Our next interview in the Actors and Actresses Q&A Series is the West End star – Daniel Koek! Daniel Koek is an international artist who has made a name for himself in London’s West End, as well as Australia and some of he greatest theaters in Europe. 
Life has been hectic recently for Daniel, whilst performing leading roles in some of the world’s biggest productions including West Side Story, Chess and South Pacific. Daniel had made his way through 9 grueling auditions to be awarded the Iconic role of Jean Valjean in the West End production of Les Misérables, and at 32 this made him one of the youngest men to have played the part. To much anticipation he also has just recorded his second studio album HiGH. And this summer, he’ll be making is Feinstein’s/54 Below debut!
We’re so happy to introduce him to all of you in this latest Q&A – and hope to see you at Broadway’s Supper Club on July 19th!
MM: When did you first realize you wanted to be an actor?
DK: When I realised I sucked at math at school! I’ve always been artistic and creative, I staged a production of JCS [Jesus Christ Superstar] when I was in year 7 of Primary School.
MM: Of all the roles you’ve played in your career thus far, which ones are the closest to your heart?
DK: It would have to be Jean Valjean in Les Miserables, it defined me in so many ways, career, actor, man, athlete. And it’s a role I’ve wanted to play since I was like nine years old.
MM: When one walks into your home, what books are permanently on your bookshelf?
DK: The Alchemist by Paulo Cohen – I read it at least twice a year.
MM: If you were stranded on a desert island, what television shows and/or movies would you want available to you, (assuming of course you have a television and Internet connection?)
DK: Will and Grace forever! And Grace and Frankie! All Jane Fonda has to do is appear on screen and I’m impressed!
MM: What’s the best piece of advice you’d want to offer aspiring actors and performers?
DK: Become Lawyers! (I’m kidding.) I would say define and stay focussed on your USPs – it’s all well and good being good at everything but you need to define yourself in some way.
MM: What sound do you love? What sound do you hate?
DK: I love the sound of my coffee machine percolating in the mornings, and I hate the sound of sirens going past my window.
MM: What literary or musical theatre character is most like your personality? Least like your personality?
DK: I would say Jekyll and Hyde could be similar to me sometimes, being a Scorpio I can switch my moods quite easily, especially when I’m hungry!
MM: In today’s economic state, arts education programs are being cut. What reasons would you give to a school board or politician for preserving arts education programming in schools?
DK: I would simply say imagine a world without music, or art, or plays or television. A world where people can’t express themselves, or tell their story. The arts let people escape and forget for a small amount of time. I think it’s super important for people to be able to release and let go and be entertained, and world without that to me is unimaginable!
MM: Who is/was your greatest teacher?
DK: My greatest teachers would have to be my high school music teacher Graeme Tyler who nurtured and supported my talent from a very early age. And then on my postgrad course in London, Andrew Jarvis my acting teacher, who taught me the best lesson one can give “Keep the lid on it acting!”
Thank you, Daniel! Write Teacher(s) Readers – be sure to catch Daniel at Feinstein’s/54 Below THIS JULY! Use the code KOEK35 to get 35% off your tickets in the main dining room, and all bar rail seats. Order here.
Live, Love, Learn,