We sat down with Tanaka , who is performing in the Royal Academy Musical Theatre ’s upcoming production of NINE.
Which character are you playing in Nine, and how did you approach stepping into their world and mindset?
I am playing Stephanie Necrophorus (nicknamed “Steph” in our rehearsal room), who is a young but infamous film critic that writes terrible things about Guido Contini’s movies under the pen name Robespierre! In real life I have very little respect for misogynistic old men – of course you should all come and make up your own opinions about Guido – but in some ways Steph comes very naturally to me. I filled in the blanks with research we did as a group about Hollywood and filmmaking from the 60s – 90s to figure out what kinds of films Steph would love and hate and start pinpointing exactly why Contini’s films in particular incite her fiery pen. There isn’t a whole lot about her in the script so I was able to explore and come up with lots of facts and stories for her backstory. One that director Hannah Chissick and I have become fond of is that she’s secretly writing an exposé/memoir of her time with Contini.
Are there any particular scenes that are especially rewarding to perform or rehearse? (or, do you have a favourite scene/musical number from the show?)
One of my favorite scenes to rehearse has been “The Grand Canal”. It’s a monster of a scene – a 15 minute musical sequence where they’re in a rehearsal shoot – with lots of moving parts and quick changes. In general I enjoy the concept of a rehearsal scene in the middle of a show, and I really like doing it because it comes with a lot of freedom within the chaos. We’ve all been encouraged to fill in moments of pause or instrumental music with improvised discussion and ‘business’ and I really enjoy finding moments within it to explore Steph’s motivations, whether that’s listening in on a piece of Contini gossip or sneaking pictures for her future memoir. I am also always brought to tears by our lovely Louisa(s) singing “Be On Your Own”, but I won’t explain why because no spoilers!
How did you and the cast build chemistry and trust to bring out the complex relationships in the show?
By now we’re a very tight cohort, as we have been working together for almost a year, so there was already a lot of friendship and comfort amongst the group. It is of course a show that requires a lot of intimacy, and so we had an intimacy coordinator supervise the majority of the early rehearsals to help choreograph those moments and make sure everyone felt safe in the rehearsal room. We also start rehearsals with an intimacy check in, because people’s boundaries might be slightly different day to day.
What do you think makes Nine different from other theatre productions you’ve worked on or seen? Why should audiences come to see this production of Nine?
Nine is very interesting because it is a bit of a mix between a traditional chronological book musical and a concept musical. It constantly plays with questions of whether we’re inside Contini’s mind as a figment, as a memory or right in front of him. Though there’s a clear narrative, the resolution is much more conceptual than anything – more about his psyche than the events themselves. Our production is particular because it modernizes the show by about 30 years – we’ve set the production in the 1990s. This changes the dynamics and implications of his relationships with these women as well as the trauma in his childhood. We’re also using technology in ways that really highlight special themes and moments in the show. Beyond that, this is the most talented group of people I’ve ever had the pleasure to spend 12 hour days with, and I am constantly blown away by each and every one of them! Even show aside, I would highly recommend just coming to see some fabulous acting and singing.
What has inspired you to pursue a career in Musical Theatre?
For me, musical theatre is the highest form of art because it includes everything – music, dance, acting, visual arts and design! What better way to tell a story? It feels like honoring my ancestors by continuing traditions of oral histories told through music. Exercising everyday is fabulous for my mental health. I love theater people! There are hundreds of reasons, but I know I’m in the right place.
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