Hamilton and Me; A Fascinating Account into the mind of Giles Terera

It is safe to say that Hamilton has become a worldwide sensation since it's first Broadway preview in 2015. Even people outside of the theatre community are fully aware of the buzz and excitement that Lin Manuel Miranda's rap musical about the American Founding Fathers has created. By the time it was due to open here in London, the world already loved and knew every line in the show and the anticipation for it's opening was unlike anything I have seen for a Broadway transfer of a musical.

I was part of this buzz at the time - so excited to finally be able to see the show for myself in person. It felt like such a brilliant time to be a fan of theatre, and as soon as I sat down for the preview performance that my Mum had desperately scrambled to get tickets for, I knew that I was witnessing the beginning of a very exciting journey for the London production.

That was why I was so excited when I heard about Giles Terera's new book; Hamilton and Me - An Actor's Journal, recounting this exact moment in time when he was beginning his journey of playing the role of Aaron Burr in the Original London Cast of Hamilton. The book has been adapted from Terera's journal that he had kept during the rehearsals and performances of his contract in the show; a tactic he claims to have done for many of his previous acting roles. The account follows Terera from his first discovery of Hamilton, through all his auditions, to rehearsals, through to the performances as well as other stand-out moments of the contract, and as Aaron Burr himself would say, it really makes you feel like you're in "The Room Where It Happens".

What I found so inspiring about Giles' writing is how honest and open he is. Obviously he hadn't begun his acting journal with the intention of it being adapted into a book, but it feels so raw and special having such a highly praised actor share the elements of the process that he struggled with. For many aspiring actors, like myself, it feels very comforting and reassuring to know that you're never alone in feeling moments of inadequacy or being overwhelmed. That little voice in our heads can be such a distraction from keeping us present and focused on our craft and it was so unique getting to read through an actor's notes of going through that experience.

The fact that much of the writing is told in the present (as it has been adapted from Terera's current notes from when he had been rehearsing) can sometimes be a little bit difficult to adjust to. I found it took me a little bit of time to make sense of some of the notes. Giles warns us of this in the beginning, that the book itself feels incomplete in some sections because it was being written and developed in the moment. Whilst this can sometimes be a little confusing and disjointed, it keeps the authenticity of Terera's writing. There are very little censors as it really feels as though every line has been dictated from his thoughts.

I feel like this book is absolutely essential for any aspiring actors or performers. The level of detail in Terera's character analysis of not only Burr, but many of the other characters is astounding. It is so interesting watching as, throughout the book, he slowly digs deeper and deeper into each line and each lyric. How after every session it seems as if he knows Burr are little more. His research is clearly very extensive and it shows just how much work he had put into creating this role, as well as how deserving he was of his Olivier Award for his performance.

As someone who also had the pleasure of seeing Giles' performance in person, it has made the memory of that experience feel that little bit more treasured. I found myself recounting moments in the show, remembering how a particular song was choreographed and then, using Terera's comments, seeing just how hard the cast were working to create that one tiny moment which, to an audience, had appeared effortless. It reminds me of just how much blood, sweat and tears goes into telling a room of people a story - something that I think we need reminding off after how the arts has been treated during the global pandemic.

Perhaps my only real criticism of this book is that I think you need at least some form of understanding about Hamilton to be able to full appreciate this resource for what it is. That's not to say that you need to know the show inside out, but certainly having an understanding of what is being referenced within the show is needed to have full context for a large portion of the book. But that being said, the name of the book fully indicates that Hamilton is going to be talked about a lot so I doubt this will be an issue for anyone.

Overall I think Giles Terera has given the world a gift of an insight into the truthful, unedited life of an actor. He has written a treasure for fans of the phenomenon that is Hamilton and allowed us into his creative mind for a little while. It was an absolute delight to read and I hope other creatives will follow suit with telling similar stories. Anything that makes the arts more accessible to students and young people who want to enter into creative fields is a treat not to be missed.

Rating: ***** 5 Stars

To See or Not To See: To see (well read!) without a doubt.

Hamilton and Me - An Actor's Journal, published by Nick Hern Books, is available from 1st July 2021 in Hardback, E-book and Audiobook.