'This is a tough industry' Christian Alifoe on overcoming imposter syndrome & more!
Yourcinemafilms.com | Award-winning actor Christian Alifoe shares how difficult he found landing roles after drama school and starring in his award-winning role for Roy Williams' classic 'Sucker Punch'.
Are you ready for the truth? | Yourcinemafilms.com
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FunTranscript
00:00 Now everyone's making it in film and TV, but we don't really know how. Here we uncover
00:07 the truth. Welcome to the Your Cinema Podcast.
00:12 Welcome to the Your Cinema Podcast today. This is the podcast where we explore the truth
00:18 about the film and TV industry as well as theatre and we hear it directly from those
00:24 who are making progress and smashing it in their fields as well. Today we've got a really
00:30 exciting talent. I came across him many years ago on a programme or initiative that we did
00:37 and since he's been really going from strength to strength. He's been in Man vs. B with Mr.
00:44 Bean or Rowan Atkinson for Netflix, A Brave New World, which you can see on like Britbox
00:51 and Apple TV and other places. And last year he was in the Roy Williams classic Sucker
00:58 Punch, which Daniel Kaluuya and Anthony Walsh were in many years ago as well. And he also
01:06 recently won an award for best supporting male actor in a play at the Black British
01:13 Theatre Awards. Come on. Yeah, I introduced to you guys none other than Christian Alefou.
01:21 What's going on, bro?
01:22 Yes, yes, yes. Good to be here. Finally, we got it in the diary.
01:26 Come on.
01:27 Trust me, trust me. But now it's good to catch up with you and chop it up.
01:31 No, good, good. Because, because yeah, man, you you're booked and busy. You get it. I
01:39 wanted to I wanted to ask you, right, because you kind of touched on it a like just before
01:46 we started recording. But like, how are you feeling right now, man?
01:52 Right now, I was I was even chatting with one of my friends when I was driving on the
01:57 way down to my flat and I was like, bro, I feel like I'm here now, man. No, I mean, like,
02:06 I can truthfully say that now. I think there's been times and I've been putting on that front
02:11 or that mask to act like everything's cool and everything's sweet. But now when I say
02:15 that, I say it with chest. I mean, I say it with chest. I'm here and I'm good and I'm
02:23 ready. I'm just ready to work, man. I'm ready to keep pushing and keep elevating.
02:28 I love that. I love that. So just to even unpack that a little bit, right, what's been
02:35 happening for you in the past three years?
02:39 Three years. I think, do you know what it is? I think for sure, battling imposter syndrome.
02:46 Oh, wow.
02:48 Like, can I do this? Like, this is a tough industry and we all know that this is what
02:54 we're taught or not taught. But this is what they say, even in drama school, you know,
02:59 it's difficult. Don't expect to leave here and just fly. And that's exactly what happened.
03:04 I mean, I left Identity in 20... just at the start of 2020, 2019, January. And it was tough, man. Like, auditioning, no's, auditioning, no's, no's, no's. And it's like, damn, this industry is hard. Like, they weren't really capping about this.
03:24 So I think a lot of the time I've been battling imposter syndrome for the past three years,
03:32 going through that, training. And there was a period when it just wasn't working for me,
03:38 man. Like, I was turning up to workshops, wasn't prepared, flopping. Like, yeah, yeah,
03:44 yeah. Like, there's been periods when I've just been not at it at all, man. And now looking
03:50 back, I'm like, I'm so thankful for those times, because now I know you can't cut corners.
03:56 Like, everything has to be... do you know what I mean? It has to be 100% every time,
04:02 because everybody else wants that role as well. So if you're not turning up and you're
04:06 not being your best, don't expect to get anything from this. You know what I'm saying? And so
04:10 I think for the past three years, I've been going through that. And now I'm in a place
04:15 where I feel like I'm operating as best as I can. And that's being reflected in the work
04:23 that I've booked and the work that I'm... in the rooms that I'm into now. It's like
04:26 I'm ready for those rooms. But three years ago? No chance. No chance. No chance.
04:34 So you know what, right? I love that. It's amazing to see the growth, because you've
04:40 mentioned imposter syndrome, but then you've also dovetailed it with professionalism, right?
