Interview: Nadim Naaman on a night of RepresentAsian, and supporting future generations of talent
Up next on Jackstage's interview series we have actor, singer and writer Nadim Naaman, who is set to star in the RepresentAsian: An Evening Of Asian Talent concert on Monday 9th November 2026 at London's Lyric Theatre. We speak with Nadim to find out more about the event, and what we can do to support young creatives from under-represented backgrounds.
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1. This November 9th, you are set to star in RepresentAsian at the Lyric Theatre. Could you tell us a little bit about what audiences can expect from the concert?
RepresentAsian is simultaneously a celebration of established Asian talent, and a platform to welcome graduates and emerging Asian artists into London's theatre community. Better still, it's a fundraiser which aims to support future generations of theatrical talent. So audiences can expect to see and hear some familiar West End names (the likes of James Hameed, Hiba Elchikhe, Roshani Abbey and Soophia Foroughi), to meet some new ones, and also to support the voices of tomorrow all in one wonderful concert. Plus, our host is the ever-brilliant Nina Wadia!
2. Where did your love for musical theatre begin?
As a child, my parents would take my siblings and I on a couple of theatre outings each year. I began to enjoy musicals through the usual childhood classics: Starlight Express, Joseph And The Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat and Oliver!. We also had the VHS tapes of Grease, The Sound Of Music and West Side Story at home. But it wasn't until I auditioned for my first musical, aged 14 (a school production of Jesus Christ Superstar) that I really caught the performing bug. From there, I joined the school choir, took singing lessons and auditioned for everything and anything. By the time I got to University, I was doing two or three shows a term - plays and musicals - and so applying to Drama Schools seemed the only logical next step.
3. Audiences may have seen you in the likes of The Phantom Of The Opera (West End & International Tour), Rumi (London Coliseum and concept album) and My Fair Lady (The Mill at Sonning). What has been your favourite role to play in your career so far?
This is always such a tough question as there are a few that are so special. I'll never forget performing the role of Antony in Sweeney Todd, with Stephen Sondheim sat one metre from me. Henry Higgins (My Fair Lady) was also such a special moment for me - definitely the biggest challenge of my career in terms of intensity of thought, time on stage and the train-like nature of his character and energy. You couldn't miss a beat without the whole scene then feeling off. But I think I'll have to go with The Phantom as my favourite overall. He is such an iconic role, recognised across the world, and it feels such a privilege to add your own interpretation alongside so many other actors who have worn the mask. And because of the path I took to get there: I started in the show as 2nd Cover Raoul, aged 25. And over many years and several contracts, worked my way up to the title role. I am very proud to have been 2nd Cover Raoul, then 1st Cover, then Raoul and finally The Phantom - it was a journey!
4. As a British-Lebanese performer yourself, did you have any Asian or Middle-Eastern role models that you could look up to growing up?
The big one for me was the first time I ever saw The Phantom Of The Opera. I was a student and a young Ramin Karimloo was playing Raoul. I couldn't believe that someone on a West End stage had a name that sounded like mine - Ramin... Nadim... And his surname was Karimloo, my brother's name is Kareem. When I was training, I was encouraged to change my name - even as recently as 2006, advice in London was that I would be more likely to work if I had a British name rather than an Arabic one. Ramin is of Persian, rather than Arab heritage, but I remember thinking... "No, I'm keeping my name. If Ramin Karimloo can be in the West End, so can Nadim Naaman". I'm very proud that I followed my gut. I always followed Ramin's career, and he has inspired me to feel I am capable of many roles I might never have imagined playing. I'm extremely proud to now call Ramin a friend, a colleague from various projects (especially Rumi), and the list of roles we have both played is something I am very proud of.
5. Proceeds from the RepresentAsian concert go towards supporting The Boury Academy. Would you be able to tell us about this initiative?
The Boury Academy is a brilliant place, as it nears its 10th anniversary. It was founded by the multi-talented Rakesh Boury, who you can now catch is Mamma Mia!, and his wife Caroline back in 2017. The Academy offers affordable but highly professional training in acting, singing, dance and musical theatre in London, with a huge range of students from 4 - 21 years of age. On top of the training, there is a large-scale community involvement, offering rehearsal spaces and also a talent agency, so it has ever-growing links with the wider community. Rakesh is a superb role model for young performers and theatre makers, and we share a passion for finding ways to support and enrich future generations through the arts. I'm really pleased that we are able to support the academy's work through RepresentAsian.
6. And finally, why is the representation of ethnic minorities in theatre more important than ever?
Long term, the success of theatre across the globe lies in both young performers and their families being able to see themselves represented on stages and in creative teams. I have only my lived experience as a Middle Easterner, so I will talk about that. I grew up in an environment where no single relative of mine had ever pursued a career in the arts. Societally and culturally, there are still many places where the arts are not perceived as a serious pathway for a youngster, but instead seen as a hobby or extra-curricular activity. As much as we must strive for diversity on professional stages, we must also look beyond that - to help parents and grandparents see that the theatre is a place for their talented children and grandchildren. We can't discuss representation on professional stages without discussing why more children from certain regions are not more encouraged and supported on their journeys to even have a chance of pursing this path and turning professional - they are intertwined. And this all links back to how much or how little people see the stage as a place or environment that they belong in.
As a last note, I think an evening of celebrating Asian talent demonstrates extremely well why we must do all that we can for the next generations - not least because Asia itself is the biggest continent and so incredibly diverse. The historical, scientific and cultural contributions of this continent, which represents a third of the land mass on Earth, are vast. How many phenomenal stories, for both stage and screen, must exist within its history and its people? Let's find them, platform them and celebrate them.
Further Information & Tickets for RepresentAsian: https://nimaxtheatres.com/shows/representasian-an-evening-of-asian-talent/
