Interview with THE HUNGER GAMES: ON STAGE's Jhanaica van Mook

Set in a dystopian future where each year children from the twelve districts of Panem are reaped to fight in a brutal death match, The Hunger Games follows Katniss Everdeen as she struggles for survival in the arena while inadvertently becoming the face of a revolution.

Jhanaica van Mook joins the new cast as Glimmer, the female tribute from District 1, the wealthiest district, and a Career tribute who trained her whole life to take part in the Hunger Games - the exact opposite of our heroine Katniss. Jhanaica answers our questions below, sharing what it's been like putting her own spin on this iconic character and what it's like performing in the Hunger Games arena.

What was it like stepping into a character that audiences will have been familiar with from the books and films?

I did a lot of research on Glimmer before bringing her to life on this production. Much of how I play Glimmer and how I view her comes from the novels, movies, and the history of Panem and the Districts. I let those facts shape how I play her and make decisions within the show, while adding my own little sparkle, of course. I have definitely made her my own throughout this process.

How much did you revisit Suzanne Collins' novel or the first film when preparing for the role?

I revisited the novels and movies when I was auditioning for the role and once again when I booked the role. I wanted to embody the character as much as possible by keeping it true to the text whilst adding my own flare when possible.

The Troubadour Canary Wharf Theatre was purpose-built for the production, with the audience surrounding the arena. How does performing in that space affect the way you approach a scene? What can the audience expect from the stage adaptation?

I think audiences will be kept on their toes. We are performing is such a vast space, which is able to become so many different settings within the show. In this purpose-built theatre, we are able to shape-shift the stage to fit different scenes, which is something even I am continuing to be impressed by. The space is so open that you feel the presence of the audience even more than in a “usual” theatre space, as audience members are not just in front of you- they are all around you, which adds a whole different layer to the scenes. On the stage, you feel the eyes of the camera, the eyes of the Capitol, there is nowhere to hide- literally- which really heightened the stakes, especially in act 2.

The show combines fight choreography, flying, illusions, video and other large-scale theatrical effects. What has been the most exciting—and challenging—part of learning the physical world of the production?

I’ve never had the chance to learn illusion work on a show, so that has been really exciting and probably the most difficult for me, as it is a whole different world I have never explored before. Learning and training a brand new skill has been very enjoyable but also a challenge. Chris Fisher, our Tony Award-winning Illusions Designer, has helped create the iconic magic of the story to the stage thanks to some grand visual effects.

What has surprised you most about playing Glimmer? Has anything particularly challenged you?

Glimmer is a very different person to who I am; I’ve found this juxtaposition really fun to explore and to see how that manifests within myself. I would say the biggest challenge has been channelling her physicality during fight sequences, as she moves in a very different way to how I would naturally, which has been a hard but enjoyable challenge.

Glimmer is part of a very distinctive group of Career tributes. Working with such a large company, what did you focus on to make your interpretation of her stand out, and what did you hope audiences would take away from her character?

I wanted Glimmer to feel so sure of herself that it feels threatening; she carries herself with the pride of her district and an assertiveness that nobody can shake. She is the embodiment of confidence, but that confidence comes from naivety, which is ultimately her downfall. I hope people feel that confidence I’m embodying whilst also feeling her vulnerability; she may be a career... but she is still only 17.

Just for fun - if you could play any other character in The Hunger Games: On Stage, who would you want to play?

Definitely Effie, have you seen her outfits? Who wouldn’t!

Keep an eye out for our final cast interview. You can also check out our feature piece that answers all the questions you might have about The Hunger Games: On Stage.

The Hunger Games Tickets