Interview: Actor Mika Onyx Johnson on Jamie Lloyd Company’s THE SEAGULL

The Jamie Lloyd Company’s production of Anton Chekhov’s The Seagull, in a version by Anya Reiss, begins performances at the Harold Pinter Theatre next week. We spoke to Mika Onyx Johnson, who is an Associate Artist for the company, about his role in the piece and the production as a whole.

For those who may not be familiar with the play, tell us about The Seagull and your character in the piece?

The Seagull is essentially a play about 10 people on an island who feel trapped in their own lives, everyone is experiencing some form of rejection and pining for a change in their lives. I play Medvedenko, a school teacher who is in love with a woman called Masha who is in love with someone else. He spends a lot of time wanting her approval and obsessing about money.

What has Anya Reiss' version added to the play?

I haven’t actually read the original, which I think was a good thing for me because I was coming into it with no preconceptions. It feels though like Anya has really captured the internal hang-ups the characters have about themselves, such individuals but somehow Anya has kept them all interconnected.

Jamie Lloyd is well known for putting unique and creative stamps on classic texts. What is the vision or concept for this production of The Seagull?

This production is stripped back, it means there are no distractions and you as the audience can really listen to not only what is being through words but all the things that are unspoken, what the eyes are saying, what the body is conveying. There is an energy that seems to vibrate between everyone on stage and it creates this connectedness between the characters.

You are now an Associate Artist with the Jamie Lloyd Company. How did you first become involved with the company?

In 2019 after I'd done the Edinburgh Fringe, I'd been writing and performing my own work and then I auditioned for Cyrano and got the job, things have just progressed from there really.

You've worked at a variety of West End and regional venues of all sizes. How do West End audiences differ from regional audiences, and how do you think one can/should compliment the other?

I think it's still very difficult for some folks to afford to see West End productions, The Jamie Lloyd Company are offering £15 rush tickets though which is a great initiative. I grew up watching regional theatre and always felt like I could be more vocally responsive in those venues, I’d say audiences in the regions are a lot more humbling but of course, just as important as West End audiences. There is maybe less pressure there because the West End is known for its prestige. I think it’s important to take big shows to the regions because everyone deserves to engage with good art and as a performer you get to experience a variety of different audiences.

You've just taken Cyrano de Bergerac to the USA! What has that experience been like?

It was really fun to take the show to Brooklyn, the audiences responded really well and the story is universal of course so I think people really connected with that. It was interesting to see how everything translated to people with cultural differences, the American audiences would applaud before the show had started, it was cool to experience different energy.

What do you hope audiences will take away after watching The Seagull?

To be able to connect to ourselves and to question what loving yourself really looks like. Often when we don’t learn how to love ourselves and it shows in the way we treat other people. Maybe people will take away different things or nothing at all but hopefully they will leave with a sense of universal connection.

The Seagull plays at the Harold Pinter Theatre from 29 June-10 September, with tickets available here.