This Friday 25th October, 2013 at 10pm, Tim will be on QI on BBC Two (except Wales) and even BBC Two HD, if you wish to examine his intellect in exquisite detail. Stephen Fry hosts divinely, as always, and the other panellists are Isy Suttie, Bill Bailey and (of course) Alan Davies.
This is Series K and the episode subject is ‘Keys‘.
It will be up on the BBC iPlayer here shortly after it airs.
The 45 minute QI XL episode will be broadcast Sunday 27th October: 10:30pm BBC Two – England, HD only; 11:00pm BBC Two – Scotland only; 11:30pm BBC Two – Wales only and Monday 28th October 2013, 00:25am BBC Two – Northern Ireland only. Probably worth checking your local TV schedule.
If you really can’t wait a few days for a looksie, here’s the episode preview:
I have some very disappointing / uncool / annoying news.
Due to a highly unlikely and incredibly frustrating sequence of shitty events, the visa I require to play in the US this weekend has not arrived. The rules in the US (and most countries, I guess) about performing without the right work visa are very strict, so I’m not allowed to appear at Festival Supreme on Saturday night.
I’m hugely disappointed, because it was going to be great fun: the line-up is spectacular, the vibe is going to be brilliant and I adore Jack Black and want very much to please him.
But most of all, I feel sick about letting down the people for whom seeing my set was a big reason for buying tickets. I know some of you are travelling a long way, I know some of you had to save up to afford the ticket price, I know you’re going to be pissed off at me. It’s a right pain in the arse.
Please believe me when I say we have done everything we can to solve this. My manager has actually been on the phone to senators trying to find a way to get around this problem. But the fact is, every now and then, it’s just going to happen. As you may know, I confirmed my inclusion on the festival bill only a few weeks ago, and although we had no reason to suspect getting a visa would be a problem, we had only a little room for error. Then a couple of things happened (understandable but rather maddening bureaucratic glitches) which we didn’t / couldn’t predict, and perhaps the Government shut-down slowed things up (I don’t actually know)… and here we are. Majorly bummed out. I’m sorry.
I know you’re going to have an amazing time anyway. There are so many fantastic acts on, and I’m gutted I’m not going to be there to see them. Even if, for some crazy reason, I was your main reason for going, you’ll have a brilliant time without me. You have to try to catch Beardyman, and Reggie, and Sarah Silverman, and Zach, and Tig, and Patton, and Garfunkel & Oates… well everyone you can. These are some of my favourite acts in the world and some of my dear friends. If you like my stuff, you will love so many acts there.
Also, I really want to do something to try to make this up to y’all. I can’t promise anything, because it’s a bit of a logistical nightmare, but could you do something for me? Try to keep hold of your ticket stub from Festival Supreme. OK? Or if you don’t think you can keep hold of it, take a selfie with your sad, sad face next to the ticket before you lose it. That way, we have some chance of putting on some sort of free compensatory gig next year. Fingers crossed.
In the meantime, I’m really sorry. I’ve unwittingly really fucked a lot of people around. And I was looking forward to this gig so much. Mortified.
Photo courtesy of UWA (photographer – Ron D’Raine)
You’re probably already familiar with the speech Tim gave to his old Uni, The University of Western Australia, last month, when he received an Honorary Degree of Doctor of Letters for his contribution to the arts.
Today it featured on ABC’s Life Matters. You can listen to it or better still download it as an audio file here, if you wish.
If you did miss Tim’s Occasional Address (where have you been?!) you’ll find a full transcript here and the video which has now gone viral, at over a million views, can be found on YouTube here.
The second Jesus Christ Superstar UK Arena Tour kicked off last night in Glasgow! Tim’s reprising his award-winning performance as Judas Iscariot, for one last tour, while Melanie C and Ben Forster will also be returning in their roles as Mary Magdalene and Jesus. Chris Moyles is back to play King Herod and Alexander Hanson takes on the role of Pontius Pilate again.
The spectacular show will now go on to visit: Birmingham, Leeds, Newcastle, Cardiff, Nottingham, Manchester, London and Liverpool.
If you want to take your final chance to see Tim brooding, rocking and [spoiler alert] dying in dreadlocks and tatts in the Jesus Christ Superstar Arena Tour then you can see the full list of tour dates and ticket availability at www.jesuschristsuperstar.com.
