Hi. I gave an “occasional address” for a graduation ceremony at my old Uni, The University of Western Australia. Here is the video. The text is below. Hope there’s something in it for you.
“In darker days, I did a corporate gig at a conference for this big company who made and sold accounting software. In a bid, I presume, to inspire their salespeople to greater heights, they’d forked out 12 grand for an Inspirational Speaker who was this extreme sports dude who had had a couple of his limbs frozen off when he got stuck on a ledge on some mountain. It was weird. Software salespeople need to hear from someone who has had a long, successful and happy career in software sales, not from an overly-optimistic, ex-mountaineer. Some poor guy who arrived in the morning hoping to learn about better sales technique ended up going home worried about the blood flow to his extremities. It’s not inspirational – it’s confusing.
And if the mountain was meant to be a symbol of life’s challenges, and the loss of limbs a metaphor for sacrifice, the software guy’s not going to get it, is he? Cos he didn’t do an arts degree, did he? He should have. Arts degrees are awesome. And they help you find meaning where there is none. And let me assure you, there is none. Don’t go looking for it. Searching for meaning is like searching for a rhyme scheme in a cookbook: you won’t find it and you’ll bugger up your soufflé. (more…)
After opening in April 2013 to tremendous critical acclaim and winning a raft of accolades, including four coveted Tony awards, the Broadway production of Matilda the Musical is finally releasing its own original cast recording!
This shiny, new album will showcase all of the songs Tim wrote for the musical and features the exclusive track The Chokey Chant as well as all of the Acrobat stories! The full, juicy tracklist is:
Overture
Miracle
Naughty
First Acrobat Story
School Song
Pathetic
The Hammer
The Chokey Chant
Loud
This Little Girl
Second Acrobat Story
Bruce
Telly
When I Grow Up
Third Acrobat Story
I’m Here (Fourth Acrobat Story)
The Smell Of Rebellion
Quiet
My House
Chalk Writing
Revolting Children
Bows
Americans can get their chocolate-cake-covered paws on this delicious piece of awesomeness on the 27th September 2013, when it’ll be available both at the show and from your favourite digital download retailer. The CD will follow soon afterwards, being released in shops on the 22nd October 2013.
If you’re not in America, there are plans afoot to release it internationally but nothing’s been confirmed yet. Watch this space though, as we’ll announce it once we know when it’s heading your way!
Tim will be joining the amazing line-up at Festival Supreme, Santa Monica Pier, Saturday 19th October 2013.
Jack Black and Kyle Gass of Tenacious D booked the Santa Monica Pier, months ago, for this one-off comedy rock festival in LA. They have since gathered together an awesome and extraordinary line-up including Adam Sandler, Demetri Martin, Eric Idle, Reggie Watts, Beardyman, The Mighty Boosh, Tim and Eric, Tig Notaro, Hannibal Buress, The Gregory Brothers, Sarah Silverman, Tenacious D (of course) and many many more.
The event will be approximately seven hours of outstanding musical comedy on three different stages. You can find the full line-up and detailed festival information on the Festival Supreme website.
Tickets are, standing only, general admission and available from here.
Over 21s only.
14/10/13
UPDATE: Tim’s set time has now been announced as 8:15pm on the Club Intimacy stage. The full schedule can be viewed here.
The University of Western Australia (UWA) has awarded Tim the Honorary Degree of Doctor of Letters, for his contribution to the arts, recognising his outstanding achievements and worldwide acclaim as a leading composer, lyricist, actor, writer and hirsute modern dance icon comedian.
In the historic Winthrop Hall, Tim took to the podium, in all his red finery, to address the 225 graduates assembled to receive their degrees. He delivered a speech, liberally sprinkled with sage advice and felicitous giggles.
Tim hails from Perth, of course, where he first composed for Christ Church Grammar School’s Midnite Youth Theatre Company. He then attended UWA, where he worked with the University Dramatic Society, graduating in 1996 with a Bachelor of Arts in English and Theatre. He also worked with Perth’s WA Youth Theatre Company, of which he is now a patron. He graduated from the Western Australian Academy of Performing Arts at Edith Cowan University, in 1998, with an Advanced Diploma of Contemporary Music.
