As The Hunger Games: On Stage prepares to welcome a new cast at Troubadour Canary Wharf Theatre, Elizabeth Anderson and Vinnie Copeland are about to take on two of contemporary fiction’s most recognisable characters. From 23 October, Anderson will play Katniss Everdeen opposite Copeland’s Peeta Mellark, leading audiences back into the dystopian world of Panem. Ahead of their first performances, both actors reflected on the journey to landing the roles, the physical demands of the production and what they have discovered about these iconic characters.
For both performers, the casting process was lengthy and intense. Copeland recalls a month-long audition journey that culminated in a phone call he will never forget. “I think I did five rounds altogether,” he says. “I was actually in the bathroom when I got the phone call, which I’ll never, ever forget. It was just disbelief and shock that this would be my first career job in the industry. I couldn’t believe it.”
Anderson, who graduated from the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland, describes an equally demanding experience. “My last audition was about four hours long,” Elizabeth explains. “They kept changing the material, then suddenly I was reading new scenes, and then they were saying, ‘You’re going to go up in the air and do some backflips.’ After all of that I got another call asking for a self-tape. When the offer finally came through, it didn’t really feel real for quite a while.”
The scale of the production is something both actors believe sets this adaptation apart from the books and films. While audiences already know Suzanne Collins’ world, Anderson believes theatre offers something entirely different.
“You can see these characters in real time, in live time, and it will be different every single night,” Elizabeth says. “Wherever you are in the arena there is something going on. It’s a really immersive experience. There’s not a bad seat in the house and it’s such an interesting story told in a way we haven’t seen before.”
Copeland agrees, pointing to the show’s technical ambition. “The visuals and the spectacle are unlike anything I’ve seen on stage,” Vinnie says. “The fighting and technical side of it is just out of this world. Then amongst all the craziness you’ve got these really intimate scenes, especially between Katniss and Peeta. It moves between those worlds brilliantly.”
That spectacle comes with significant physical demands. Both actors describe a rehearsal process that has felt closer to athletic training than traditional performance preparation.
“I’ve actually got to know what my body can do,” Elizabeth says. “You learn how to check in with yourself and understand your limits. What’s been lovely is that we’ve been encouraged to explore what works for us and for our characters, rather than simply reproducing what has gone before.”
For Copeland, the experience has transformed how he thinks about performance. “You’re training like an athlete,” he says. “We’ve got physio support every day and that level of care is incredible. I’ve learned so much about looking after my body and maintaining myself.”
Their shared journey through rehearsals has also helped shape the central relationship at the heart of the story. Despite not knowing each other beforehand, both speak warmly about the trust they have built.
“We’ve both been really open,” says Vinnie. “We’ve allowed each other’s choices to affect what we do in scenes. I’ve had a great time.”
Elizabeth adds, “When you’re playing such famous characters, there has to be so much trust. There are fights, people flying through the air and huge emotional moments. Through all of that, we’ve developed a really strong bond. Vinnie has made it very easy for me to play Katniss because we genuinely bounce off each other.”
The rehearsal process has also revealed new facets of the characters. For Copeland, understanding Peeta’s family background has been key. “His family life shapes everything about how he approaches relationships,” he says. “He’s only sixteen. He’s still a kid, and understanding that emotional side of him is something I’m really interested in exploring.”
For Anderson, revisiting Katniss has brought a new appreciation of her vulnerability. “What’s really stayed with me is how sensitive she is,” Elizabeth says. “People forget how young these characters are. Katniss had to grow up incredibly quickly and take on responsibilities no child should have to face.”
Looking ahead to opening night, both performers are eager to finally share the show with an audience. “It’s going to change every night,” says Copeland. “There are moments where we’re interacting directly with the audience and at the moment we’re just waving at empty seats. I can’t wait to see how people respond.”
Anderson hopes audiences leave with more than just memories of the spectacle. “If you’ve seen the show before, come again because it’s a completely different reimagining,” Elizabeth says. “And if you haven’t seen it, come and watch a story that might be a little bit too related to our world and that urges you to do something about it.”
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