Hi Dean, how are you doing today? Thanks so much for chatting to Stage to Page! 

Hello!! I’m very well thank you and I hope you are too, sorry it has taken me some time to get these questions back to you.

Would you mind introducing yourself to our readers and telling us how you first got into acting?

My name is Dean Makowski-Clayton and I am an actor originally from Hull, big up Yorkshire!! I’ve been acting now professionally for 4 years since graduation from Mountview, but I’ve been acting since I was around 10. I got into acting by mistake really, a friend of mine and I were really interested in going to the “boys only” drama club at school, but we got the day wrong and ended up walking into Hamlet auditions, the rest is history.

You're currently playing Student in the London production of Midnight Cowboy. Can you tell us about the story and the character you play?

Yes, I am playing the student, I also play three other fun characters, my favourites are: Bus Geek and Hansel, but we’ll get to them in a moment. The story of Midnight Cowboy covers so many topics, including friendship, homelessness, the sex industry, and loneliness. It’s a beautiful story of two unlikely friends who are brought together by sheer necessity, but grow to love each other deeply. I meet Joe Buck (protagonist) as the Student when he is at one of his most vulnerable moments of the show. The Student is a seventeen-year-old who is trying to understand his sexuality and uses Joe to get some answers. Unfortunately, they both walk away from their encounter having lost rather than gained.

Midnight Cowboy is based on the novel of the same name which inspired the classic film starring Dustin Hoffman. How much research did you do into your character and studying the book and film when you were offered the role?

I’m a big reader so the first thing I did was read the novel and write down anything I thought was useful about my characters. I did a lot of writing on Ratso as I cover that part as well. I stayed away from the film, I watched a couple of scenes, but I always worried that I would end up imitating another actor instead of bringing my own skills to the roles.

What appealed to you about being part of this new musical adaptation of the story?

Since graduating, I have mainly worked with new material. I love originating roles as you can play and you aren’t stuck to what the actor before you did. Midnight Cowboy drew me in though as it’s such an iconic film with some pretty iconic actors and I wanted to be a part of its journey, from book to film to musical. Not to mention the team behind this stage adaptation are at the top of their game and it’s been an honour to work with them.

My blog is called Stage to Page. But if you could turn any book, from page to stage, what would it be and why?

When I was a kid I used to read this book called High in the Clouds. It’s set in a world where everyone is an animal and tackles issues such as environmental abuse, corruption and freedom. I think it would make a great musical and I imagine the costumes to hint at the animals the characters are through the materials.

And finally, why should people book tickets to Midnight Cowboy?

Every single person on that stage is a miracle to watch and you will feel as if you are living every moment with them. 

You can book tickets to see Midnight Cowboy, here.