04:50 Was the... like, are they linked, do you think? When you look back on how you were feeling,
04:57 how do you feel like they were linked, if they were?
04:59 Yeah, I think it is linked, because if you're absolutely prepared to the best of your ability,
05:07 you're being professional, you know all your lines, you've done the inside work before
05:11 you've entered the room, you're not going to feel like an imposter. Because you know
05:16 you've done the work. And that's all that matters. You've done the work and you're turning
05:21 up and you're giving your interpretation of what you think that scene is. And maybe subconsciously
05:26 back then, I'm questioning myself. I'm not sure if this is the right choice. I'm not
05:33 sure if I'm hitting it. What are they thinking? Are they thinking I'm doing it right? Do I
05:37 look weird? All of those things running through your head. And that can just be seen. It's
05:43 really obvious when an actor's going through those cogs in their head, you can see that
05:48 they're not present. And I know, looking back now, I was that actor. You know what I'm saying?
05:54 So I think that is where the imposter syndrome comes from, because deep down, you know when
05:57 you're on it and you know when you're not. I think everybody knows that.
06:04 You know, I love that, right? Because years ago, there was a job that I had, not too long
06:11 ago, actually. And there was a time where I was cutting corners, like doing just enough
06:20 to do what I needed to do. But I felt like my boss at the time was picking up on it.
06:32 And I don't think he actually was, but I felt like that. And I remember I was talking to
06:40 my mum and it was giving me, I don't know, it feels like such a buzzword, but I was really
06:47 anxious. I was anxious a lot of the time, like any time I had a meeting with him. And
06:53 I remember I was just like, I ended up speaking to my mum about it. And she said to me, she
06:58 was like, "But are you doing the work?" And that question broke that thing for me, because
07:05 I was like, "Oh no, that's what has been making me anxious because I haven't been doing the
07:12 work." So I'm like, "You're going to find out today." But it's so interesting that you're
07:19 like, no, when you dusted yourself off and said, "No, there's no cutting corners here.
07:23 Let's go and do this." It reminds me of, I think I've said this before, when you wear
07:29 a nice outfit that you know is nice, it doesn't matter if anyone rates it or not. Or even
07:37 if they see it or not, because it's like, this is so good. I like it.
07:42 - That's all that matters. I feel clean. I feel ready. I'm not seeking that validation
07:47 from outside. It's here. And I think that is a confidence that every actor should strive
07:55 to get to. And it's not easy to do that though. It's not easy. We throw it around saying,
08:00 be open, be free, be comfortable in yourself and all of those things and bring that to
08:05 the role. But those things take time. Those things take time. Now I understand why all
08:11 of the acting teachers say life experience is the experience you need to, I guess, become
08:18 a better actor and to draw on certain things. Because when you've got that wealth of experience
08:24 in life, whatever stage that is, if you've been through, I don't know, whatever you've
08:28 been through, that's there. It's like a pool of things you can just jump into.
08:35 - I get that now. It took a while to get here, but maybe it was on time.
08:42 - I love that. I love that. Always, always. So, you know, like given everything that you've
08:48 been through and overcoming imposter syndrome and really just looking back at your career,
08:55 even though we're at the very beginning, what would you say has been the most pivotal moment
08:59 for you so far?
09:03 - I think it was winning the award. 100%. I think for me, that was like, okay, how do
09:13 I, I want to say this properly. So although awards aren't everything, they mean something.
09:23 And it's like, that was a stamp of approval for me that I can do this and I can be recognised
09:29 for this and I can be seen by this. This is what I do. This is what I am. And I think
09:35 it was that stamp of approval for me, especially the night after I was like, rah, I woke up
09:40 and was like, rah, actually, yeah, I did that. My work, I'm seen, I'm here now. And for me,
09:47 that was okay, cool. The hard work starts. I've worked hard to get here, but for me,
09:54 it wasn't a case of cool, yes. I mean, I've blown, like not at all, no way. This is literally
10:02 where the hard work starts. And so I think that's changed my mindset just to be professional,
10:09 hungry as ever, and let's just get it, man. Let's show up every audition as best as I
10:14 can because you only get that one shot, you know what I'm saying? And I don't want to
10:18 mess it up as I have done in the past before by not being completely ready.
