an actor with many influences
My beginnings were in science, studying Theoretical Physics at the University of St Andrews, learning to ask the simple question ‘why?’, which became a creative itch and subsequent fire. It led me to studying Acting at the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland, which gave me the tools to hone my craft and find my own unique artistic voice. My world widened as I began to work while still studying at the Dundee Rep Theatre, starring in my first three plays: Wings Around Dundee, A Christmas Carol and The Bookies, learning what it meant to connect to an audience. It opened me up to the possibilities of what it could mean to be an actor. Working with Dominic Hill on Alföld taught me how to dive deep into what is on the page, and it allowed me to join the Royal Shakespeare Company for Macbeth. Shakespeare and the stage at the RSC are the best teachers any actor could ask for. My most recent project was Rona Munro’s James V: Katherine playing a Scots martyr Patrick Hamilton who died at just age 24. My focus was in bringing a contemporary fire to him, trying to understand just why and how he could do what he did, drawing inspiration from Malcolm X and the Black Panthers.
Based in copenhagen and yorkshire
Currently, I am based in Copenhagen, developing my own creative passions in any way possible, which currently means working on my first novel “The Undiscovered Country”, a retelling of Hamlet through the eyes of a lonely Physics student, and developing my skills as a jazz pianist, playing piano as much as humanly possible and immersing myself in jazz’s rich history. My heritage and background informs my creative passions. My outlook is global, taking inspiration from my roots in Denmark, Scotland and Nigeria, as well as my training in Physics and Acting, to break down any problem into the simplest steps building blocks possible. Once you break something down, you can build it up however you wish, and for me, that’s what creativity means. I want to make work that is truthful, compassionate and moving and I do truly believe it is possible for art to transform the world around us. I know how it has transformed me, and it is true transformation, not simply pretending, that motivates my acting. Pratically, I have bases in Copenhagen and in Thirsk, Yorkshire. I am flexible and willing to travel for work. Don’t hesitate to contact me if you are interested in working together.
Wings Around Dundee, Tommy Ga-Ken Wan