With Ride the Cyclone currently open at Southwark Playhouse Elephant until Saturday 22nd August, Bartek Kraszewski plays Mischa in the musical, reprising his role from the original London production in 2025/26. Bartek’s character Mischa marks his professional debut, and he works alongside a cast including Jack Maverick as Ricky (also part of the original cast) and new cast members Divina De Campo as The Amazing Karnak, Josh Butler as Noel and Kayna Montecillo as Ocean, and the musical is directed and choreographed by Lizzie Gee. Last year, Bartek graduated from Mountview on their Musical Theatre course, and he has previously been part of Tim Rice – My Life in Musicals at The London Palladium and Magic at the Musicals at Royal Albert Hall. We chatted to Bartek about making his professional debut as Mischa in Ride the Cyclone, reprising the role for the new run at Southwark Playhouse Elephant until Saturday 22nd August and graduating from Mountview last year.
Can you tell us about Ride the Cyclone and your character Mischa, and what is the musical like to be part of?
Ride the Cyclone tells the story of six teens from Saskatchewan that die in a roller coaster crash and enter a sort of liminal realm, where one of them has an opportunity to come back to life. Amongst everyone’s teen life stories that are told throughout the show, Mischa’s story is about slowly learning to be vulnerable and show his real, romantic and sensitive side that he hides behind a gangster-rapper bravado. Being a part of Cyclone is a delight. Every character is so different, their numbers so stylistically separate, and yet they all unite to help each other be themselves for the first (and last) time, and appreciate the ride that is their lives.
How is it performing at Southwark Playhouse Elephant, and how has the run been going since opening on Friday 19th June?
Southwark Playhouse is a special venue. Coming from a background of smaller space theatre, I feel quite at home here. Especially that Cyclone is such an intimate show, and being able to be so close to the audience is special for all of us I think – both on stage and in the auditorium. It’s great to be back for the summer (even though it’s sometimes hot and sweaty). We are very proud of how the run is going, and we are getting into the flow of it more and more day by day.
You are reprising your role from the original London production (2025/26), what has it been like returning to the musical and character and how was it making your professional debut with the show?
I don’t think I could imagine a better start to a professional life. It’s an honour to be a part of this production, and even more so returning to it.
What has it been like meeting the new cast members, which include Divina De Campo as The Amazing Karnak, Josh Butler as Noel and Kayna Montecillo as Ocean, and having the show be directed/choreographed by Lizzi Gee?
They are all fantastic performers and humans. We’ve known each other for just a month, but it feels like a lifetime – in the best way possible. And Lizzi is just the best. I would like to live in her brain for even couple of minutes. She makes magic come to life on stage, and on top of that she cares for all of us immensely, which is a perfect combination.
What is it like taking on the role of Mischa, and what do you feel you have learnt from playing the character so far?
As a fellow Eastern European, taking on the role of Mischa hits quite close to home, and a lot of the idiosyncrasies were very much inspired by watching my Polish friends. Therefore, I feel a close connection to the character, especially his agressive/romantic duality. I feel like Mischa, as well as the whole show, teaches me a lot about being confident with being yourself and embracing your weird with pride.
What are you looking forward to for continuing performing in Ride the Cyclone?
I am definitely looking forward to getting that stage stamina back. It is quite a demanding show, but when it hits, it’s so rewarding. To keep that high level of energy throughout the run would definitely put me in a killer shape, which I sure hope it does. The best part of it is that I can do it whilst enjoying the madness of the show, which brings me utmost joy.
Who do you think Ride the Cyclone will appeal to, and why would you recommend booking tickets to see the show, which is booking until Saturday 22nd August in London?
I think Cyclone has something for everyone. Yes, it is about teenagers, but I think more so about living life to the fullest, which I don’t think gets more universal across any human experience. Also, every number is different stylistically, so whether you love pop, rap, rock, blues or even classical music, I think you will come out of the show fulfilled and excited.
Was there anything that encouraged you to train at Mountview, and how was your time as a student before graduating from the Musical Theatre course last year?
In all honesty, I wasn’t much aware of UK drama schools. I applied to Mountview because one of my friends studied in London and sent me a list of good drama schools to apply to. Mountview was the only one I got into, and I feel lucky that I could go and that I graduated. I think it was the perfect place in a perfect time, and I enjoyed my three years there a lot.
How was it performing in Tim Rice – My Life in Musicals and at Magic at the Musicals?
Oh, you are bringing back the memories now! I don’t think I will ever forget the view from the stage at Royal Albert Hall. Magic at the Musicals was very self explanatory – it was pure magic. Then, to be able to share the stage with Tim Rice and Andrew Lloyd Webber at the Palladium in My Life in Musicals a couple of months later was a dream come true and an absolute honour.
Where does your love of acting come from and how did you get into it?
I don’t know exactly where the passion for acting came from. Since I was a teen, I kind of had it in myself that I wanted to be an actor, in all honesty. I grew up around Polish cinema and comedy shows that my parents were and still are big fans of, so I guess that might’ve subconsciously influenced it.
I started acting at 13 in my local culture centre in my hometown – Skierniewice. I’ve been a part of an amatour theatre led by Piotr Stawski, who taught us acting and wrote and directed our shows. He was my acting mentor so to speak, and it is thanks to him that I applied to UK schools.
Have you received any advice over your time as an actor so far that has stuck with you?
I think the one that has been with me for a long time now is: “You never know who’s out there watching”, meaning you never know how much a show or a performance can influence or help someone.
Do you have any favourite theatre shows to watch and which would you like to see that you haven’t as yet?
I love the atmosphere of a theatre festival, and some of the best theatre I’ve seen have been attending those. My favourite theatre experiences from London have definitely been The Book of Mormon, FROZEN and the Bridge Theatre’s production of A Midsummer Night’s Dream. I would love to watch Kinky Boots – I haven’t had the opportunity yet, and I think it’s a fantastic show.
We understand you are a breakdancer, can you tell us about this?
Well, breaking is what started it all for me! At the very same culture centre where I started acting, my parents signed me up for the classes when I was six years old, and let’s just say I never left. I went on the stage for the first time during that time, and I think that’s what sparked the love for performing.
Breaking culture and hip-hop culture in general raised me. A lot of the principals of life as a performer and a person I still hold dearly from the many hours in the dance studio.
What do you enjoy doing away from your theatre career?
I like geeking out about music. I watch a lot of video essays on music theory and stories behind songs and albums. I’m a big metalhead, so I very much enjoy playing guitar and exploring new bands. I do also write from time to time, and I love it as well.
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