer before the show. In fact, that's why I hesitated to audition, I kept saying 'I can't sing' which I eventually realized is probably one of the worst things to say, most of the times you say 'I can't' are pretty stupid - you need to shut up and believe in yourself.

​What do you do 10 mins before the show?
It varies. Usually I'll do some martial arts exercises, it calms me and clears my head but it also energizes me at the same time which is absolutely perfect before a performance. Before one show I'd been messing about and pretending to be a monkey, don't ask me how or why, but I found that it actually helped me to focus a lot, it stopped me from over-thinking and it got me energized through an excessive amount of jumping and rolling around (though not too excessive). I think it was about stripping away any anxieties I might have before a performance as a monkey doesn't have these anxieties. Also there's something fun about being a monkey. There's a feeling of fun and cheekiness that builds up inside you which I feel can be important before you step out from backstage. It reminds you why you're doing this, that the performance isn't just the culmination of three months work. You can enjoy feeling proud of yourself and everyone who made this entire experience possible, and that you're not here just to present a perfect product, you're here to share your excitement for the performance and story with the audience. I also pee about ten times.

What is/was your childhood like?
Pretty good. Not quite like Mickey or Eddie's but still pretty good. Wouldn't it be awesome to have a blood brother though?

"I wish that I was bit like…that guy!" ____ Is there anyone you wish you were a bit like?
Mickey (Trevor Lin). Or Ms J (Shimali De Silva). Or Ms L (Maya Abuali). Have you heard those guys sing?

Do you think you are superstitious?
​Nah.