Bartek Kraszewski (Ride the Cyclone)

Following a sell-out run that cemented Ride the Cyclone as one of London's most talked-about cult musicals, the production has made a triumphant return to the Southwark Playhouse Elephant. Blending comedy and an eclectic score with plenty of food for thought, this musical has captured audiences with its offbeat storytelling and unforgettable characters.

Amongst those returning to the show is Bartek Kraszewski, who made his professional debut with Ride the Cyclone as the fiercely charismatic yet deeply vulnerable Mischa Bachinski. As Ride the Cyclone embarks on its highly anticipated comeback, we discussed revisiting the role, the devoted fanbase, the important themes and why this musical continues to resonate so powerfully.

Q) You made your professional debut as Mischa in Ride the Cyclone and now you've returned for its highly anticipated comeback. How does it feel to step back into this role?

I definitely felt more prepared. I knew what I was going into and we had time before, in between the runs, so I felt like I could prepare physically and mentally for what the show requires and I knew what that was. It’s a joy, it’s a great character. I’m having lots of fun so it was very exciting to come back.

Q) Did you learn anything about yourself as a performer or Mischa as a character that you’ve taken with you into this current run?

Echoing that previous question, I definitely took from the last run that as a performer we have to be on the top of our game to do eight shows a week, especially with a show this physical and where you cannot necessarily hide behind anything because it is an ensemble piece and we are all pretty much on stage all show. Therefore, the details, the rhythms and the energy has to be preserved for the show to be good. It requires a lot of physical preparation and stamina which means working out, eating good and sleeping, that’s definitely something I learned from the previous run and have taken into this one.

Q) What in particular was it about Ride the Cyclone that piqued your interest and made you want to be involved?

Well, at this point of my career, which is just beginning, you take all the auditions you can get, and I feel like with Ride the Cyclone, I was in the right place at the right time. When I read the brief saying an 'Eastern European rapping and ballad singing teenager' I thought, well I would love to do it, because I felt like I was kind of made for it. It’s very similar not only to me as a person but to my interests in acting and my acting style. I also listened to the cast recording, and I thought the material was great. I had a lot of fun auditioning for it and thought, wow, that would be great to get.

Q) Did you ever expect the show to be such a phenomenon, selling out and returning for another run so quickly?

I didn’t. When we started, I didn’t know much about the show, I don't have TikTok, so I was not aware of the fanbase and vastness of it. But I think I quickly realised how big it was when I saw how it sold last time and that we had full houses, for both runs now. It was very exciting and I kind of just thought, or hoped, or crossed fingers, that it would have some future, and we all felt that it would and luckily, we are here, we’re back and that’s a great opportunity to have. So, yeah, I didn’t know before, but I quickly realised that this show is quite a phenomenon!

Q) This musical has developed a passionate following because people see parts of themselves in these characters. Why do you think Ride the Cyclone has become such an important show for so many people?

I think that these characters are so different, amazing and so original, that everyone can see a part of themselves in some of them, or one of the characters at least. I always compare it to Power Rangers, you know, when you’re a kid and you watch it, choose your favourite colour Power Ranger and that becomes your personality. I feel like it’s a similar thing with Ride the Cyclone, everyone has the character that kind of speaks to them, or they find cool, or they find that character’s song amazing and inspiring. It’s such a quirky show as well, it doesn’t take itself too seriously which is quite refreshing. And even though it’s quirky, by the end of it you leave feeling grateful for being alive, which is very needed. I think, in consuming shows, media and art, you want to be changed by it and I think Ride the Cyclone does that whilst being very enjoyable as well.

Q) Mischa is one of the most layered characters - what was your first impression of him when you read the script?

I feel like he is very universal to a lot of young guys that try to be cool and try to fit in, in a way. I definitely saw a part of myself in him, there are a lot of parts of me that sometimes contradict each other in a way, like the things I like in music and art and where I come from and Mischa shows it’s okay to have these different parts and be at ease and peace with them. That was my first impression of him. I was also very excited to work that muscle of a character that is very energetic with that gangster bravado for most of the show and then it completely switches in such a short period of time to something very vulnerable. I read the script and thought this is an amazing acting challenge and now I’m facing it and having tons of fun doing it.

Q) What has playing him taught you about toxic masculinity and why do you think it’s important for these topics to be explored in art forms such as theatre?

I do think that topics like this, of being open to being yourself without any restraint or second thoughts and having that strength to be unapologetic of who you are, is why we come to the theatre. You want to see yourself being encouraged to live more truthfully, which Mischa explores. We meet him knowing that this bravado is just a mask, so that’s an interesting thing this musical does. I feel like there is a part of him that is maybe pushed to show that strength is being cold and very nonchalant and I think that appeals to a lot of young men that want to be tough and to be useful, and I think Mischa found that all after his childhood hardships, he found being a bit brutal and cynical can actually be the easy way out. That’s why I think it’s also important to put these topics in theatre, to show that the actual real strength is allowing yourself to be vulnerable sometimes. I think being responsible, being caring for someone, in Mischa’s case Talia, is true strength and that’s what we should look at and cultivate and use the arts and theatre to hopefully encourage young men to see that is where they should head.

Q) As an actor, how do you approach revealing those quieter moments without losing the humour that makes him so entertaining? Why do you think humour is such an effective way of telling difficult stories?

I feel the more you act the gangster and the angry side of Misha in the beginning, the more the vulnerability hits, and I think that a lot of what is interesting in theatre works on contradictions. That’s why we can also say that humour is effective, because humour eases the tension and eases you as an audience member to get hit harder by what it important. It kind of creeps in under the humour that is shown throughout. There’s a big contradiction between something funny and something gravely serious or difficult and that’s what I think makes I an interesting watch.

Q) Ride the Cyclone asks audiences to think about life through the lens of death. Has performing the show changed your own perspective on making the most of the present?

I don’t think it changed, I think it’s solidified it, because I think life has meaning because it ends, and this shows portrays it beautifully. It is a great gift to be alive and the fact that it will sometime end and we don’t know when makes us think to appreciate it more and do more with life. Doing this show is a prime example of that for me, that I’m here having a fantastic opportunity to do a show this great quite early in my career and I don’t know what’s going to be next. Here we are telling this amazing story (as I’ve said a hundred times before), having a lot of fun doing it with wonderful people. You’ve got to grab it while it lasts, that’s what stays.

Q) What is your favourite song in the show to perform?

Always was and always will be Space Age Bachelor Man. I mean, don’t get me wrong I love This Song is Awesome and Talia which are my songs, but right after that is Space Age Bachelor Man when I think is where the show peaks in absurdity and because my songs are don I can support Jack Maverick as Ricky and just let loose, it’s such a great song to do.

Q) If you weren’t rooting for yourself - which other character would you be rooting for?

I think Constance, and that last monologue of hers is my argument, full stop.

Q) For anyone who missed the sold-out production last year, why is now the perfect time to jump aboard Ride the Cyclone?

It’s cool, it’s amazing, I don’t think there’s anything like it in London now. I think it’s super energetic, super fresh and everyone would find something for themselves. There are so many different musical genres executed amazingly and it’s just a lot of fun with a healthy dose of great thoughts to ponder on. It’s a great evening or afternoon matinee in the theatre and we have pretty much the last to weeks to go, so time is running out, and we’d love to see each and everyone of you. The more the merrier. I would love for as many people to see this very important show, I think that’s the most I could say about it. It’s fantastic! Come check us out at Southwark Playhouse Elephant!

Ride the Cyclone plays at the Southwark Playhouse Elephant until 22nd August - tickets and more information can be found here.

Photography by Charlie Flint