10:24 - I love that. I love that, right? Because from the start, right, you've spoken about
10:33 arriving and I was thinking, okay, do we touch on it or not? But you've touched on it in
10:41 the best way, right? Because I'm like, okay, but there's still loads to do, innit? But
10:52 you are so aware of that because you're like, no, yeah, no, I've arrived. There's a point
10:59 that I wanted to arrive at and now the work starts. So what is that point?
11:06 - I think that point for me is, that's a good question, man. That's a very good question.
11:14 - Because I know the point. I know the point, but I just want to...
11:18 - Yeah, I think what that point is, is this is what I do. I'm an actor, you know? And
11:27 the work I do has meaning, it has impact. And it's like, you have a responsibility,
11:35 whatever role you do, how big or small, to absolutely give it your all. And it even depends
11:43 on the scales of what it is. So I'm not talking about it has to be something that's on Apple
11:47 TV or Netflix or the Royal Court, even if it's a small promo vid that I did the other
11:53 day for a theatre show that's coming out in the new year, that's just a trailer. But I
11:58 took that so seriously as if I was on The National, do you know what I'm saying? And
12:04 I feel like that's the point where I'm at, where everything is the same to me. The work
12:09 is the work, and I'm not phased by the scale of it. Because, look, at the end of the day,
12:19 if it's Netflix, it's still a script. If it's an off West End show, it's still a script.
12:24 It's the same process. Do you know what I'm saying? So I'm happy to be here, if that makes
12:31 sense.
12:32 Wow. So it's a personal point. It sounds like a personal point of arrival, as opposed
12:39 to an industry point of arrival.
12:41 A bit of both, though. A bit of both. 100% personally and industry as well, because it's
12:48 showbiz at the end of the day. Like, let's not fight it. This industry is about visibility.
12:54 It's about what have you done? Sometimes it can be rubbish, but that's the monster, that's
13:01 the game we're in. So I understand that as well. But yeah, it is about the work, but
13:06 it's also about being seen. And if you want to be seen, you've got to show up and talk
13:11 about it.
13:12 You know what? I love the point that you're at, because it's very balanced. It's very
13:19 balanced. There's that deep, somewhat spiritual point of personal growth. And there's also
13:29 that reality of like, you know what? A big show will help my career. And I also decide,
13:39 all right, cool. There's that balance between art and maybe who is the director, because
13:44 that can help me, which people always talk about. Do you know what I mean? It's not every
13:48 day you can get like a get out or like something that's so deep, but so commercial as well.
13:56 Like, yeah, I love that.
13:58 It doesn't exist. Yeah. So for me, play the game.
14:06 I love that. All right. Well, one thing I really wanted to speak to you about, and it's
14:12 such a shame that I didn't get around to watching it, right, is Sucker Punch. I so badly, like,
14:20 I remember I wanted to go to the one in Hornchurch and I just didn't get around to it. And then
14:25 when I did, it was somewhere else far. How's that?
14:28 Yeah, we got gone, man.
14:31 Like 10 shows, and especially with Shem in it as well.
14:37 Yeah, man.
14:38 I want to see that. So what was it like touring that play?
14:42 Oh, my days. Sucker Punch. That was one of the best experiences I've had acting-wise,
14:50 like touring that play. And I think it was where we toured it as well, because The National
14:56 had partnered with Hornchurch to create the First Nations Partnership, where they're taking,
15:03 I guess, ethnically, ethnic minority plays into places where people don't really see
15:10 these kind of plays. We were going to places like, off the top of my head, we were in Ipswich,
15:15 we were in Sunderland, and people had never seen this kind of work. So it was like, wow,
15:22 like, really? This is what we've been crying out for in these cities, because we don't
15:28 get this kind of work. So it was a proper, like, what's the word? It was touching, because
15:34 it's like, rah, this is having a massive impact, you know? I remember speaking to an elderly
15:40 man, a black man, after the show in Sunderland, yeah. And he was like, amazing, absolutely
15:49 loved this. Like, I felt seen. I was from the 80s in this time, and we just don't get
15:54 work like this. And I'm so thankful. And he was so, like, emotional about it. And I was
16:00 like, rah, man, like, ah, really kind of have that effect. So it was a lot of that on that
16:05 side of thing. Sorry. But then at the same time, the reality of doing a show for five
16:14 months on the road as well, it's not glamorous. It's not glamorous at all. There are some
16:21 days when you don't feel up to it, like you're tired, you can't be bothered. You're like,
16:29 but rah, isn't this what I've been praying for? Isn't this what I've wanted all the time?
