Delighted to have my next guest in. He is Australian acting Royalty, although he's not Australian, but like anything good from New Zealand, we pinch it. You know him from All Saints Pack to the Rafta's Somersault, to name but a few. He's here with our Much Love State Theater Company doing a new play called The Puzzle, which is on from the twentieth to September until the twelfth of October at the beautiful Dunston Playhouse. Eric Thompson see you. I'm well, thank you for coming in.

Delighted to have my next guest in. He is Australian acting Royalty, although he's not Australian, but like anything good from New Zealand, we pinch it. You know him from All Saints Pack to the Rafta's Somersault, to name but a few. He's here with our Much Love State Theater Company doing a new play called The Puzzle, which is on from the twentieth to September until the twelfth of October at the beautiful Dunston Playhouse. Eric Thompson see you. I'm well, thank you for coming in.

Oh my pleasure.

Oh my pleasure.

It's nice to do a proper in studio interview after these years of zoom interviews night.

It's nice to do a proper in studio interview after these years of zoom interviews night.

I had that option, but I wanted to come in here.

I had that option, but I wanted to come in here.

Well, thank you. It's on the flip side for us. It's fun too, because again we're at night. We don't want to cut into people's private time too much. You've been rehearsing all day.

Well, thank you. It's on the flip side for us. It's fun too, because again we're at night. We don't want to cut into people's private time too much. You've been rehearsing all day.

Yeah, that's all right. Yeah, I've got nothing else to do of an evening, so.

Yeah, that's all right. Yeah, I've got nothing else to do of an evening, so.

Thank you for coming in. How did and I know you've got a connection with South Australia. How does Scotland vine New Zealand viral Australia via ADLI because we're one of our own. You're an adopted South Yeah.

Thank you for coming in. How did and I know you've got a connection with South Australia. How does Scotland vine New Zealand viral Australia via ADLI because we're one of our own. You're an adopted South Yeah.

Yeah, well I lived here for twenty twenty five years. I'm tazzy now, you know, but I am Yeah. I mean I was born in Scotland, I was raised in New Zealand. I came to Sydney and then I moved down here and you know, so you know, I just I'm just you know, it's just part of the part of the game.

Yeah, well I lived here for twenty twenty five years. I'm tazzy now, you know, but I am Yeah. I mean I was born in Scotland, I was raised in New Zealand. I came to Sydney and then I moved down here and you know, so you know, I just I'm just you know, it's just part of the part of the game.

You know, You've just got to keep moving.

You know, You've just got to keep moving.

You're adopted by everyone, you get by everyone, and I've adopted everyone to Australia's own.

You're adopted by everyone, you get by everyone, and I've adopted everyone to Australia's own.

You see that.

You see that.

It doesn't matter who it is, you know, far Lapp or the Finns or anywhere anyone. New Zealand.

It doesn't matter who it is, you know, far Lapp or the Finns or anywhere anyone. New Zealand.

Yeah we take Yeah, well I get that. Yeah, I get that.

Yeah we take Yeah, well I get that. Yeah, I get that.

Do you have a foot in both camps? That were you like sporting events or well?

Do you have a foot in both camps? That were you like sporting events or well?

You know what I mean, I am you know, I mean, I was brought up in New Zealand, so you know the All Blacks, you know my team, you know. So, but South Australia is not really a rugby union state, so you know, I just have to the only time I get interested in in afl Is around about the finals time. So I tuned in last week because I was working out by Beneathan Park and I got on the on board the tram full of ports supporters and yes, probably weren't as effervescent as they were on the way home.

You know what I mean, I am you know, I mean, I was brought up in New Zealand, so you know the All Blacks, you know my team, you know. So, but South Australia is not really a rugby union state, so you know, I just have to the only time I get interested in in afl Is around about the finals time. So I tuned in last week because I was working out by Beneathan Park and I got on the on board the tram full of ports supporters and yes, probably weren't as effervescent as they were on the way home.

Yeah.

Yeah.

I was going to say, was it pre game or post because it would have been a very different.

I was going to say, was it pre game or post because it would have been a very different.

Mood it was. Yeah, it would have been for sure.

Mood it was. Yeah, it would have been for sure.

Yeah, Hey, we love having you here. When opportunity knocks and the State Theater Company come to you and say, hey, Eric, we've got to we've got a show for you. I guess you're jumping at the charts and when you find out it's a David Williamson play even more so.

