'No Plan B' for Jersey's Young Actor of the Year

Saturday 02 December 2023

This year’s Young Actor of the Year hopes that the award will raise his profile and strengthen his resumé, as he admits that he is “not considering a plan B”.

Sixteen-year-old De La Salle student Magnus Surcouf secured the award at Jersey Eisteddfod's Speech and Drama Gala night, beating competition from Florence Byrne, Hugo Jones and Poppy Pendergast.

Following his success, he said that winning the award “meant more than anything”.

“As well as being a big achievement for myself, it was equally as important to my family, friends and teachers, who have supported me throughout the process. It will also hopefully raise my profile and will further strengthen my performing resumé,” he added.

As winner of the Joanna Esther Glasson memorial trophy and the Norman Moore trophy, Magnus elected to perform Malvolio’s comic soliloquy from Shakespeare’s Twelfth Night and the darkly menacing opening of Harold Pinter’s One for the Road, offering the opportunity for “an array of acting styles”.

“It allowed me to show both comedic timing and the ability to create suspense. I was competing against some very talented actors that I have known for many years and who are also my friends, so it was a challenging evening. It’s safe to say that there was a vast mix of emotions – relief, excitement, joy and shock all had a part to play after the announcement,” he said.

Magnus’ first stage appearance came when he appeared as a six-year-old in the De La Salle primary school Nativity play, which led to a recommendation from one of his teachers to enrol in a local drama school.

It has been a passion since then but this year has been a particularly exciting one culminating in the award.

“I got to play Victor Frankenstein in Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein in March. I was then fortunate enough to be invited to be in the cast of The Importance of Being Earnest by Oscar Wilde in June. Both were Jersey Arts Centre productions, the latter allowed me to work with Daniel Austin as director and a fabulous cast, many of whom I had not worked with previously,” he said.

Currently he is in rehearsal for the Arts Centre’s Christmas production of The Sound of Music which begins next week and he is also in the early stages of its YouTheatre production of Elektra at February half-term.

As winner of the Young Actor of the Year title, Magnus secured a cheque for £500 and the prospect of opportunities to benefit from the experience of theatre professionals in the coming year, something which is likely to be of particular benefit since he wants to pursue acting as a career and said he was “not considering a plan B”.

“My sole focus is on the next steps to better aid me in the future. That means working hard, making professional contacts and seeing as many productions as I can to develop my knowledge. When I was eleven, I went to see Sir Ian McKellen, a role model for Shakespearean actors, perform his 80th birthday show in London. I was lucky enough to be invited on stage, so young Magnus met Magneto. He is an actor I both look up to and aspire to work with the likes of, one day,” he said.