16:32 Like, of course it is. But there's also a reality at the end of the day, that some days
16:36 you're not going to be up for it. So it's also taught me how to still do the work and
16:43 still do it to the best of your ability, even when you're feeling like, nah, not really
16:49 today. But hey, people have paid to see you, people have come to watch. So you better park
16:54 that, and you better park it somewhere, put it on a handbrake, you know what I'm saying?
16:58 Until you're ready to come back. So it's been a good learning curve in that respect as well,
17:05 man.
17:06 - Wow. So you know what, right? Given the reality of like five months on the road, because
17:17 that makes so much sense. It's not one city for one night. You're there for some time.
17:27 - Ending. That's so interesting. How did you prepare for that? Because it's physical as
17:33 well, isn't it? And there's mental, and then there's the craft. So just how did you prepare
17:37 for all of that?
17:38 - Yeah, physically, I'll start there. So I knew about, well, I got the role the Thursday
17:48 and rehearsal started on the Monday. And I was like, rah, I'm about to have my top off.
17:56 I'm not in my best shape. So it caught me off guard a little bit. I was like, oh man,
18:01 I wish I had like two months. But don't we all wish we had more time sometimes? You know
18:08 what I'm saying? So it was like, cool. Okay, cool. So we're in rehearsals and we had a
18:13 boxing coach, Gary Cook, who's at Repton Boxing Gym. Loads of people have come from there,
18:19 Lawrence Akoli, some big fighters. And then we had Enrique, who's an amazing fight director.
18:26 And between the two of them, we got put through our paces, man. Like physical, like turning
18:33 up to rehearsals maybe an hour or two before the non-boxers just working out, skipping,
18:41 boxing, like getting all of our form right, because it had to be. To sell this, you have
18:47 to believe that we're boxers and we're punching lumps out of each other. Otherwise it doesn't
18:51 work. I mean, a day like Sucker Punch doesn't work. So the physical side was, I enjoy it
18:58 because I am quite a physical person, but to channel that into a show was, it was so
19:03 much fun. So, so much fun, man.
19:07 - Wow. And that was your first tour, isn't it?
19:11 - Yeah. First tour, first lead supporting role in a big show, my first ever one, and
19:19 I'm touring such an amazing piece as well. Sucker Punch, that's the play that I, the
19:25 first monologue I picked at Identity was a monologue from Sucker Punch. It was like a
19:32 full circle moment. Yeah, it's mad. Proper mad.
19:38 - So in terms of you get the role on a Thursday, you've got rehearsals on Monday. How long
19:45 are you in rehearsals for before you go in, you're going on the road?
19:52 - So, how long did we have? I feel like we had about three, three weeks of rehearsal,
19:59 just under three weeks.
20:00 - Okay. Okay. And do you think that was enough?
20:04 - Hmm.
20:05 - Because it sounds tight to me.
20:08 - It's tight. It was too tight. I mean, Daniel and the original cast had six months, even
20:15 in terms of physical training. So they had six months to really get into the role, shredded
20:21 and all of that. And we really only have three weeks to do that. So myself, Shem, John, the
20:27 boxers, we were on the crazy regime, man, just trying to get as fit as possible and
20:32 as cut and as lean as possible in those three weeks, because you just find out that you've
20:38 got the role and then you get into shape. It's not like you're training that hard.
20:43 So yeah, the physical side was tough. But I feel like the cast was so good and we bounced
20:49 off each other so well that the acting just, from the first table read, I was like, "Rah,
20:55 this has been casted like perfectly, man."
20:58 - Really?
20:59 - Yeah.