Yeah, Hey, we love having you here. When opportunity knocks and the State Theater Company come to you and say, hey, Eric, we've got to we've got a show for you. I guess you're jumping at the charts and when you find out it's a David Williamson play even more so.

Yeah, yeah, well it's I've been I have been asked a couple of other times, but it hasn't worked out. And to work for the State Theater Company and yeah, look it's a it's a brand new David Williamson play. So as much as you know he's got their reputation, you know it's also a brand new play, so you really know. And we're at that point of rehearsal now we go into the theater next week, we're at the point of the rehearsal now that we actually need an audience to see, well if it's funny, because it was funny in the first week. Now we're kind of you know, we've done it so many times. Now we get a we get an audience next week, so we'll get an idea like where the laughs are.

Yeah, yeah, well it's I've been I have been asked a couple of other times, but it hasn't worked out. And to work for the State Theater Company and yeah, look it's a it's a brand new David Williamson play. So as much as you know he's got their reputation, you know it's also a brand new play, so you really know. And we're at that point of rehearsal now we go into the theater next week, we're at the point of the rehearsal now that we actually need an audience to see, well if it's funny, because it was funny in the first week. Now we're kind of you know, we've done it so many times. Now we get a we get an audience next week, so we'll get an idea like where the laughs are.

Where you've got to time it out, you know, it's.

Where you've got to time it out, you know, it's.

A do you do testing for that or once it starts on the twentieth of September or way you go, are you doing tweaks on the fly?

A do you do testing for that or once it starts on the twentieth of September or way you go, are you doing tweaks on the fly?

Well, we have a company run on Friday, which is you know, all the basically everyone in the company, so people who haven't seen it, you know, they've come in and we'll get an idea how much they laugh for a start, if they laugh you know, fingers crossed, and where they laugh, and then we we have previews, so the twentieth is previews, yes, and then we'll get a very solid idea of you know, where those moments are and you know sometimes from doing comedy in the past, they're not.

Well, we have a company run on Friday, which is you know, all the basically everyone in the company, so people who haven't seen it, you know, they've come in and we'll get an idea how much they laugh for a start, if they laugh you know, fingers crossed, and where they laugh, and then we we have previews, so the twentieth is previews, yes, and then we'll get a very solid idea of you know, where those moments are and you know sometimes from doing comedy in the past, they're not.

Where you think they're going to be or there, you know, and so you've kind of got to work with it.

Where you think they're going to be or there, you know, and so you've kind of got to work with it.

And that's The thing about comedy especially is that you've really got to it's a it's an interaction between the you know, the play and the audience. And like said, we're at that point that we need the audience because you know, it's it's hard doing it in a room and a warehouse at it benight and path.

And that's The thing about comedy especially is that you've really got to it's a it's an interaction between the you know, the play and the audience. And like said, we're at that point that we need the audience because you know, it's it's hard doing it in a room and a warehouse at it benight and path.

Of course is it one of those things where have you done plays before where you thought, right, this will be their reaction here and there's not, and then all of a sudden it's almost like an inward all. But then something else comes up where people lose it and then.

Of course is it one of those things where have you done plays before where you thought, right, this will be their reaction here and there's not, and then all of a sudden it's almost like an inward all. But then something else comes up where people lose it and then.

You go, yeah, well there's definitely there's definitely beats in there that that you know, you kind of go, well, there'll be a laugh there, that we be a laugh there, that be a laugh there. Yes, But you know, like I said, it's it's it's kind of nerve wracking at this point because you just don't quite know if at all, Yeah, what's the secret do.

You go, yeah, well there's definitely there's definitely beats in there that that you know, you kind of go, well, there'll be a laugh there, that we be a laugh there, that be a laugh there. Yes, But you know, like I said, it's it's it's kind of nerve wracking at this point because you just don't quite know if at all, Yeah, what's the secret do.

You think of Williams? And what's the genius? Because there's no more prolific playwright, there's no more awarded playwright probably in this country. So when something new comes up, I mean, people have a fever just because they see the name.

You think of Williams? And what's the genius? Because there's no more prolific playwright, there's no more awarded playwright probably in this country. So when something new comes up, I mean, people have a fever just because they see the name.

Yeah, well, I think, you know, he's one of those playwrights that really reflect that kind of middle class, upper middle class kind of audience, you know, certainly these days. Perhaps when he was younger he reflected you know, other you know, working class or whatever.

