The actor and writer, Alexander Hogg, talks about the importance of telling stories through a Midlands lens, learning from the best and his new podcast series
Acting since he was an 11-year-old in shows such as Brassed Off at the Wolverhampton Grand and a long stint on Nativity!, the unstoppable Alexander Hogg has now written a four-part drama podcast series, For King and Country. And he’s still only 19!
When you conjure up images of a child star, you’re not imagining Alexander. There’s no ego or entitlement, just a desire to do great work, all while studying for a degree in Musical Theatre at the University of Chichester Conservatoire. For King and Country is a comedy drama about a group of friends from the Midlands who inadvertently sign up for National Service and explores how they cope.
A story of friendship, family and relationships, the series has been a real community effort. It was recorded at the Mushroom Studios in Birmingham with an entirely local team. Alexander says: “Championing my beloved home and bringing people together by using my characters is something I’ve tried to do throughout the series and I hope it feels like a warm hug to people across the Midlands and further afield.”
JUGGLING ACT
Alexander feels it’s important to tell stories through a genuine local Midlands lens as it can feel like we sometimes get left behind in the media. He says: “Having worked very closely with iconic Midlands-based writers such as BAFTA and international Emmy winner Debbie Isitt (Nativity!) and Oscar winner Rachel Shenton (All Creatures Great and Small), I’ve had a chance to learn from the best.” Balancing writing, acting and studying is a juggle that Alexander is learning how to manage. University lecturers are supportive and if Alexander needs time to work on a job, they give him that flexibility. It’s old hat for Alexander as he was balancing school with performing throughout his three years on Nativity!
I always imagine child actors to come from thespian parents but not so for Alexander. He says his parents were encouraging but not from that world. He used to put on little shows for them at home and eventually his parents found a suitable acting class and an agent. Sparked by an advertisement in a newspaper promoting auditions for Brassed Off at Wolverhampton Grand, Alexander went along and got the part.
He says: “Everything snowballed from there. I then toured the UK with Nativity! I was one of the original cast and toured with them for three years. It gave me a lot of confidence.” Much of Nativity! was improvised but Alexander says that’s only possible if you really know your character.
Alexander’s heroes are largely comedy performers/writers like Miranda Hart, Scott Paige and Oscar Conlon-Morrey as well as David Jason and Ronnie Barker who were always on the telly at his grandad’s house. He says: “They make it look off-the-cuff, but actually it is meticulously planned. The precision is impressive.”
ANYTHING’S POSSIBLE
Like many people, the pandemic gave Alexander the space and time to think about what he wanted. He says: “I’d just finished Nativity! and the world shut down. There were no theatres to perform in. Through my agent I did some screen work – I remember shooting a commercial in Belgium but Covid also allowed me to focus on writing. I had the time.” Going forward Alexander would love to balance acting and writing enabling him to take control of his own career.
He says: “I don’t want to be put in a box. I want to drive the narrative. People in power can say yes or no at the flip of a switch, so I’d like to take control. Anything’s possible.”