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…)
Tim Minchin And The Heritage Orchestra (Live At The Royal Albert Hall) will be on Channel 4 on Saturday 24th August, 11.35pm – 01:05am and an hour later on Channel 4 +1. It will also be on Channel 4 HD for those wishing to examine Tim’s colourful features and exotic tailoring in detail.
This spectacular show was filmed at the Royal Albert Hall in April 2011. Tim’s joined on stage by the awesome 55-piece Heritage Orchestra, led by Jules Buckley and by Pete Clements on bass and Brad Webb on drums. That’s almost too much beauty on one stage!
The concert features new orchestrations of favourites such as You Grew on Me, Not Perfect, Dark Side, Prejudice and Rock `n’ Roll Nerd as well as Thank You God, Lullaby and many more. It’s a heady mix of soaring music in a very special, wonderfully lit setting with Tim’s sharp satirical comedy and iconic dance moves.
If you want to stay spoiler free but whet your appetite for the show this trailer for the DVD will give you a marvellously cheesy taster and a look at the fabulous Royal Albert Hall:
On the other hand you could dive right in to watch Tim perform Thank You God in all its glory:
Should your interest be piqued and you’d like to read a bit of bloggage, from back in 2011, celebrating the show: Tim, Brad, Pete and Chris Wheeler, producer of the Heritage Orchestra, can be found here doing just that.
Channel 4 is showing edited highlights. If you’d like to see more, the DVD is available from the UK & Europe Shop and the Australasia Shop. Both ship internationally if you are outside these regions and we’ll announce on this site as soon as it is available in North America.
Tim will be talking science with Dr Karl on triplej, ABC, this Thursday 22nd August, 2013.
As part of the Mornings with Zan Rowe show, Dr Karl hosts a weekly science and myth-busting hour. Although triplej is an Australian radio station, if you are not based on that beautiful continent, you can still listen to Tim talking with Zan and Dr Karl live online (if you’re awake that is). If not, Dr Karl’s segment will be podcast shortly after the show airs.
Mornings with Zan runs from 9am to 12noon with the Dr Karl’s Science on Mornings starting at 11am EST. The all important ATT* is 11:30am.
You can listen live online here and you’ll find the various ways to download or subscribe to the free podcast on the Science on Mornings page or go directly to the show on iTunes.
UPDATE: You can listen to the show here now. Tim’s on about 16:00. The podcast is up too – links above.
Those in Aus can contact the show with a science question on 1300 055536 or hit the text line on 0439 757555. Alternatively you can tweet @DoctorKarl.
* Remember this is only an Approximate Timmy Time so it may be worth trying to tune in a bit earlier, just in case.
22/08/13, 08:50 UPDATE: Tim was also talking to Doctor Karl on BBC5 Live in the early hours (BST)! You can Listen Again here and here’s the podcast.
Tim is currently making his Sydney Theatre Company (STC) debut performing as Rosencrantz, with Toby Schmitz as Guildenstern, in Tom Stoppard’s absurdist, existentialist tragicomedy Rosencrantz and Guildenstern Are Dead.
For the delectation of those not able to get to the theatre in Sydney due to geographical, oceanographical or motivational constraints, here’s a video by Stage Whispers TV, in which Tim and Toby talk about their approach to the play, working together once again and making each other laugh, intercut with scenes from the production showing the amazing set design and their rather dashing costumes: swords, leather, thigh boots! Awesome.
The play’s on for another month but it’s pretty much sold out. However, if you fancy, you can see some photos from the show and scan for the odd golden ticket on the STC website. We blogged it on this site here if you want to see Tim’s comment on the show when it was first announced.
The 13th Annual Helpmann Awards will be presented live at the Sydney Opera House on Monday 29th July. It will be broadcast on Foxtel’s Arena channel.
A star studded list of presenters will be joining co-hosts Eddie Perfect and Christie Whelan Browne on stage to announce the winners of the 43 awards, recognising distinguished artistic achievement and excellence across the major disciplines of Australia’s live performance industry.
Tim will be making a very special appearance, on the night, as part of the ceremony which will feature a line-up of incredible performances including a full company performance of Hot Shoe Shuffle, singer Emma Birdsall and the Sydney Dance Company and the very first performance of the party musical Grease.
13th ANNUAL HELPMANN AWARDS
MONDAY 29th JULY
Showtime: 7pm
SYDNEY OPERA HOUSE www.helpmannawards.com.au
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!
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