Yeah, well, I think, you know, he's one of those playwrights that really reflect that kind of middle class, upper middle class kind of audience, you know, certainly these days. Perhaps when he was younger he reflected you know, other you know, working class or whatever.

But I think that he's.

But I think that he's.

Just he's just really good at reflecting what's going on. He's got his finger on the pulse. So people come along and they laugh, they laugh along. He's a bit of a wordsmith, he's humorous. They laugh along, and then on the way home they realized that they were laughing at themselves, that he has the ability to, you know, just to make them have a bit of a think about, you know, about about you know, where they're at.

Just he's just really good at reflecting what's going on. He's got his finger on the pulse. So people come along and they laugh, they laugh along. He's a bit of a wordsmith, he's humorous. They laugh along, and then on the way home they realized that they were laughing at themselves, that he has the ability to, you know, just to make them have a bit of a think about, you know, about about you know, where they're at.

Yes, and that's one of the great joys of going to the theater. Let me give you a quick Bruce Macavani's stat which I'm sure you're aware of. So the Dunston Playhouse open in nineteen seventy four, artistic director at the time, George Ogilvie, commissioned a Williamson play the Department for the State Theater Company. Here he is fifty years later.

Yes, and that's one of the great joys of going to the theater. Let me give you a quick Bruce Macavani's stat which I'm sure you're aware of. So the Dunston Playhouse open in nineteen seventy four, artistic director at the time, George Ogilvie, commissioned a Williamson play the Department for the State Theater Company. Here he is fifty years later.

Fifty years later, and that's why Metrobutel program display. So to celebrate the.

Fifty years later, and that's why Metrobutel program display. So to celebrate the.

Fifty years of David Williamson at the st Without giving too much away, we want people to go and see it. Can you give us a synopsis, give us a little idea of what the puzzles about.

Fifty years of David Williamson at the st Without giving too much away, we want people to go and see it. Can you give us a synopsis, give us a little idea of what the puzzles about.

Yeah, well, basically it's set on a cruise ship and my character. We'll start with my character.

Yeah, well, basically it's set on a cruise ship and my character. We'll start with my character.

My character has gone on what he thinks is a Mediterranean history cruise but is actually a swingers cruise of the Mediterranean. Also on board and he's taken his daughter, which is kind of unusual. But also on the cruise are two married couples who are at that point of their marriage where they could they could go to marriage counseling or they could go on a swinger's cruise.

My character has gone on what he thinks is a Mediterranean history cruise but is actually a swingers cruise of the Mediterranean. Also on board and he's taken his daughter, which is kind of unusual. But also on the cruise are two married couples who are at that point of their marriage where they could they could go to marriage counseling or they could go on a swinger's cruise.

To try and spice things up.

To try and spice things up.

And it's got a you know, it's a black comedy, you know, it's got a it's got a twists and turns, and there's a lot of opportunity there for for laughs.

And it's got a you know, it's a black comedy, you know, it's got a it's got a twists and turns, and there's a lot of opportunity there for for laughs.

And yeah, there's a great line. The keys go in the jar, the recriminations flow in the bar, so that's where all the fun begins.

And yeah, there's a great line. The keys go in the jar, the recriminations flow in the bar, so that's where all the fun begins.

Well yeah, I mean I mean basically yeah, yeah, because.

Well yeah, I mean I mean basically yeah, yeah, because.

I sort of. I'm not at that age. I missed the whole keys in the jar thing. That's yeah, me too. I don't know my parents, I don't want to know, but that went on years ago. So you're so well known for TV, for film, for theater. Do you enjoy the theater process? Is it because you get that instantaneous feedback from the crowd. Is it a different I guess the skill set. When you're on a TV show, you're probably learning pages per day as opposed to here's the whole thing away.

I sort of. I'm not at that age. I missed the whole keys in the jar thing. That's yeah, me too. I don't know my parents, I don't want to know, but that went on years ago. So you're so well known for TV, for film, for theater. Do you enjoy the theater process? Is it because you get that instantaneous feedback from the crowd. Is it a different I guess the skill set. When you're on a TV show, you're probably learning pages per day as opposed to here's the whole thing away.

You go, yeah, well, I mean in television you've really got a very short rehearsal period. You get the pages, you look at them, you might run it once or twice, and then you shoot it and then it's over.

