Our next installment in the HUM SERIES is the Australian Premiere of the theatrical song cycle: SONGS FROM AN UNMADE BED.
Joymas Creative took a moment to find out a little bit more about the show, its star and why Brisbane audiences should be doing all they can to grab a ticket TODAY!
JC: You were last seen playing the role of Peter Allen in the smash hit ‘Boy From Oz’, how does it feel throwing yourself into such an intimate show after playing to a 1500 seat theatre?
TS: To be honest, it’s not really the size of the audience that is pushing my buttons with this work. The Boy from Oz was such a phenomenal role in a fantastic venue working with some amazing people, but as our director Lewis Jones said, above all it was a piece that mattered. It shared the story of a positive, openly gay character such as Peter Allen with the world and offered a message of hope to anyone who has ever faced adversity because of their sexuality. Everything else about that production was just a bonus for me.
I guess that is why I’m so excited about premiering ‘Songs from an Unmade Bed’ to an Australian audience. Similarly, for me, it is a piece that matters – but on a different scale. It’s an intimate celebration about human relationships. It offers amusing observations from one gay man’s point of view in a very playful, moving way. Anyone who has ever felt the ecstasy of love, the pain of loss, had a bad date, a good date, navigated their way through single-life, coupled-life, felt alone, or felt alive will get this show. It shows a part of our community that is rarely seen celebrated in such a way on stage. As such, I feel it is an important work which I am privileged to perform.
JC: What’s the best thing about performing solo?
TS: I have a little bit of a problem with the notion of ‘performing solo’. I tend to think of it more as ‘performing lead’ as there’s usually someone there supporting you – even if it’s just the sound guy. Even in ‘Songs from an Unmade Bed’ I’m not truly alone. True, I’m ‘front and centre’ from go to whoa, but I do have a wonderful trio of musicians supporting me.
I do however love the feeling of guiding the energy for an audience – it’s the ultimate control, but also the ultimate responsibility. There’s no hiding – it’s all you. If your energy is off, then your support is off too, but if you’re ‘on the money’ that’s when magic happens! It’s that wonderful feeling of a personal connection with an audience – and discovering the journey together.
JC: What inspires you?
TS: Possibilities and the voice inside that asks “What if?” I’m very blessed to have some wonderful mentors that constantly challenge me to think along these lines. The idea that things can be done, things are possible – not just with hard work but with clever thinking. I love the challenge of growing and moving forward as an artist and as a human being. We are such amazing creatures and we have the ability to move the world (and often do!).
JC: Performing a song cycle (with so many different composers) provides both challenges and rewards. What would be your greatest challenge & reward with this particular work?
TS: I consider myself lucky because usually with a song cycle, you have the one composer who writes all the music and that becomes the connective thread holding the piece together. ‘Songs from an Unmade Bed’ has eighteen different composers, each with their own unique musical treatment, and only one lyricist. Therefore, rather than being led by the music, this work is driven by the dramatic themes expressed in the lyrics, with the music supporting it emotionally rather than thematically. The audience is presented with micro-stories or vignettes, emotionally supported and enhanced by music, and each in a contrasting musical style. Because of this lyric driven element, as an actor I felt immediately attracted to it.
Apart from the artistic challenges, I’m embarking on a much larger personal process – one in which I find myself wearing a lot of different ‘hats’. Usually I’m just the performer in someone else’s production, and even though I tend to put my artistic two-cents in, ultimately it’s not my responsibility. This show is a completely different situation. I’m co-producing it which means I’m no longer ‘just the performer’. I’m dealing with all the other goings-on that make a show come together. Formulating and coordinating rehearsal schedules, production meetings, marketing, leading rehearsals, sourcing props, costumes, sets etc. Even though it isn’t a large-scale production, when you’re only a small team it all takes time and everything takes longer than you originally think it will. I’ve had to find a balance between assertiveness and patience.
JC: If you weren’t performing, what would you be doing?
TS: I tend to be a dreamer, so there’s a great many things that I would love to do. That’s probably what attracted me to performing in the first place – I could pretend to be anyone or anything! I’d probably be a mad scientist pioneer who discovers a protective time bubble and travels back through time to witness the wonders of primordial earth, then travels slowly forward in time to watch our ancient civilizations grow – it would be the ultimate fly-on-the-wall experience! That’s it! I could open a time-dimensional travel company. It’s a niche market, now all I need is the proper tools… Science – Where’s my personal teleporter? Hmm? I’m waiting!
JC: What do you think audiences will take away from ‘Songs from an unmade bed’?
TS: As ‘Variety’ said – One of the best hours not spent in bed. Seriously, it’s a great show and I’m sure that people will leave afterwards with a smile on their face, a tear in their eye, and maybe, just maybe, a feeling that we’re not quite as alone as we think we are.
One performance only: 7:30pm Saturday 13th August – JUDITH WRIGHT CENTRE (Shopfront)
TO BOOK: www.judithwrightcentre.com
TICKETS: From $20








