IN TODAY’S MINI-INTERVIEW with an ABSOLUT Fringe 2011 figure, we throw five rapid-fire questions at Tim Watts of The Adventures of Alvin Sputnik.
Alvin Sputnik: Deep Sea Explorer is at the Project Arts Centre tomorrow, Thursday, Friday and Saturday at 6.15pm.
Tim Watts, tells us about your ABSOLUT Fringe:
Describe your show to TheJournal.ie’s readers in 20 words:
It’s a fun theatre show about the power of enduring love and the end of the world. There are puppets, animation, music and bubbles.
Do you have any special rituals you just have to carry out before a performance/reading/exhibition?
I have my usual bizarre actory warm-ups that make me look stupid in front of anyone who walks in. But my favorite ‘rituals’ include saying “Yes!” over and over until I look like I’m listening to a Tony Robbins motivational tape, and jumping around the room punching the air. I also play with the Alvin Sputnik puppet in the mirror and try to make myself laugh (or at least mildly amused), and I have recently begun playing ‘hackie sack’ before each show with my touring team (Chris and Arielle) we’re getting pretty good, so if anyone wants to challenge us… It’s on!
What’s the best/worst audience reaction you’ve ever had to your work?
Not sure about the best, but a really special one was in Auckland, New Zealand, it was right after the Christchurch earthquakes, and a woman told me with tears in her eyes that the show had really helped her though this very hard time. The show is about hope in the face of environmental disaster, and I was proud/humbled to be able to give her that, and help in some small way.
The worst was probably the old woman who fell asleep in our first show in New York. Then after it went well, and was selling out, demanded to see it again, couldn’t get a ticket, so pretended to go to the toilet, snuck passed the front of house staff, and into the show once it had already started, only to fall asleep again. Though I went to see a few shows at the same festival, and she was asleep in those too.
What/who do you recommend we go see at Absolut Fringe 2011?
Everything! At the moment I have pencilled in to see the List Operators and Man of Valour, but I will be seeing everything I physically can. It looks like a really great Fringe!
What has inspired you or made you happy today?
Climbing rocks and mountains to go nude swimming at the rocky, wild, secluded beach at Lands End in Cornwall. Then ate wild berries on the path back. I felt like a pirate explorer.
