Taking on Gale Hawthorne in The Hunger Games: On Stage, Nathan Stokes did not want to view the character solely through his relationship with Katniss or through the choices that have long divided fans of Suzanne Collins’ story. For the first-ever stage adaptation, the British actor went back to Gale’s beginnings — the hardship of District 12, the losses he endured as a child, and the responsibility of protecting his family — to understand how survival, anger, and a desire for change shaped the man audiences will meet on stage.
In the interview, Stokes discusses working with Elizabeth Anderson, who plays Katniss, to build a relationship rooted in grief, trust, and a shared history that predates the Games; finding new shades in a character who has lived in fans’ imaginations for years; and allowing the stage to reveal vulnerability beneath Gale’s strong exterior. For Stokes, understanding Gale means resisting easy judgments: “Before judging Gale, ask yourself the question: what do you think you’d become if you were dealt his experiences? It’s not always black and white.”
Gale is someone shaped by the need to survive and by a constant awareness of the injustice around him. What was your entry point into understanding a character who carries so much frustration even before the larger events of the story begin?
As an entry point to Gale, I began by delving into his environment. I found it vital to understand the world he was raised in; this offered pieces to the puzzle as to why he behaves the way he does. Specifically, the heavy frustration he carries each day led to harsh experiences he was faced with as a boy. This would have altered his perspective of the society many idolise and, in turn, resulted in finding peace in isolation.
Audiences often know Gale through his relationship with Katniss, but he has his own convictions, responsibilities, and conflicts. What do you hope to reveal about him beyond that romantic dimension?
Although Gale holds great concern for Katniss, there are further layers to his character I wish to uncover. His ability to demonstrate unwavering faith under heavy pressure and the sacrifices that come with it deserve to be seen. Being the eldest of four, responsibility is ingrained; all he’s ever known is how to protect those around him. I wish to reveal his tender nature and ability to shield those he cares for from coming to harm. There is much conflict around Gale; I hope to display the battle he faces within and the pain it leaves.
Gale and Katniss share a history that predates the Games, built around survival, trust, and responsibility for their families. How have you and Elizabeth Anderson worked to convey on stage the sense that these two people have already lived through so much together before the audience meets them?
It was crucial for Elizabeth and me to highlight the unique relationship Katniss and Gale share. We found their bond to be heavily tied to feelings of loss they shared and an unspoken understanding of each other’s grief. Something no child should ever have to experience, the pain could be eased by each other’s company. Their youth was an important factor in us finding the playful nature of their relationship and how, through time, a mountain of trust could be built between them when faced with survival.
As the story expands, Gale also confronts questions of resistance, anger, and how far someone can go when fighting an unjust system. What interests you most about those moral contradictions within the character?
I find it fascinating to delve into Gale’s moral journey and the shape it takes. Although being raised in an oppressive system, Gale did not let it break him as it was intended to. Instead, an inner strength was built with hopes of retribution for all he lost. However, when dealing with such aspirations, they can infiltrate your sense of self through obsession. I find it key to remember the effects of being away from the place that brings you peace, but more importantly, the people. Without them, the lines soon blur between those dreams you had as a child and the reality you’re faced with, and all the resources that come with it.
Gale can be interpreted very differently depending on each reader or viewer’s relationship with the story. Do you ever feel the need to defend him, or would you rather allow audiences to reach their own conclusions about his choices?
Everyone is entitled to their own arguments; that’s what makes the story so compelling you find yourself rooting for someone! All I ask is that before judging Gale, you ask yourself the question: what do you think you’d become if you were dealt his experiences? It’s not always black and white.
Like Katniss and Peeta, Gale has existed in fans’ imaginations for years. What has been the challenge of respecting what makes him recognisable while still finding something that feels genuinely yours in the performance?
It’s wonderful to have such rich context about Gale and life in District 12. There is always an awareness to ensure what we’re creating belongs to us and doesn’t feel too close to something seen before. With that, during my research stage, I discovered pockets of opportunity for ideas that feel in tune with a refreshing perspective.
After spending so much time inside this world during rehearsals, is there something about Gale perhaps a vulnerability, motivation, or contradiction — that you think the stage can allow audiences to see in a new way?
Being on stage as Gale will offer me the opportunity to demonstrate far more than a strong exterior. I aim to allow shades of his character to be reflected in a new way. It will certainly aid in seeing Gale and his journey up close in his truest form!
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