21:00 - Oh, now that's amazing, man. So, you know, I want to get into what the tour was actually
21:11 like for you, because you kind of touched on it in terms of some days you're not feeling
21:18 up to it, but where you're touring for five months, what is that like? When you go to
21:26 a city, how long are you there? And then do you guys have a break or do you have to go?
21:31 - Okay, cool. So usually, so we finished London, our first stop was Ipswich. We were in Ipswich
21:38 for, I think it was only four nights, four or five nights, so a working week. We were
21:44 there. You go in, you're welcomed by the artistic director, they show you around the theatre,
21:51 and then we see the set in their particular theatre, which changes a lot because, you
21:58 know, it's a big boxing ring and different things. So we have a walkthrough of the space,
22:04 and we have a tech at every single venue we go to, we have a tech. Probably on the first
22:09 morning after we've arrived, so that was usual to get there. New Airbnb, you know, you've
22:16 got your bag and everything, testing the rooms, everyone's trying to fight for the best room,
22:20 fair politics in the cast. It was funny, it was funny. Me and Shem going, "I want this
22:28 room, da-da-da-da-da-da." But yeah, so we'd have a tech, and then it's just getting acquired
22:34 to the space and feeling the space, and the acoustics are different in different theatres,
22:40 and yeah. So usually that's what would happen. You go through your shows, and then you have
22:46 two or three days off, depending on how many shows were booked at the next venue.
22:51 - True.
22:52 - So there were times when we had four days off, one, two days off, and it varied. But
23:00 the travelling, yeah, the travelling was long, man. Like, long. From Ipswich, we went up
23:07 to Leicester, so that's like, that was a long drive. And yeah, the travelling was probably
23:15 the worst part of it.
23:16 - Really?
23:17 - Yeah, it's just, it's not glamorous, you know? It's just not glamorous, that's all
23:22 I have to say.
23:23 - I hear you, I hear you. Nah, that's amazing, that's amazing. So now that you've done all
23:29 these long drives, right, and you've had your days off, everything's nice, and then it's
23:35 over, like, how did it feel coming off of your first tour?
23:41 - Yeah, I think it was a good time, because it was summer, and like, everybody was, summertime,
23:49 it was hot, there was parties happening, so it was just straight back into the London
23:53 fast life, with friends and stuff like that. But then, you can only do that, you know,
24:00 so many times, and then it's like, okay, so what am I gonna do next? Like, you get those
24:04 show blues, you're like, oh, damn, I just finished a show, and you're thinking about
24:09 how's this gonna materialise into something else? Did enough people see it? Did the right
24:15 people see it? Are we gonna get an extension? So many things are starting to go through
24:21 my head in terms of how can I capitalise on this show? So really, it was just a sit down
24:28 with my agent, and we really chopped it up about what I liked about the tour, what I
24:33 didn't like, is there anything different you wanna look at going forward? And then we just
24:39 sort of re-strategised towards, you know, we've got six months now to the end of the
24:44 year, what is it that we wanna try and get or do next? So kind of that debrief and breathe
24:52 again and let's try and squeeze as much out of the second half of the year, man.
24:58 - So with that, right, like, how, I don't know if you wanna share, but I'm just wondering,
25:08 like, given that your career is still building, right, but you've clearly got a competent
25:16 agent, when you and your agent are sitting down and make that strategy, what's left for
25:24 you to do?
25:25 - That's a, yeah, for me, it's just to keep ready. I think that's what it is for me. And
25:35 for me personally, I still act like I haven't got an agent, so I try to make connections
25:42 myself.
25:43 - Mm-hmm, okay.
25:44 - I'm still working, okay, what about this director? He looks good, let's try and connect
25:51 with him in some way or her. And so for me, the work for me is to keep sharp, keep ready,
25:58 whether that's reading scripts, going to the theatre, doing self-tapes with friends, going
26:04 to workshops. We've done the work, but you can't just stop. A footballer doesn't stop
26:10 training, neither does a boxer after a big fight. They have a break, and then they get
26:15 back on it again. So it's just about doing the work and staying, stay doing what works
26:21 and what has worked for you. What got you the role, what got you the audition, your
26:26 work. So keep doing that, keep trusting it. And if your agent's doing her job, his job,
26:32 and you're doing your job, I feel like that will align eventually when it's the right
26:36 role for you.
