Meet Jesse Siak, playing Dr. Watson in “Sherlock Holmes”

Q: Where did you grow up? Were there any activities you did as a child that led to your passion for theatre and the arts?
A: I grew up in Hendersonville, NC. I always had a very active imagination, and, to my embarrassment, I would act out plays and movies alone in the backyard. My parents noticed this, and decided I should focus these little improvs in a more structured way…

Q: Where did you study theatre?
A: I started taking classes at Flat Rock Playhouse when I was 10 years old. I graduated from every level of acting education there and went on to receive my BA in Theatre Education from Catawba College in Salisbury, NC.

Q: Where have you worked previously? What are some of your favorite roles?

A: I have worked mainly at Flat Rock Playhouse and South Carolina Children’s Theatre.  Some favorite roles include: Narrator (The Rocky Horror Show), Steve/Randy/Dave (Almost, Maine), Aviator (The Little Prince), Bellhop (Lend Me a Tenor) and Jose (Man of La Mancha) with Flat Rock Playhouse; Jamie (Bright Lights, Big City), Buddy (The Mistakes Madeline Made), Ratty (The Wind in the Willows) and Bobby (The Boy Friend) with Catawba College.

Q: How did you prepare for playing the iconic role of Dr. Watson in Sherlock Holmes? Were there any challenges or things that you were excited about with taking on this character?

A: I really tried to get into the psyche of Watson. I did a lot of research on the character in plays, movies, tv shows, and the original books, trying to figure out possible physical and vocal mannerisms. A challenge I faced was trying to create a Watson that was unique, fresh, and interesting while also fitting into the archetypal mold of the character.

Q: What are you most excited about that audiences will see in this production?

A: I can’t wait for audiences to see the banter among Holmes, Watson, and the King of Bohemia… I believe this will be fresh each night, and I’m very excited to play off of the audience’s energy and the energy of my fellow castmates.

Q: Please share with us your thoughts and experience so far on being a Resident Actor with Charleston Stage.

A: I have absolutely loved being a Resident Actor. I get to teach and coordinate the TheatreWings program during the day, and I get to step into another person’s mind and body each night. I love this community and my colleagues. I am really blessed to have been given this opportunity, and I’m thankful every day for it!
Charleston Stage Professional Resident Actors Jacob Dickey as Sherlock Holmes and Jesse Siak as Dr. Watson.
Charleston Stage Professional Resident Actor Jesse Siak as Dr. Watson.
Charleston Stage Professional Resident Actors George Dippold as The King of Bohemia and Jesse Siak as Dr. Watson.