Meet Declan Egan, the self-described “Aussie actor based in London” whose star turn in Jersey Boys has garnered critical acclaim. Having impressed audiences in Sasha Regan’s All-Male Mikado and secured a central role in the upcoming Hairspray UK tour, Declan credits his recent career momentum to his partnership with Bronia Buchanan’s talent agency.

In this exclusive interview, Declan reflects on his journey from studying drama in Sydney to touring the U.S. and landing a starring role on the West End stage.

Declan’s Journey to the Spotlight

Declan was always a natural performer. According to his parents, he was “acting, being different characters, and jumping into roles” from the age of three. “It’s always been a part of my personality to impersonate and to take on characterisation,” he adds.

Declan credits two major musicals with inspiring him to pursue a career as a performer: The Wizard of Oz and Wicked. Discovering both musicals at a young age, he realised it was possible to tell stories through music and get paid to perform onstage. “I was like, ‘This sounds amazing,’” he says.

When Declan was 18, he moved to Sydney to study drama at the National Institute of Dramatic Art (NIDA). Alumni of the school include Cate Blanchett and Mel Gibson.

Declan describes the NIDA experience as “tough” but “really cool.” While sometimes “gruelling,” the training prepared him for a career in the competitive — and often demanding — entertainment industry. “We were really put through the wringer… But I did really love it.”

Making His Musical Debut

Declan signed with his first agent in 2011, just as he was completing his training at NIDA. He landed his first audition for a musical — Andrew Lloyd Webber’s Love Never Dies — two days after his final NIDA showcase. He remembers thinking: “This is wild.”

Declan secured a lead role in an Australian production of Jersey Boys —aged just 19. “It was so unheard of for a 19-year-old to go in and play one of [the lead characters] in the Sydney production,” he says. He stayed with the cast for two years.

In 2013, Declan moved to London, intent on breaking into the wider entertainment industry. It was a big move for Declan, but it paid off: He secured the Elder Price standby role in The Book of Mormon U.S. tour. Of his decision to move overseas, Declan says: “I think I did the right thing.”

Declan’s Success With BBA Management

Declan is currently signed to Bronia Buchanan’s talent agency BBA Management. The BBA team’s drive and motivation appealed to him from the beginning. “I don’t think they would’ve had a meeting with me unless they had a clear vision of what they thought they could do with my career,” he says.

While Declan works with the whole BBA team, his main points of contact are Agency Director Bronia Buchanan and Associate Agent Jessica Singer. Jessica updates Declan multiple times a week, keeping him in the loop with roles the team has submitted him for and any callbacks he’s received.

Meanwhile, Bronia Buchanan’s experience and honesty make her “a good voice of reason.” She and her agents help Declan stay focused on his career goals: “They keep me level,” he says.

BBA Management’s “get you in the room” mentality also stood out to Declan. The agency’s impressive network of industry contacts helps its clients land “a lot of fantastic projects, which is probably not possible for certain other agencies.”

Declan’s worked with three other agencies in the past, including a major one based in London. However, none have helped him progress his career as much as Bronia Buchanan’s.

“I don’t think I’ve had this success with any other agency,” he says. “I’ve booked three shows in under a year, and all lead roles.”

Sasha Regan’s All-Male Mikado

Within three or four weeks of signing with BBA Management, the team helped Declan secure the role of Bertie Hugh (Nanki-Poo) in Sasha Regan’s All-Male Mikado. The Gilbert and Sullivan operetta ran from 7 June to 1 July 2023 at London’s historic Wilton’s Music Hall, the only surviving Grand Music Hall worldwide.

Theatre Weekly reported that Declan stunned the audience with his “divine rendition” and set “a high bar with such impressive vocals.”

Jersey Boys

Most recently, Declan starred as Bob Gaudio in Jersey Boys at the newly refurbished Trafalgar Theatre. Returning to Jersey Boys at the age of 31, 10 years after he left the show in Sydney, was “really special.” Declan feels “so grateful to be able to play a lead role on the West End, in one of the slickest, most brilliant shows out there.”

