In the upcoming UK & Ireland Tour of HERE & NOW: The Official Steps Musical, Blake Patrick Anderson is making his tour debut playing the co-leading role of Robbie, which he reprises from last year’s world premiere at The Alexandra in Birmingham. The Steps jukebox musical opens on Friday 29th August at Aylesbury Waterside Theatre, continuing around the UK and Ireland throughout 2025/26, and Blake is working with a cast including Rebecca Lock (Caz), Rosie Singha (Neeta) and Jacqui Dubois (Vel). Further theatre projects for Blake include RENT at Hope Mill Theatre, Be More Chill in London, playing Rusty in the 30th Anniversary of Starlight Express in Bochum, and in 2022, he played Nerd Face in the one-night-only concert Emojiland at the Garrick Theatre in the West End. As a screen actor, Blake most recently appeared in an episode of Doctor Who as Jack, had a guest role in Series 2 of Halo on Paramount+ as Felix, had his first recurring role as Eddie Castile in the fantasy horror screen adaptation of Vampire Academy, and he will be playing Obie Wise in the not-yet-released civil war spy thriller series The Gray House. We spoke to Blake about playing Robbie in last year’s world premiere of HERE & NOW: The Official Steps Musical, reprising his role for the upcoming UK & Ireland Tour, the one-night-only concert of Emojiland at the Garrick Theatre and his recurring role of Eddie Castile in Vampire Academy.

You are reprising your co-leading role of Robbie in the upcoming UK & Ireland Tour of HERE & NOW: The Official Steps Musical from last year’s world premiere at The Alexandra in Birmingham, how does it feel to be returning to the show and getting back into character as Robbie?

It’s really exciting to be back. The original run was only three weeks, so it was over so quickly. I’m looking forward to being able to settle into the role for a longer time. This is my first tour, and I couldn’t have asked for a more fun way to travel the UK.

How did you find the experience working on the world premiere production and how was it seeing the audience response to the musical in Birmingham?

I was familiar with Steps but somewhat out of the loop when I started. It was incredible to get to know the band and their music and be a part of the huge fan base that they’ve built throughout their career. The response from audiences was electric and made me feel like a pop star.

Can you tell us about HERE & NOW: The Official Steps Musical and who do you think the show will appeal to?

HERE & NOW is a story of four friends who work in a budget supermarket who make a pact to embark on a ‘Summer of Love’ inspired by Caz, who seemingly has the perfect life. What’s amazing is that each of these characters and their journeys are so different that it’s hard for the show not to appeal to anyone and everyone. Obviously, there are some twists and turns along the way, and this only strengthens their friendship. Shaun Kitchener’s amazingly heartfelt script along with the iconic music of Steps just helps you fall in love with these characters even more while having the best night out!

How would you describe your character Robbie and how did you originally prepare for taking on the role?

Robbie is a 20-something, commitment shy, playboy with the heart of a puppy. Knocked back by his past experiences, he’s a little afraid to fall in love and, as he says in the show, is in his “hook-up era and loving it”. He loves his friends and trusts them as he decides to take a chance on love. The rehearsal process was such a fun environment, and the creative team gave us so much space to play with the characters that Robbie came very naturally. It was really easy to find a playful character in a playful setting.

What are you looking forward to for touring for the first time and taking the show around the country?

It’s so common that queer characters are often telling stories of trauma. Moving away from home to big cities is often the only way they find community. What I love about HERE & NOW is that this is not the cast. It’s set in a world free from so many of the cliché obstacles we often see. It’s set in a small town, where queer people are often underrepresented and we see queer characters comfortable and having found community at home. So, getting to take this show around the country for me, as a bisexual man, is an honour and a way for regional audiences to connect with regional characters.

How is it working with the cast (which includes Rebecca Lock, Rosie Singha and Jacqui Dubois as Caz, Neeta and Vel respectively) and creative team?

It’s a privilege to work with such an amazing group of people. The environment we’ve created for each other has become such a safe space to be creative, make bold choices and to really have fun. It doesn’t feel like work at all.

What do you enjoy most about being part of HERE & NOW: The Official Steps Musical, and how is it performing in a Steps jukebox musical?

Honestly, every night when the intro to the megamix starts, I feel like I become Steps themselves. Every single one of them. I feel like a pop star.

In 2022, you played Nerd Face in the one-night-only concert of Emojiland at the Garrick Theatre in the West End, can you tell us about this?

Playing Nerd Face in Emojiland was hilarious. Literally playing an emoji. The show was so original and funny, I’d love the show to have a full run!

As a screen actor, you were most recently seen in an episode of Doctor Who as Jack, what was it like filming for the series?

Growing up I was a huge Doctor Who fan, so getting to play even a small part in this was 10-year-old Blake’s dream come true!

How was it playing Obie Wise in the civil war spy thriller series The Gray House?

This project is probably one of my proudest career moments. I cannot wait for this to air. To work on such a huge series with such huge names, I felt lucky every single day. It’s also a very, very different character to what I have played before, but you’ll have to wait to see it.

What was it like on set of Series 2 of Halo for Paramount+, in which you had a guest role as Felix?

I absolutely loved the first season of Halo and, when I got this job, I was so excited. A sci-fi space series was right up my street. We filmed in Budapest for three months and it became one of my favourite cities I’ve ever been to. It was my first experience with filming on a blue screen, which was so cool, and when I met the Spartans I felt like a kid again.

In the fantasy horror screen adaptation of Vampire Academy, you played the recurring role of Eddie Castile, what are some of your stand-out memories from your time filming for the series?

I had so much fun on this job. Playing a vampire in Spain for six months with people who have now become friends for life. I learned so many new skills on this job. One of my favourite memories was when my phone went off in the middle of a take. Luckily, they weren’t recording sound, but my phone was broken at the time and would often play the last song I was listening to on Spotify… embarrassingly it was Un Poco Loco from Coco – the Pixar movie.

What was Eddie like to play and how was it having him as your first recurring character on screen?

He was cool as hell. A super strong, super fast half vampire at school with his friends. I was so nervous the first time I went on set, but the team were so amazing, and it soon felt like one big family.

Do you have a favourite aspect of working in the acting industry?

My favourite aspect of working as an actor is getting to meet and work with so many different people. Also, while you’re reenacting real life, you learn so much about real life. There are not many jobs where you get to explore your own personality as much as we do. It can be really beautiful.

How do you like to spend your time away from your career?

I’m very boring. I genuinely love doing nothing. Like sitting in silence. I do also have a huge board game collection. So, I guess I’m a bit of a nerd.

Have you been given any advice over your time as an actor so far that has stuck with you?

Not so much advice but a quote that I once heard which I believe many people have said but it was “take your work seriously, not yourself”.

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