A young man who made Fugard cry

Currently in Grade 11, Alex comes to the Fugard Theatre by kind agreement with Reddam House, Tokai. While he has been on stage several times before (Gilbert and Sullivan's King and I, Fiddler on the Roof and Yeomen of the Guard) Master Harold ... and the Boys marks his professional theatre debut.

Daniel Derksen: How did it feel being Hally in front of Fugard on opening night?

Alex Middlebrook: It's actually a funny story, because none of us in the cast knew that Fugard was in the audience. We were completely blown away to find out that he had been there. I am actually grateful that no one told us, because I would have been a nervous wreck. After the show, when I heard that Athol was apparently "sobbing" and that he found it very emotional, it made me feel grateful and extremely privileged to have been able to play this complex, semi-autobiographical role in front of the man himself.

Has Hally changed your life for ever?

AM: Hally has definitely altered me as a person for ever. I can think back on this experience many years from now and truly appreciate everything that I have learned and gained, and apply what I have learned to what I do in the future.

How did you get to play Hally?

AM: I was incredibly lucky to get this part. I heard about the auditions over Facebook and was determined to get a shot at it. I see auditions as great experience and don't expect to get something out of all of them (especially for this show). I was up against many talented, professional actors, so when I got the part I was absolutely ecstatic.

How do you relate to the character of Hally?

AM: I can relate to Hally because I can fully understand the vulnerability of being a 17-year-old, teenage boy (I turn 17 in May.) Being able to adapt effortlessly to the youthfulness of this character has helped me really to get into the mindset of someone who makes a terrible mistake and only realises the consequences of his actions when it is too late. In some ways it has been easy to capture this character and in others it has proved to be a challenge. Hally comes from a very dysfunctional family, which is exactly the opposite of my family life. It has been educational and scary for me to try to understand where this boy is coming from; a boy whose father is the opposite of what anyone would wish their father to be.

Why do you think that Master Harold and the Boys has had such an impact since its debut in 1982?

AM: MHATB has had such an incredible impact because it is one of those plays that still talks to an audience so many years later. It is a very graphic portrayal of the injustices of apartheid in the 1950s and the damage that it did to our nation. An older audience can relate to this show because it will uncover memories of something that they remember and were a part of. This creates an emotional journey while watching the play and, in turn, this has an impact on the audience, the actors and the play itself.

There are some moments in the play when you really need to keep it together and not fall apart? How did Kim Kerfoot help you to cope with this?

AM: Kim Kerfoot is undeniably a great director. (His FDC Award proves this.) Kim has taught me so much more in four weeks than I have ever learned over 16 years. Kim allows us a great deal of freedom during the rehearsal period; he trusts us to explore in our own way and to try what feels right for us. Kim has helped me because he has taught to me to listen intently and to respond with natural impulses and he has helped me to find the intensity of Hally throughout the play. In the moments you speak of, Kim has encouraged me to discover the side of this 17-year-old boy who wants to be right, who wants to win and prove everyone else wrong, and that has helped me to, as a character, try and find those tiny, almost non-existent, glimmers of hope in Hally's life. These little spurges of hope, of what could be positive in Hally's future, help him to hold on with all his might and encourage him to be brave and not to fall apart.

How is your relationship off stage with Tshamano, who plays Sam, and Themba, who plays Willie?

AM: Tshamano and Themba are like teachers to me and I am very grateful to have been able to work with them. They have become mentors, both on stage and off, and working with them has been nothing but wonderful. Lots of people have said that we all "gel" very well on stage and I feel that it is the same off stage; we gel. Being with them has given me the opportunity to create my own little family within MHATB and Tshamano and Themba are two people who will always stay close to my heart.

Your views on being a master over his slaves?

AM: Interesting question. I feel that it is only at the end of the play that Hally views himself as a master who can order around his "slaves". The interesting aspect of this is that, in those days, it was completely normal for the relationship to work that way, which is why Hally does not see it as anything out of the ordinary. It gets to the point when Hally becomes so insecure that the only way he can deal with his problems and insecurity is by becoming completely superior, by taking control and by becoming "a master over his slaves".

How does it feel to be 16 and on top of the world?

AM: During an intense process like this show, you forget about being "on top of the world" because you are so focused on the work and what happens on the stage every night. What is extremely rewarding is the positive response from the audience, from strangers, from my peers and I have to keep reminding myself how lucky I am that I am 16 years old and have been involved in this life-changing process. It makes me feel content, brave, and as if I could conquer anything I wanted to.

Who is the real Alex, the young man behind the actor?

AM: This is a question I ask myself every day. Hahaha! I guess I still have many years to find out who the young man behind the actor really is, but for now I am a 16-year-old boy trying to juggle school and my career, and be as best as I can be.

Have you always wanted to be on stage? Where did it start and how did it happen?

AM: Since I was young my parents have always encouraged my older brother and I to be creative. We were always drawing, painting, dressing up, creating, building etc., which turned me into a very artistic child. My greatest hobby used to be drawing and for a long time the only thing I wanted to be was an architect. But it was in 2006, when I did my first "big" production (The King and I, Artscape Theatre), when I decided that I wanted to be a performer of some sort. Singing in musicals had always been my aim, because I find it fun and exhilarating, but it was only towards the end of 2012 that I realised I should try something more serious and challenging in order to expand myself as an actor.

What motivates you?

AM: The undying support from my family and friends is probably my greatest motivator. I can always rely on my family at any moment that I may need them and the positive response from my friends encourages and motivates me. I also find motivation in the work, in portraying it correctly and being a satisfactory representative of Fugard's text.

Something that is always on my mind is the fact that I am always learning; wherever I go, whatever I do, everything is a learning experience for me. This motivates me to soak up every aspect of this process like a sponge and to use this to be as great as I can be, and always to improve.

How do you see the future for young actors in South Africa?

AM: South African theatre generates so much opportunity. There is always something theatrical happening, whether it's big or small, new or old, and it is of sole importance for young actors to get involved wherever and whenever they can. The future is bright; we are the young actors, we are the new faces and the new ideas and it is up to us to paint a theatrical journey that will give us the opportunity to make an impact, and to make a difference.

Any future plans?

AM: My plans for the future are to finish Grade 11 and to catch up on some sleep.

In the bigger picture, my plans are to get as involved as possible, to explore things, find new meanings in life and to have fun with the opportunities that are given to me. Evidently just to see where my path takes me and to take advantage of whatever fortunes I might find in life.

For more information on Master Harold ... and the Boys, go to www.writingstudio.co.za/page4561.html