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Q. Hi Drew. What first drew you to performing and the entertainment industry? Did you start performing in high school, or even younger?
My parents met through their local community theatre society, so growing up in my household there was always music playing and someone being theatrical in one form or another. All my older siblings were quiet musical and did drama, so I started taking up acting and performance classes after school in my early teens, taking it more seriously in my senior years of High school. The Weston Von traps some would call us.
Q. How was your WAAPA experience? So many of today’s performers come from WAAPA especially music theatre performers, perhaps even more so than NIDA.
I had a great time at WAAPA. It honestly feels like a life time ago but some of my nearest and dearest friends are from my time there. I look back on those years with very fond memories and feel very lucky I had the opportunity to develop and hone in on my craft there. WAAPA is known to be the most renown musical theatre course in Australia but similar course at VCA and The Conservatory of Music in Brisbane are churning out some incredible talent too.
Q. You have worked in the industry for 13 years and performed in numerous shows. Which of the shows and roles have been the highlights for you?
Oh gosh there are far too many to choose from but I would have to say my top would be Sandy Tyrell in Hay Fever, Melbourne Theatre Company. He was such a wonderful and fun role to play and my fellow cast members such as Simon Gleeson and Marina Prior were such a pleasure and joy to work with. I would also have to mention my first big job out out WAAPA, which was Mary Poppins. I was in the ensemble and understudied the role of Bert, which I got to perform multiple times. It was such a great experience and huge learning curve for me at the time.
Q, Drew, you have worked overseas, in London and in Vancouver. How have these experiences been?
I absolutely loved living and working in London over the year and a half I was there. Theatre is just so accessible and adorable for everyone there and the calibre of performers you can see is just so inspiring. I moved to Vancouver beginning of 2019 to sink my teeth into the huge film and television industry there. I got to do a few Hallmark tele movies and smaller jobs, however just as things were really started to kick off Covid hit and I had to return home to Oz. The amount of opportunity there is just insane and I do hope to be able to get back there at some point.
Q. I see that you have worked in television. How has that experience been How hard has it been to transfer your talents as a music theatre performer performing in front of a live audience to working on a television set?
I really love having the opportunity to work in television and being able to jump to and from and work in both industries is the dream. It incredible difficult to do so in this country as there just isn’t enough work to go around. You also have a lot of restrictions once you sign up to a long running musical or TV show, which doesn’t allow you to cross over. Performance styles of course vary from theatre to TV but they both equally need to come from a place of truth, so as long as you’re doing that it shouldn’t be an issue.
Q. How do you feel about playing the role of brooding ab fest Sebastian in Cruel Intentions? Have you played similar roles in the past or is this something new to you?
I absolutely adore playing he role of Sebastian in Cruel Intentions. its not every day you get to be a conniving, manipulative, calculated and brooding character. Of course Sebastian has some lighter moments throughout the show but he’s a very complex and fascinating role to play. The only role I can think of similar to him is probably the more lighter and fluffier version, which would be Danny in Grease. The too cool for school, heart throb and ladies man strutting around like he owns the place. Clearly not as cruel as Sebastian but they defiantly have similarities.
Q. What are your future intentions? I hope not cruel. Do you see yourself as permanently moving to New York or to London?
Oh, If only actors had crystal ball to see what lies a head for them in the industry then this would be A LOT less stressful. Nothing set in stone just yet but auditions are back up and running and theatre and TV is well and truly back in Australia, which I so inspiring and lovely to see. I have always wanted to live in NYC for a bit so who knows? Maybe that could be a thing in the next few years. Sponsors are welcome to apply. haha.