Then a bit later, as you may know, he went on to rampage around the globe bashing the living daylights out of a piano, touring his comedy shows, releasing comedy albums and his acclaimed beat poem Storm. He’s appeared all over the radio and telly on three continents and (amongst other things) written the music and lyrics for the hit, record breaking, seven Olivier Award winning Matilda The Musical, which is currently running on Broadway and in London’s West End.
He’s just finished a highly successful run, playing the coin tossing Rosencrantz, in the Sydney Theatre Company production of Rosencrantz and Guildenstern Are Dead. He’ll fly home to the UK soon to rock out, once again, as the dreadlocked Judas Iscariot in the spectacular arena tour of Jesus Christ Superstar, this October and to continue writing a new (top secret) stage musical. AND he’s about to start work on a musical feature film for DreamWorks Animation. In his spare time he hopes to consume dairy products and write some more delicious, satirical comedy songs to tour, possibly within the next two years.
First to address the big grey dude* hanging out in the corner: Yes, this is a repeat announcement not deja vu. This was supposed to air in July but last minute rescheduling meant it didn’t happen. This time ABC assure us it will air as scheduled:
DC Turner’s acclaimed animation of Tim’s sublime ranty beat-poem ‘Storm‘ will finally be aired on Aus telly, ABC2 tomorrow Tuesday 17th September 2013 at 9.20pm.
Tracy King, Producer says: “As Storm approaches 2.5million YouTube views, we are continuing to seek new audiences offline as well as online, and are delighted that ABC has optioned the film for television broadcast. Australian viewers will be able to see animated Tim in all his televisual glory, and not one of those obscure 4am timeslots that short cartoons often get relegated to, either. All being well, this will be the first of many TV outings for Storm!”
You can look back at Tim, Tracy and Dan’s earlier comments when we first announced that the ‘Storm’ animation was live online, way back in April 2011, here and you’ll find more information at www.stormmovie.net.
If you’re not able to view it on the telly, perhaps because you’re not in Australia or you’d simply like to see it right here right now:
It looks like BBC Radio 4 Extra are dusting off their Timmy archive this week, airing not one, but two of Tim’s earlier radio shows!
Things kick off on Thursday, 12th September 2013 at 10:30pm, with an outing of Strings, the sitcom pilot Tim wrote for BBC Radio 2’s Comedy Showcase in 2010.
Strings follows Jonny (played by Tim), the lead singer of the band Perspex. The band are on the brink of success having just released a hit single, however, Jonny is struggling with feelings of being unfulfilled.
The show also features a mix of re-recorded Minchin classics and exclusive new material and stars the delicious vocal talents of Peter Serafinowicz, Will Adamsdale, Rosalie Craig, Emily Watson Howes, Dan Antopolski, Lizzie Roper and Lewis McLeod.
Then on Saturday, 14th September 2013 at 10pm, you’ve got the chance to catch Tim’s 2006/2007 New Year’s special, Tim Minchin and Friends.
The show has Tim performing raft of his retro numbers (and one written especially) on a piano, with backing from the Tim Minchin Swinging Duo of Musicalness.
The programme also features appearances from Tim’s friends – children’s entertainer Jeremy Lions; singer-songwriter Lucie Silvas and the indescribable vocalist Reggie Watts (yes, there is a Reggie/Tim collaboration).
If you can’t wait until Saturday, the BBC put a couple of songs online that didn’t make the edit and you can check those beauties out here.
Both shows will be available on iPlayer afterwards, if you accidentally manage to miss them, and you’ll be able to listen to them worldwide both live and on iPlayer.
Hosanna! The spectacular Jesus Christ Superstar Arena Tour DVD, with Tim cast in his (award winning) dream role as Judas Iscariot, will be released in the USA on the 10th September 2013! The DVD and Blu-ray are already available for pre-order from Amazon.
The production was filmed over two nights at Birmingham’s NIA when the show toured UK arenas in 2012. As well as Tim in the role of Judas, the fabulous cast includes Melanie C as Mary Magdalene, Chris Moyles as King Herod and Winner of the ITV primetime show Superstar Ben Forster in the title role of Jesus.
Here are a few clips to give you a taste of how Tim and the cast entranced audiences, broke their hearts and rocked their asses! (more…)
After opening in April 2013 to tremendous critical acclaim and winning a raft of accolades, including four coveted Tony awards, the Broadway production of Matilda the Musical is finally releasing its own original cast recording!
Leave a Comment