The experience was a career milestone for Declan. He received shimmering praise for his portrayal of Gaudio, with reviews highlighting his “precise skill for comic timing” and his “generous sincerity and flawless clarity.”

Bronia Buchanan also came to watch Declan’s performance as Gaudio. He notes her unwavering belief in his career trajectory. “She was just so convinced [that I would be fine],” he says. He adds that it’s “comforting to have that reassurance from a high-profile agent.”

Declan’s Future Ambitions for Stage and Screen

In the future, Declan would love to originate a role in a brand-new show. He calls it “probably the scariest thing you can do,” but adds that “the idea of doing a show that’s just come out, and being the first actor to play that role, would be really fulfilling.”

Declan would also love to realise a lifelong dream by moving to New York City. Is Broadway calling again? The performer says moving across the pond could be “quite a fair way away,” but he’s not ruling it out.

Having appeared in Baz Luhrmann’s The Great Gatsby (2013), Declan is also interested in returning to the screen. He’d love to work with one of his favourite directors, Tim Burton.

However, there’s a difference between stage and screen acting. Declan enjoys the instant reaction of a theatre audience: “You can hear that response.” Meanwhile, “the terrifying thing” about performing in front of a camera is that there’s no immediate feedback. With no live audience, actors must trust the director’s judgement.

“You’re not in control of how your performance is going to [come across],” Declan explains. However, there’s also “something liberating” about placing the responsibility on the director. “You’ve just got trust in the process,” he says.

Advice For Early-Career Performers

Declan has made several brave decisions during his career, including moving from Australia to the UK. He believes being a performer takes “a certain level of confidence.” It can be especially daunting joining an established production and “working out how your characterisation of a famous character is going to go.”

To anyone starting out in the industry who may be doubting themselves, Declan says “the power is in your uniqueness and individuality.”

“There is something that you are going to bring to that casting, that self-tape, that audition, that no one else on this earth is going to bring,” he says. “You believe in that, the unique power that you have within you, and know that that can take you so far.”

Choosing the right agent can also be difficult for performers who are launching their careers. Declan’s advice is to “go with your gut.”

“You don’t want to be going with an agency just because of the name… If you’re going by reputation, you can get lost in big agencies,” he cautions. “Trust your gut and say, ‘Is this person really going to fight for me? Are they going to take my career to the places that it’s going to go, and that I want it to go?’”

Rubbing Shoulders With The Book of Mormon Stars

It’s hard for Declan to choose just one highlight from his diverse career. However, his experience with The Book of Mormon U.S. tour stands out. He recalls flying out to Broadway to audition in front of the show’s original creative team, including the producers and writers. As Declan sang “I Believe” on a Broadway stage, he remembers thinking: “This is insane.”

At one point, Declan found himself in a waiting room with Nic Rouleau and Gavin Creel, two performers that he’s respected for years. Nic is Broadway’s longest-running Elder Price from The Book of Mormon. Meanwhile, Gavin won an Olivier Award for his portrayal of Elder Price in the show’s London production.

Sat across from these talented performers, Declan remembers thinking: “This is what I set out to do as a kid. And now I’m doing it, with people that I looked up to growing up … It is something that I will always be so proud of.”

Touring The UK With Hairspray

Next, Declan will play Corny Collins in the 2024/25 Hairspray UK tour. It’s a “pinch me moment” for Declan, as Hairspray is a show he “idolised as a kid.” After seeing the 2007 film starring John Travolta and Zac Efron, Declan and a friend would  sing “I Can Hear the Bells” around the corridors at school.

“It’s always nerve-wracking to start a new job,” Declan says. “But I am really excited.”

The Hairspray UK tour kicks off at Manchester Palace Theatre from 16-27 July. It will go on to venues across England, Wales, and Scotland, including the Birmingham Hippodrome, the Cardiff Millennium Centre, and the Edinburgh Playhouse.

About Bronia Buchanan’s BBA Management

Bronia Buchanan’s BBA Management represents many exceptional actors and creatives, including industry award winners and outstanding emerging talent. The agency provides clients with complete personal management and support from its experienced agents.

Learn more about BBA Management.