You go, yeah, well, I mean in television you've really got a very short rehearsal period. You get the pages, you look at them, you might run it once or twice, and then you shoot it and then it's over.

It's done, it's gone.

It's done, it's gone.

Whereas with theater, you've you've got like a month to you know, to go through the process and to you know, try things out and fail and and hopefully at some stage succeed. But yeah, the creative process is much better in.

Whereas with theater, you've you've got like a month to you know, to go through the process and to you know, try things out and fail and and hopefully at some stage succeed. But yeah, the creative process is much better in.

Theater. Yeah. I think.

Theater. Yeah. I think.

You know, occasionally you get a film or a television series which actually invests in the rehearsal process, but.

You know, occasionally you get a film or a television series which actually invests in the rehearsal process, but.

You know, it's time is money because I.

You know, it's time is money because I.

Worked on the Clouds when I was here at God behind the scenes, and it was interesting to watch the process where there wasn't the excitement during the day because it's blocking and it's filming from this angle and turning around and a lot of downtime. The excitement came when you saw it all put together. Once it was edited. You saw it on the screen and you went, oh good, like that's nice.

Worked on the Clouds when I was here at God behind the scenes, and it was interesting to watch the process where there wasn't the excitement during the day because it's blocking and it's filming from this angle and turning around and a lot of downtime. The excitement came when you saw it all put together. Once it was edited. You saw it on the screen and you went, oh good, like that's nice.

Well, people come along and they say can I can we come on set? Can we come on set? Yeah? Okay, And they come on set and like one hour later they're bored. Yeah, that's right. It is quite a unless you're actually directly involved, it is quite.

Well, people come along and they say can I can we come on set? Can we come on set? Yeah? Okay, And they come on set and like one hour later they're bored. Yeah, that's right. It is quite a unless you're actually directly involved, it is quite.

A monotonous process. And you know, it's it's interesting seeing people, you know, go through that process and realizing that they're coming there expecting it all to play out in front of them like a play.

A monotonous process. And you know, it's it's interesting seeing people, you know, go through that process and realizing that they're coming there expecting it all to play out in front of them like a play.

Yep, but it doesn't.

Yep, but it doesn't.

But I wonder for you here in this, I mean your excitement, the nervous energy be like when the curtain's about to go up. I imagine night after night, even though you've done it for so long, there's got to be a thrill to that.

But I wonder for you here in this, I mean your excitement, the nervous energy be like when the curtain's about to go up. I imagine night after night, even though you've done it for so long, there's got to be a thrill to that.

Yeah, well, I haven't done a play since twenty fourteen. So I did a lot of plays when I first got out of drama school at the the beginning of the nineties.

Yeah, well, I haven't done a play since twenty fourteen. So I did a lot of plays when I first got out of drama school at the the beginning of the nineties.

So yeah, look, I think yeah, look, I think.

So yeah, look, I think yeah, look, I think.

It does give you a little bit of a bit of a hit.

It does give you a little bit of a bit of a hit.

Like I said, especially.

Like I said, especially.

When you're doing a play that nobody knows because you've got no idea if.

When you're doing a play that nobody knows because you've got no idea if.

It's going to work.

It's going to work.

And yes, even if it's Williamson, you still have no idea.

And yes, even if it's Williamson, you still have no idea.

Yeah, so we'll find out, we'll find art. It's exciting not to promote another gig while you're promoting this one. But can I just mention what I was reading about you today? I think it's next year's Adelaide Film Festival. You shot something ki.

Yeah, so we'll find out, we'll find art. It's exciting not to promote another gig while you're promoting this one. But can I just mention what I was reading about you today? I think it's next year's Adelaide Film Festival. You shot something ki.

Yeah, this year? It's this year? Is that? This year is?

Yeah, this year? It's this year? Is that? This year is?

Yeah?

Yeah?

Yeah, so it we shot it last year and it's it this year's.

Yeah, so it we shot it last year and it's it this year's.

Because I've just seen all the stuff started to come out for the Adelaid Film Festival, and then I was reading the article about so it's going to be in this year's film festival.

Because I've just seen all the stuff started to come out for the Adelaid Film Festival, and then I was reading the article about so it's going to be in this year's film festival.

Yeah, I don't think.

Yeah, I don't think.

I don't know whether it's officially announced yet, so I don't really I'm gonna pull a handbrake on that.

