Who is Brett Cousins?
It’s kinda changing a lot lately. If you’d ask me a few years ago I’d say… Actor. Now I’m kinda Actor, Husband, Writer, baby Director and… Dad… oh and quite a reasonable golfer I’d like to think.
What would you do differently to what you do now?
Right now wouldn’t change a thing. But if I could change something, I guess professionally, I’d attempt more sooner. Writing and directing are incredibly daunting propositions, but so empowering once you dive in.
Who inspires you and why?
The people I’m learning from at the moment. Nadia Tass never stops working and is so obsessed with finding truth and honesty in her work. Likewise Tim Rogers. He has a play on at MTC while scoring our play at Red Stitch… he’s planning tours, recoring footy theme songs, planning travel, and still has time to get down and have a kick of the footy on the weekends.
What would you do to make a difference in the world?
Jeepers. Hide all the raw onions in Australia.
Favourite holiday destination and why?
Will probably be on Railay Beach, Thailand at time of reading… Perfection. Otherwise my favorite destination would be the top on Mont Blac with ski’s on my feet.
When friends come to town, what attraction would you take then to, and why?
Glad you asked. I had two hours to show Melbourne to some friends from the UK. Went like this… (and no this is not a joke) St Kilda Beach; coffee at the Galleon; quick walk to the Acland Street cakeshops past Monk Bodhie Dharma; shop at Carlisle Accessories; one Trumer Pils at The Local Taphouse; car ride down Chapel Street (no time to stop) into the City. The spire; walk through Fed Square to Hosier Lane (street Art); along Flinders Lane to a quick lunch on Degraves Street (or Centre Place); and back to car and finished at the Botanical Gardens.
What are you currently reading?
Save the Cat – Blake Snyder
What are you currently listening to?
Elliot Moss
Happiness is?
Opening the play Wet House and then a cold beer in the foyer afterwards.
What does the future hold for you?
Well… it’ll hold The Waiting Room – a beautiful new play by Kylie Trounson at MTC in the short term. Hopefully my first feature film as a writer/producer will go into pre production not too long from now. But long term… I guess that’s the fun thing about the racket I’m in… you never really know…
Brett Cousins is a founding ensemble member of Red Stitch Actors Theatre, and makes his directorial debut with Paddy Campbell’s award-winning play Wet House. Brett has performed dozens of roles at Red Stitch over the company’s twelve years including Out Of The Water, The Aliens, Stockholm, Creditors, Farragut North, Motortown, This Is How It Goes, The Shape Of Things, and Some Voices.
Television credits include roles on Howzat! Winners and Losers, Miss Fisher’s Murder Mysteries, Underbelly, City Homicide, and JAG. Brett will appear in the upcoming Feature film The Menkoff Method, and is currently in the final stages of development on his first feature film, Breakable.
Wet House plays at Red Stitch Actors Theatre until 18 April 2015. For more information, visit: www.redstitch.net for details.
Image: Brett Cousins