26:37 - Amazing, I love that, I love that, I love that. Now, with that play being so regarded
26:46 and the national being involved in that initiative, and it's a revival of a classic, do you know
26:53 what I mean? So it's nothing small at all. The general feeling for an actor who is ready
27:06 to break through and stuff is that doing a job like that is going to result in career
27:12 progression and, I don't know, a new level of auditions. Is that what you've experienced?
27:19 - Yeah, yeah, I'll be honest.
27:24 - Amazing.
27:25 - Yeah, 100%, especially in the theatre world. Because TV for me, I had, like, I tend to
27:33 get good TV auditions, but theatre was something I've been knocking on the door for a long
27:38 time and no doors were being opened. But after this, like, yeah, man, West End, all of those
27:48 venues are listening now, which is great. And so I've seen a jump up in the profile
27:57 of audition as well, which is amazing, man. I used to pray for times like this, man, so
28:03 to be able to now be in that position, proper, so, so grateful. And yeah, let's just see
28:11 what can happen. Even towards the end of the year, there were some near misses, some great
28:16 shows coming out next year, theatre shows. So I'm just happy to be in those rooms now.
28:22 - Man, do you know what? I love that because you've arrived. That is, I guess, this is
28:30 what I'm perceiving is that that is one key point that you've arrived at in terms of crossing
28:37 over to a certain type of auditions now, if that makes sense. I can see that it's not
28:47 exhaustion, but the exhaling on your face of like, yeah, yeah, I'm considered, I'm in
28:57 the squad and my call-ups are coming, basically. - Yeah, and I feel like that's a, and it's
29:04 not an arrogance thing either. It's just, it's a state of confidence, you know, you've
29:11 proved yourself and now it's about doing it again and again and again. And when that opportunity
29:17 comes, again, just be ready to prove yourself again. And so that's exactly where I'm at,
29:23 man. - I love that. And you're also just stating
29:26 facts. This is where it is. So, you know, like when you won Best Supporting Male Actor,
29:37 which was a huge achievement and, you know, congratulations again, my bro. What was that
29:44 like just winning that award? - Crazy. Like absolutely crazy because it's
29:54 a thing where, okay, cool. I've thought about winning awards before. I won't lie to you.
29:58 I've been like, bro, I've watched people winning Oscars. I'm like, that would be amazing to
30:02 be recognised for your work. I remember when the nomination came through, I was like, bro,
30:07 I was not expecting to get nominated for this play. That's the honest truth. I thought there's
30:12 been way too many bigger shows, high profile shows that people would get considered for.
30:19 And so to win it, it's crazy, man. I had my parents up there. I had like my boy as well
30:27 there. And just to see like all of that black British scene, so much talent in the room
30:34 and to be amongst it and then to go on to win it, I was like, this is what we do this
30:40 for, man. Do you know what I'm saying? For moments like this, to give yourself that recognition
30:45 for people to recognise the quality of the work you're doing, it feels good. It feels
30:52 good. And yeah, I always think back to Rob, when you started this in 20, I don't know,
31:02 way back, and if you were to tell your younger self you're going to be nominated for an award
31:08 in 2023 and win it, he would have been like, are you crazy? Like, no, that's not going
31:14 to happen. And so I always think back to times like that and I'm like, cool, this is what
31:18 you do it for, man. So just keep going, keep grounded, just keep pushing. But nah, amazing,
31:25 amazing feeling, man.
31:28 I love that. Humble and confident, man. It's a great balance. It's a great balance. Now
31:33 you winning that award and going on tour with a play like Sucker Punch is like a good immersion
31:45 into theatre, right? And as you said, like, you know, West End theatres now, by God's
31:50 grace, they're listening, isn't it? So now that you're getting that glimpse into, you
31:57 know, like you're getting probably like a better understanding of like how things work
32:02 and you know, where certain casting directors can find talent, et cetera. And there's always
32:08 been that link between theatre and TV and all of that stuff. I want to ask you from
32:15 your understanding and the glimpses that you're having, how important is theatre for emerging
32:21 actors?
