Spotlight On YAFies: Alistair So

Alistair So
Actor

When did you know that you wanted to be an actor?
When I was 14, the local theatre group in Discovery Bay was putting on their annual musical and found themselves short of boys for the ensemble. My secondary school drama teacher roped me in and I said, “Why not?” I had an absolute blast and soon thought what if I could make a living doing this one day? That’s where it all started!

Which stage productions are you most proud of having participated in?
The Phantom of the Opera, Matilda (both in the West End, London) and Anything Goes (at the Barbican Theatre, London). 

Phantom is a show that’s very near and dear to me as I grew up listening to the soundtrack at home all through my childhood. I had a great time, onstage as well as offstage, and I’m proud to say that I’m part of the legacy of the show.

I had no connection at all to Matilda until I auditioned and got the job. Once I started, the show quickly endeared itself to me. It’s clever, sweet, funny and even a little haunting in a rather touching way. It was an exhausting job, but a lot of fun!

Anything Goes was one of the first shows to reopen the London theatre scene post-COVID. The production had quite a star-filled lineup, with some big names in the cast, and was stylish and fun – just the right show to liven people’s spirits after a year and a half of misery! It was the right show, at the right time, with the right people – and I’ll never forget it!

How did you hone your acting and singing skills?
Going to class and getting performance experience. There’s no substitute for either really. Classes are important to keep learning and practising your technique, and performance experience is necessary to put that technique to use and to build your confidence as a performer in front of an audience. 

When you’re just starting out, study and train as much as you can. When you feel ready to test your skills, look for performance opportunities and grab them with both hands! From big West End shows to little local gigs, there’s always something to learn from every opportunity.

What was your most unforgettable audition experience?
Unfortunately I tend to forget the good auditions but never forget the bad or funny ones! As an actor, you regularly find yourself auditioning for all sorts of things in very bizarre ways.

Some of the notable audition experiences I’ve had include pretending to scout for Pokemon around the Leaning Tower of Pisa, performing a monologue to an imaginary lion cub, auditioning for drama school in pajamas as they were all I had with me on the day (I wouldn’t recommend doing this!) and playing the piano without knowing how to play the piano (I definitely don’t recommend this!)

Performers auditioning for Gen Last are required to prepare one-minute songs from any musical to sing without accompaniment. Do you have any tips on choosing a song?
Pick a song you feel comfortable with. If you’re singing without accompaniment, it’s extra important that you know the song well as you don’t have the music to guide you! Acting through your singing is of course very important in musical theatre: the more confident you are with your choice of song, the better performance you can deliver!

What should a singer do if they forget the lyrics or sing off-pitch during an audition?
Keep going as best as you can, or if you really can’t continue ask to start over. Auditions are not about presenting a perfect performance. They’re about showing the creative team, the directors, choreographers, musical directors, etc, who you are, what you can do and where you might fit into the show. Even in the professional world of entertainment, auditions can be rough around the edges and mistakes are made – the key is to get through them with confidence! 

What do you do to de-stress the night before an audition?
Assuming I’ve done all my practice and preparation, I do whatever I would normally do with my free time as if it were any other night! I personally don’t have a pre-audition night-time ritual.

Any advice to the actors ahead of the audition?
Prepare and practise your material as much as you can ahead of time, so that it feels like second nature to you when you perform. Breathe, relax (as much as you can!) and make sure your voice is nice and warmed up before you go.

One “trick” I learned early on is to always schedule something after an audition: coffee with a friend, an errand, a class… anything! This is to help make sure your mind goes straight onto something else instead of dwelling on your audition and overthinking things. Waiting for news afterwards is always the most agonising part, so keeping yourself busy is a good idea! 

Which actor do you admire the most?
The late (and very great) Christopher Plummer! He’s the epitome of an old-school Shakespearean actor, with a real charm and gravitas about his performances. Naturally, his is an acting style from a bygone era of performance, but whether you’re watching the films Waterloo or The Sound of Music there’s not a single moment that he doesn’t command your attention. I’m sure something similar could have been said for his onstage performances too!