![\"Embargoed](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/SEI_273005672_88404f.jpg\")
\n\t\tThe stars of The Hunger Games On Stage open up about the process behind the hit new show (Picture: Johan Persson)<\/p>\n
\t\t
\n\t\tThe stars of The Hunger Games On Stage open up about the process behind the hit new show (Picture: Johan Persson)<\/p>\n
No show this autumn is quite as anticipated as The Hunger Games<\/a> On Stage.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n Based on the first book in Suzanne Collins\u2019s dystopian young adult series, made famous by the Jennifer Lawrence films, it centres on a horrifying competition in a post-apocalyptic nation, Panem, in which teenagers are selected to fight to the death.\u00a0<\/p>\n Sparing no expense, it\u2019s taking place in a specially-constructed arena-style venue, divided into the different \u2018districts\u2019 of Panem, and designed to really immerse the audience in the brutal and breathless narrative.<\/p>\n So it\u2019s no surprise that two of the production\u2019s leads are feeling the weight of expectation a little, just ahead of its official opening next week.\u00a0<\/p>\n The fact that so many people already know and love The Hunger Games \u2018is a weird pressure. You want everyone to be happy who watches it, but then also understand that this is our new version,\u2019 says Mia Carragher, who is taking on the iconic role of warrior heroine Katniss Everdeen. She adds that \u2018a lot is changing\u2019 in previews: \u2018We\u2019re in rehearsals all day before we perform every night\u2026 there\u2019s a lot going on.\u2019\u00a0<\/p>\n \u2018That\u2019s the beauty of [this period],\u2019 chimes in Tristan Waterson, who is playing Katniss\u2019s childhood sweetheart Gale. \u2018Having a live audience to be able to try stuff [out on]\u2026.You just don\u2019t know [how something will work] until you have [over a] a thousand people there [watching].\u2019\u00a0<\/p>\n \t\t \t\t Another thing the young stars have to contend with is the social media<\/a> hubbub that a project like this inspires these days, with audiences posting about their experiences in real time. The very first preview performance made headlines <\/a>after people complained about being left queuing in the rain<\/a>, due to delays.<\/p>\n \u2018[It] was a bit stressful,\u2019 says Mia. \u2018But I think any first night of a show this huge is going to be like that. When we did get the show going, it went amazing, and I was really proud of that.\u2019 As for all the online comments, Mia has made a decision to not look at it, though Tristan says it can be hard to avoid. \u2018It\u2019s great, because some of the fans have been so complimentary and so positive in supporting this new thing we\u2019re making, but it\u2019s just navigating it all.\u2019\u00a0<\/p>\n For both Mia and Tristan, The Hunger Games is on a completely different scale to anything they\u2019ve done before.\u00a0<\/p>\n In fact, it marks 21-year-old Mia\u2019s professional stage debut, while Tristan has appeared in a few shows including National Theatre football hit Dear England. Then again, The Hunger Games is on a completely different scale to pretty much any other theatre project, full stop. As Mia describes, the audition itself was a veritable multi-day boot camp, involving dance\/movement, fight, and harness work try-outs.\u00a0<\/p>\n \t\t \t\t She remembers vividly the moment, two weeks later, when she got the call to tell her the part was hers. \u201c[Director] Matthew [Dunster] followed me on Instagram<\/a> and I thought \u2018oh my god, have I got it?\u2019 but tried not to think into it. I took myself on a walk, then my agent called me [and told me the news], so I sprinted home and FaceTimed my mum and dad straightaway. That was such a cute moment; they were both screaming and crying.\u201d<\/p>\n Mia\u2019s dad is ex-Liverpool footballer Jamie Carragher<\/a>, in fact, and while she may not have followed his footsteps into professional sports, she did a lot of athletics growing up, she says, which has stood her in good stead for the highly physical role of Katniss. For the part, she has acquired a range of new skills \u2013 including, of course, archery, given Katniss is a master of the bow-and-arrow.\u00a0<\/p>\n As Mia explains, she started with an archery course near her home in Liverpool<\/a>: \u201cI\u2019d go every Sunday, and I was the youngest person there. Everyone was like, \u2018why are you doing archery?