32:22 I'd say it's so key, man. Like, do not sleep on theatre. Really, really don't sleep on
32:29 theatre. From your own personal growth perspective, like to be able to do something live, think
32:36 on your feet when things go wrong and still push through and still own that character
32:41 and own, because only you know when you've made a mistake, per se. You know what I'm
32:46 saying? And so to be able to have that live exercise as an actor, nothing beats it. Nothing
32:54 beats it. And I was, again, I was telling a friend after the tour, he was like, how
32:58 was it? How was doing theatre for that long? And I said, I felt like I've retrained completely.
33:03 Yeah. So now it's a case of just owning the role. It's just weird. I just feel like a
33:09 completely different actor post tour to when I started it, for what I thought this game
33:14 was or how I thought theatre would go.
33:16 Really? It's like, how, how, how, how? What's different?
33:22 Now I just feel way more confident in my choices because beforehand I think there was still
33:29 a little bit of doubt, like, damn. I remember reading the script like, rah, this is a lot.
33:34 Like this is a lot. It's just as simple as that. And being able to do it constantly,
33:40 night after night and finding the new, the new, the newness in the play each night. That
33:47 is something I've heard as a cliche. Every night's going to be different. It literally
33:52 is. Every night was just different in the essence of the play, whether that was the
34:01 audience and one of our cast members, John, John Rogers, who, by the way, yeah, people
34:06 are going to know about John Rogers, but he, he said the audience is the last character
34:13 in the show. And I started to see that once we were doing different shows in different
34:19 places, the reaction we were getting was fuelling a different feel of the show every other night.
34:28 When the kids were in to when, you know what I mean, to when it was a press night and that
34:32 audience gave a completely different energy and it just feeds into how you perform. And
34:39 that's only something you can get in theatre. I'm thriving, oh God, I've flopped, but I'm
34:48 going to keep going because they don't know. Do you know what I'm saying? That adrenaline
34:51 is just, yeah, I wish it for every actor. So if you've got an opportunity to do theatre,
34:58 don't look at it downwards, you know, don't look down on it. Sorry. Like theatre is definitely,
35:04 and will always have value, man. Always.
35:07 I love that, man. I love that. I love that. So I want to know, right, because you're clearly
35:14 very focused and confident and driven, right? How do you balance hunger and not being consumed
35:24 by becoming successful?
35:27 This is good. This is good. For me, do you know what, it's finding other stuff outside
35:32 of acting. Like acting should mean a lot to you if you're an actor, because I'm not sure
35:38 you'll be able to go as far in an industry with so much rejection in it. So it should
35:42 mean a lot. It shouldn't mean everything. You know, I found a lot of joy outside of
35:48 acting. I've started my own podcast with a friend. I'm starting to get into radio presenting
35:53 and so many different things outside of acting that keep me ticking over creatively as well
35:58 in terms of writing and things like that. So there's other things that I'm genuinely
36:03 interested in doing alongside acting. I feel like acting is just another branch of what
36:08 I do rather than it being the heart. Do you know what I'm saying? And I think that can
36:16 help you not be so consumed by the industry is to just find other things. I'm sure there
36:25 are things that you can enjoy outside of the industry, just a full rounded person. And
36:31 I just always say for people to explore that, find that, whatever that is for you.
36:37 I love that, man. I love that. I love that. I love that. Well, Christian, it's been a
36:44 pleasure speaking with you. Before we go, I just wanted to know what's on the horizon
36:54 that you can speak about?
36:55 The horizon? Well, nothing confirmed, but there's 2024 has already started with some
37:02 good auditions and hopefully I can book some of them. I think with my own podcast as well,
37:10 that's started really nicely and we've got some plans for that as well. You might see
37:15 me in the sports field soon.
37:17 All right.
37:18 Yeah, man. There's some stuff cooking outside of the industry as well, which is really cool.
37:24 But yeah, hopefully some more impactful work for sure, man, 2024.
37:30 I love that, man. I love that. I love that. Well, I wish you all the best and we will
37:34 definitely be catching up soon, my bro. So thank you.
37:39 Thank you.