Tell us a little bit about Neon Tiger. There's a famous quote that goes: write something worth reading or do something worth writing. How did the plan to go on a ten-day creative research trip to Thailand come about?
In 2013, I was contacted by Kris Stewart (artistic director of Brisbane Powerhouse) who basically said, 'I want to send you and a playwright and a director to Bangkok for ten days and then you make a show about it. You in?' (I’m paraphrasing, but not much…) He had roughly the same conversation with our playwright Julia-Rose Lewis and our director Kat Henry and all three of us agreed, mostly out of sheer curiosity. The trip was postponed a couple of times due to a military coup and some safety concerns but after a year or so we were off.
When did the trip actually happen and how long has this been in the works?
The trip happened in November 2014, so it took about a year before we were on our way from the initial agreement. After that, the three of us met a few times to workshop the piece before Julia wrote the first draft. We did a workshop showing at Brisbane Powerhouse in 2016 and now it’s finally happening at La Boite, which is super exciting after so many years in the making.
What came first: the story or the songs? Did you write as you were exploring the country or once you were home and could reflect?
The story came first in this case. We workshopped a lot of different ideas before Julia pitched us a very simple two-hander whirlwind travel romance. Because we only had ten days in Bangkok we were very conscious of wanting to use those days to just be immersed in the city as much as possible, trying not to be too outside of it documenting the experience. The songs were mostly written during our workshop phases together, and all the underscoring was created in the rehearsal room for the workshop.
How was the experience travelling and collaborating with Julia-Rose Lewis and Kat Henry? Can you share any stories from your time in Bangkok or is it a 'what goes on tour stays on tour' type scenario?
Going to a foreign country with two strangers is a terrifying prospect, but luckily the three of us hit it off immediately and became firm friends on our trip. When you’re using a trip as inspiration for a show it’s more a case of, "what goes on tour, goes in the show," so some of our stories have found their way into the show, albeit with plenty of artistic license. Some stories haven’t made the cut, like how I sort of deliberately let a guy scam me in a back street because I was worried nothing interesting enough for a show had happened. He was a real sneaky dude.
While hosting karaoke nights in Bangkok's party-district, Andy meets Thai-American Arisa who's on a personal quest to connect with her mother's culture." What is your go-to karaoke song?
Valerie, the Amy Winehouse version or Chandelier by Sia, because it’s impossible to sing but everybody gives it a crack.
You've recently been cast in Harry Potter And The Cursed Child. How does it feel to be joining the wizarding world?
It’s amazing and exciting and ridiculous and I can’t believe it’s my actual job. I wish I could go back and tell eleven-year-old me that this would happen just to see her explode with joy.
Neon Tiger receives its official premiere at La Boite 27 October – 17 November.
