Via Starwars.com:
DAK AND BIGGS DISCUSS WORKING WITH GEORGE LUCAS AND MUCH MORE.
With a new focus on the Rebellion courtesy of Rogue One, it seemed an opportune time to catch up with Garrick Hagon, a.k.a. Biggs Darklighter — Luke Skywalker’s Tatooine pal who joined the fight against the Empire in A New Hope. Our conversation on his long and varied career has been a moveable feast that began in 2015 in Providence, Rhode Island, where we found ourselves on a Star Wars panel reminiscing with other Star Wars personalities about the galaxy, working in the entertainment business, and the time we shared in the London of the ’70s.
John “Dak” Morton: So, Garrick, that wonderful story you told on our Star Wars panel about first working with Alec Guinness, I must ask you to share it with me again. That was an epic start to your long and wonderful career, eh?
Garrick Hagon: Ah yes, that was in the very first production ever at the Stratford Shakespeare Festival of Ontario. The play was Richard III. Guinness was Richard, and he said the very first lines on the Stratford stage, “Now is the winter of our discontent made glorious summer by this son of York,” and so forth. I played his Edward, Prince of Wales. We were directed by the great British actor and director Tyrone Guthrie, who was of course the Festival’s artistic director.
John “Dak” Morton: How old were you?
Garrick Hagon: It was the summer of 1953. I guess I was 13 just before going to high school. I was originally cast as the page to the Prince of Wales. Well, Guthrie and Guinness decided in rehearsals to switch me with the actor playing Edward, the Prince of Wales. We performed it in this great circus tent. And the internationally famous British designer Tanya Moiseiwitsch designed this incredible apron stage which was to become Stratford’s trademark. So I was gifted with a spectacular Guthrie-esque entrance up the ramp onto the center of the stage surrounded by flags that bowed down at my feet like a star. And then Guinness as Richard approached me, kneeled, and kissed my hand to welcome me as the prince to London. Great entrance. Great moment.
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