I don't know whether it's officially announced yet, so I don't really I'm gonna pull a handbrake on that.

Then, I was excited to get in trouble.

Then, I was excited to get in trouble.

All the way I was trying to link this all in is the fact that I love how we've got such a strong force here in South Australia when it comes to drama with the state theater, when it comes to our film industry, which is terrific. You know, it's picking up more and more and we probably don't do as much TV here in Adelade as we would like, but we've certainly got rich history in the rest.

All the way I was trying to link this all in is the fact that I love how we've got such a strong force here in South Australia when it comes to drama with the state theater, when it comes to our film industry, which is terrific. You know, it's picking up more and more and we probably don't do as much TV here in Adelade as we would like, but we've certainly got rich history in the rest.

Well, you know, that's that's kind of changing. I mean, like you said McLeod's before. I mean it's it's shot seven or eight series. They've just started shooting rfds, you know, which is the Flying Doctors thing, the third series of that, which was attracted here by incentives by the government. Of course we met aftertaste here. There's smaller productions that come here, but yeah, certainly there's there's plenty of film and you know, shooting Kangaroo Island was Yeah, it was a great time.

Well, you know, that's that's kind of changing. I mean, like you said McLeod's before. I mean it's it's shot seven or eight series. They've just started shooting rfds, you know, which is the Flying Doctors thing, the third series of that, which was attracted here by incentives by the government. Of course we met aftertaste here. There's smaller productions that come here, but yeah, certainly there's there's plenty of film and you know, shooting Kangaroo Island was Yeah, it was a great time.

Yeah, we'll watch within.

Yeah, we'll watch within.

Whenever it comes out. Here's what I can tell you. I know exactly where you're going to be from the twentieth to September until the twelfth of October, you'll be at the Dunston Playhouse, the State Theater Company. It's the Puzzle. It's a Staatethinner company. Dot com dot u is where you can get all your tickets and quality cast with you too, some interstates, a lot of great South Australian talent with you per Yeah.

Whenever it comes out. Here's what I can tell you. I know exactly where you're going to be from the twentieth to September until the twelfth of October, you'll be at the Dunston Playhouse, the State Theater Company. It's the Puzzle. It's a Staatethinner company. Dot com dot u is where you can get all your tickets and quality cast with you too, some interstates, a lot of great South Australian talent with you per Yeah.

Yeah, I'm not going to name them all, but yeah, we've got a good cast, really good cast, really good bunch of people too.

Yeah, I'm not going to name them all, but yeah, we've got a good cast, really good cast, really good bunch of people too.

So we're enjoying ourselves.

So we're enjoying ourselves.

Came before the storm. You excited to just rip in and you're just like enough enough rehearsal, let's go.

Came before the storm. You excited to just rip in and you're just like enough enough rehearsal, let's go.

A little bit, a little bit ready to I just want to start running it a few times and just getting a little bit of a feel for the whole thing, because you know, you've got what happens on stage, but you've also got the transitions between you know, between the scenes, and you've got to know where your props are and when you've got to do your changes, and you can walk through that in the rehearsal room, but once you get on the you know, into the theater, it's going to be a different kind of go.

A little bit, a little bit ready to I just want to start running it a few times and just getting a little bit of a feel for the whole thing, because you know, you've got what happens on stage, but you've also got the transitions between you know, between the scenes, and you've got to know where your props are and when you've got to do your changes, and you can walk through that in the rehearsal room, but once you get on the you know, into the theater, it's going to be a different kind of go.

It's going to be great, lovely to meet youa thank you for coming in. We enjoy everything that you do. I'm sure people will enjoy this too. Statetheattercompany dot com dot the David Williamson play the puzzle September twenty until the twelfth of October. And we love the work that our State Theater Company does, so many great productions. We're very blessed to have people like yourself come and be a part of it. So we hope and I'm sure that they will the South Australian public will get behind it. The puzzle for the State Theater Company, Eric Thompson, thanks for covering much

It's going to be great, lovely to meet youa thank you for coming in. We enjoy everything that you do. I'm sure people will enjoy this too. Statetheattercompany dot com dot the David Williamson play the puzzle September twenty until the twelfth of October. And we love the work that our State Theater Company does, so many great productions. We're very blessed to have people like yourself come and be a part of it. So we hope and I'm sure that they will the South Australian public will get behind it. The puzzle for the State Theater Company, Eric Thompson, thanks for covering much