\u2019 and obviously I couldn\u2019t say at the time.\u2019\u00a0<\/p>\n She confirms, too, that there is a lot of aerial action: \u2018I have a lot of flying and climbing up things really high and getting blown up in the air\u2019. Which may sound like a nervewracking business, but Mia says she\u2019s taking it in her stride: \u2018I don\u2019t have time to panic about what I\u2019m doing, I\u2019m just like \u2018we\u2019re all good, we\u2019re on to the next scene now\u2019.\u2019\u00a0<\/p>\n \t\t One thing\u2019s for sure: this is a show with serious theatrical ambitions, from its spectacular set, (which includes seating banks that move during the performance) to its intricate stuntwork and various visual tricks.\u00a0<\/p>\n \u2018You\u2019re in for a treat. If you look down for a minute, you\u2019ve missed a lot,\u2019 promises Tristan. Mia believes that what distinguishes The Hunger Games On Stage from the films, above all, is the sheer intensity of the live experience.\u00a0<\/p>\n \u2018You\u2019ve watched the characters go on the full journey right in front of you and by the end, we\u2019re all physically exhausted and you can see it in our bodies, how emotional we are.\u2019\u00a0<\/p>\n Certainly, both of these names-to-watch will take away an incalculable amount from working on the show, they say.\u00a0<\/p>\n \u2018It\u2019s the craziest thing that I\u2019ve ever done in my life, and it is really fulfilling as well\u2026 sometimes I\u2019m like, \u2018wow, I can\u2019t believe I just got through that,\u2019 explains Mia.\u00a0<\/p>\n \t\t Meanwhile, what Tristan has observed from his time on the project so far is that \u2018no matter the level you\u2019re operating at \u2013 this is a huge franchise \u2013 the fundamentals are still the same. You have to be there for each other, and no one\u2019s more important than anyone else\u2026 That\u2019s an important lesson to learn as I go forward. If I do then step onto a big Hollywood set, fundamentally it\u2019s the same ethos you have to carry forward.\u2019\u00a0<\/p>\n And the big question is: given The Hunger Games series is a trilogy of books, will we be seeing further instalments on stage? Mia and Tristan haven\u2019t been privy to any conversations about this, but are certainly keen. \u2018How cool would the second one be [on stage] with all the swimming [in it],\u2019 exclaims the former. \u2018I feel like it\u2019s a no brainer,\u2019 says the latter.\u00a0<\/p>\n \u2018The story doesn\u2019t stop here \u2013 there\u2019s scope for more.\u2019\u00a0<\/p>\n May the odds be ever in all involved\u2019s favour.\u00a0<\/p>\n The Hunger Games On Stage is booking until October 2026, thehungergamesonstage.com<\/a>. <\/p>\n Got a story?<\/p>\n If you\u2019ve got a celebrity story, video or pictures get in touch with the Metro.co.uk<\/a> entertainment team by emailing us celebtips@metro.co.uk, calling 020 3615 2145 or by visiting our Submit Stuff<\/a> page \u2013 we\u2019d love to hear from you.<\/p>\n Arrow Arrow Arrow![\"Mia](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/SEI_260512607-c487.jpg\")
\n\t\tThe show is 21-year-old Mia\u2019s professional stage debut (Picture: The Hunger Games on Stage)<\/p>\n![\"HungerGames2025,](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/SEI_273005673_e948da.jpg\")
\n\t\tShe revealed \u2018a lot is changing\u2019 in previews (Picture: Johan Persson)<\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/GettyImages-2205776874.jpg\")
\n\t\tTristan Waterson, who plays Gale, previously appeared in Dear England (Picture: Chapman\/Dave Benett\/Getty Images)<\/p>\n![\"The](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/SEI_271211055-cff9-e1761144907460.jpg\")
\n\t\tThe very first preview performance made headlines after people complained about being left queuing in the rain, due to a delay (Picture: The Hunger Games On Stage)<\/p>\n![\"Embargoed](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/SEI_273005740-c6ed.jpg\")
\n\t\tThe show features plenty of exciting action (Picture: Johan Persson)<\/p>\n![\"Editorial](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/SEI_68851708-c2e0-e1761055592570.jpg\")
\n\t\tJennifer Lawrence played Katniss in the film version (Picture: Snap Stills\/REX\/Shutterstock)<\/p>\n
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