Forget Mariah Carey and Wham! This Christmas, Andrew Coshan is bringing the cheer, while taking on Ebenezer Scrooge!
A Christmas Carol is such a classic, and this Matthew Warchus production has won five Tony Awards. What do you think makes the story resonate with people?
Andrew Coshan: Well, Charles Dickens obviously knew what he was doing. The thing is, everybody knows people who are a bit grumpy, and this story shows how they can be judged. It also explains how life can shape a person negatively, while it’s not necessarily their fault. But it also shows the potential for change, and just because something may have shaped you, it doesn’t mean you’re not worthy of love or can’t become the best person you can. All good stories have good character arcs and Scrooge (David Wenham) has a remarkable one from the worst of the worst to the best of the best. He hits both extremities in such a beautiful way.
You play Fred. Tell us about the character
Fred is Scrooge’s nephew from his only sibling, Little Fannie who died in childbirth. She’s only seen in flashbacks of Christmas past. So, Scrooge and I are each other’s only living relatives, and Fred loves Christmas and family. He’s very charitable and essentially everything that Scrooge isn’t. I come in as the positive to his negative. I ask him to come to Christmas, and he’s nothing but nasty and I’m nothing but pleasant. But he goes on his metamorphosis, and we form a beautiful connection.
A Christmas Carol
A far cry from playing the baddy drug dealer ‘River’ on Neighbours!
(Laughing) Oh yes, that was such a whirlwind because it was during Covid, and we couldn’t film with more than two people in a room! It was my first proper screen job and working for such a big company was exciting. They move so quick, and it was such an adjustment to finish a shoot in a matter of hours, compared to stage where we have around five weeks. As a New Zealander, I didn’t get the government assistance during Covid here, so it was very beneficial to get that work!
“It was often assumed, just because I performed, that I was gay.”
Have you ever played a gay role?
At Otago University, I was in a friend’s piece where I played a character who was straight but started to have feelings for his best mate. It was a beautiful little role and special because my friend had written it.
Have you ever had a mate come out to you?
When I moved to Australia, one of my close friends in Dunedin messaged to say, “This is out of the blue, but I wanted you to hear from me, that I’m bi and have a boyfriend.” I was thrilled for him because when someone accepts themselves for exactly who they are, or for what makes them happiest, that’s always a wonderful thing. I’d like to think that he knew he’d only get a good response from me!
A Christmas Carol
Have you ever witnessed homophobia?
On a personal level, I remember being called gay because I did dance-based things in high school. But I was always very bully proof. My mum taught me from a young age that when people say nasty things, it tells us much more about them, than yourself. Especially in New Zealand there were the rugby boys who would make off-handed comments about how dancing was gay. I’d just say, “So you’re going to practice to put your arms between another guy’s legs in the scrum, while I’ll go to my dance class with all these beautiful women? You can now think about how I’m the gay one!” To be honest, it never really bothered me, but there was a time where it was often assumed, just because I performed, that I was gay.
Have you had some wild nights out with your gay mates?
While I was at uni in Perth, we’d go to The Court to see drag shows. They were always so much fun. So much better than the straight bars if you ask me! Those nights all tend to blend into one! (Laughing) I’m going to a friend’s thirtieth birthday soon, and it’s a high tea with a theme of camp and fancy. He sent an interest board of ideas with Bridgerton style outfits and big wigs. This happens to be a drag queen friend, so I imagine he’ll go in the most luxurious dress! I bought a beautiful Tommy Hilfiger hot pink knit to wear, with white chinos, white dress shirt and a pink neck scarf. It’s very stereotype prep school!
Andrew Coshan on Neighbours
Do you get propositioned out on those adventures?
Occasionally someone will give me the eye. When out at a gay club, I find someone will look at me in a way where they’re hoping I’m gay. On one past show, I would often get gay men sliding into my DM’s. When I did Merrily We Roll Along in Sydney, I wore really short shorts in one of the scenes, and I think that got me a lot of attention! But it’s always very respectful.
Who’s your celebrity man crush?
Andrew Scott, and he’s one of the best actors around. He was in Fleabag as the Hot Priest he’s pretty up there! But also, if you were going to be in a gay thrumble, you wouldn’t want to be with anyone other than Ainsley Melham and Callum Francis, right? I did Merrily We Roll Along with Ainsley and Phantom of the Opera on the harbour with Callum.
Who’s your music diva?
It’s hard to go past Barbra Streisand, she’s classic. Then there’s Adele who’s my queen, but Whitney Houston is the greatest singer of all time. Her power and soul are just unmatched.
“I wore really short shorts in one of the scenes, and I think that got me a lot of attention!”
What’s your favourite Christmas song?
O Holy Night and Last Christmas by Wham! We sing Oh Holy Night to close Act One in the show, and it’s beautiful. But I also can’t help but dance and get into the groove of Last Christmas.
Do you have a grooming tip?
I think that good basics take you all the way, and I wear the same thing all the time! I feel it would be ironic for me to give styling tips to anyone! (Laughs) I aim for versatility. For instance, when I bought the pink sweater, I was deciding between it and yellow and I thought about which one I’d wear more in the future. That pink is now the baldest thing I own, and it has the most re-use value. That’s how I operate and may not necessarily be good style, but rather dysfunctional!
What’s your most memorable wardrobe malfunction?
I’ve torn pants on stage, right down the back from when I’ve done a squat. Luckily, I was wearing black undies! In Jersey Boys, when I was playing Nick Massi , we had the angry table scene where it all comes out about how much money the character Tommy owes everyone. Nick, who’s a bit of an alcoholic gets really upset, and just as I’m about to start an argument and say my line, I spat a mouthful of wine all over myself. It was actually Ribena and went over my white shirt. It was the emotional peak of the scene and everyone on stage couldn’t hold it together. What’s more, it happened to be the show my parents were at! A good pants tear is hidable, but this was very public!
David Wenham as Scrooge
Is there a quote you live by?
I have two that my father gave me. I didn’t get into acting until I was eighteen and before then I was doing calculous and biology subjects which I thought I’d need for a real job. I didn’t really know what I wanted, but my dad would say “If you got paid a million dollars a year anyway, what would you do?” So, now I’ll make life and business decisions based on that. The other is “The harder you work the luckier you get”. People say, especially in this industry, that you’re lucky to get the job, but for every person who is apparently lucky, they’ve probably put in hours of hard work. In other words, preparation meets opportunity.
Who has been your biggest inspiration in the acting profession?
Hugh Jackman. He went to WAAPA, so he was in the same facility and had the same teachers. Also, Taika Waititi is very inspiring for me. In every job I do, there are people who become an inspiration, like David Wenham who plays Scrooge in this current production.
This is our swimwear edition. Are you boardies or Speedos?
I’m a Speedos guy and only converted when I moved to Australia. I didn’t own a pair until 2017! More people seem to wear them at Australian beaches compared to New Zealand and you also get a better tan line than with boardies!
Briefs, fitted boxers or commando?
Absolutely not boxers! But I’m a big believer in briefs. I find you get more longevity out of them, and they hold everything together! A perfectly fitted brief is ideal!
A Christmas Carol is currently playing at Melbourne’s Comedy Theatre
For more: christmascarolaustralia.com.au
Follow Andrew on Instagram @awcoshan
