Nathan Hartono is certainly no stranger to the spotlight. From his days as a teenaged jazz singer to his current status as a bonafide popstar - the bilingual Singaporean musician has released numerous acclaimed albums and EPs, impressed Jay Chou during his stint on Chinese reality singing competition Sing! China, and helmed 2020’s fantastic National Day Parade theme song ‘Everything I Am’.
Beyond his vaunted music career, Hartono has also successfully dabbled in acting, taking on roles ranging from 2019 local horror comedy film When Ghost Meets Zombie and 2015 fantasy television series Halfworlds, to theatre productions of Pangdemonium’s Spring Awakening and Glowtape Productions' The Great Wall in 2012 and 2017 respectively. For his latest project, the celebrated artist makes his return to the stage after seven years away.
Beginning 12 February, Hartono will star opposite Inch Chua in Singapore Repertory (SRT) Theatre’s production The Last Five Years. Originally written by Tony Award-winning composer, lyricist and playwright Jason Robert Brown - the beloved musical is directed by Daniel Jenkins and follows Jamie (Hartono) and Cathy (Chua) through the highs and lows of their love and marriage, unfolding over five years.
In anticipation, we spoke to the multihyphenate about his highly anticipated musical theatre comeback at SRT’s KC Arts Centre.
Hi Nathan! How did you come to be involved in SRT’s production of The Last Five Years?
SRT’s producer pitched the idea alongside Inch. And I’ve known Inch for over a decade, but we’ve never actually worked together in the theatre realm. It sounded like a fun time!
What attracted you to the role of Jamie?
For better or worse, I see a lot of myself in him. I have a lot of sympathy for what he goes through in this story. But I also find myself upset with him for making the same mistakes that I have made in the past. He’s a very honestly written character and I think that makes him extremely compelling.
Have you seen other stage productions of The Last Five Years (or perhaps the film adaptation) before?
I actually haven’t. We’re still early in the rehearsal process and I don’t want to see any existing versions till I have a better grasp of the character from my perspective. I did briefly scrub through a “slime tutorial” on YouTube, just to get an initial vibe check. But I’m gonna wait awhile before I watch the other interpretations.
What do you love most about Jason Robert Brown’s acclaimed score for The Last Five Years?
The complexity. Not just on a technical level, a fact that our music director Joel will wholeheartedly agree with, but on an emotional one as well. The story deals with very real and complex emotions, and I think the music reflects that ebb and flow between two people who love each other extremely well.
How have the preparation and rehearsals been going?
Feels a little bit like putting on an old pair of jeans you haven’t worn in awhile. Uncomfortable at first, but slowly easing back in. I haven’t thrown myself into the theatre rehearsal process in a long while, so it was a bit of a shock to the system. But I’m finding the groove and each rehearsal just gets me more and more excited to show people what we have in store.
Could you tell us about your experience acting alongside your co-star Inch Chua?
Wonderfully familiar, if not a bit surreal at times. Though we’ve never worked together in a theatre context, we’ve shared the music stage many times over the years. It’s been really fun getting to see each other stretch ourselves in a different world. Also between the two of us, there is a staggering obsession with all things food, so lunch breaks have been great. (Laughs)
You’ve acted in various mediums, but this role marks your return to theatre after seven years. Is there any anxiety or trepidation in the lead up?
Seven years is a very long time to not be doing something. I’m definitely a little nervous about the whole thing. I have had recurring nightmares where I wake in a cold sweat for years now. It’s a nightmare where I’m about to go on stage to do a play/musical, and I have no idea what the show is or what the script is. So clearly there’s some trauma to work through there. (Laughs) But I think all that will figure itself out after the very first show with a crowd. As surreal as it’s gonna feel, I’m just gonna let myself feel it.
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