Who is Jeremy Goldstein?
I’m the son of Mick and Beverley, and the son of the Hackney Gang. I’m also a British / Australian theatre maker, the founder and director of London Artists Projects and the creator of Truth to Power Café.
What would you do differently from what you do now?
I love what I’m doing now and I’d like to do more of it. The only thing holding me back is money.
Who inspires you and why?
My mother Beverley inspires me. She had a brilliant career as a viola player in some of the world’s great orchestras including the Manchester Halle in its heyday in the 1960’s under Sir John Barbirolli playing alongside Jacqueline du Pré and Daniel Barenboim. She eventually gave it up and became Head of Music at Strathfield Girls High School. She found this very rewarding, but her life’s work, is and always will be her family.
What would you do to make a difference in the world?
I believe that all inequalities are interconnected and that as a human race we are united through a sense of outrage, humanity, and love. By offering a platform for truth telling and reconciliation, events like Truth to Power Café can build community through the arts.
Favourite holiday destination and why?
I adore getting lost in big cities so it’s got to be Paris, Berlin, New York, and in January the only place to be on the planet is Sydney.
When friends come to town, what attraction would you take them to, and why?
When I’m not in Sydney with my family, I live in North London in a place called Archway, so when my friends visit, we walk up the road to Highgate Village and to Hampstead Heath. In the other direction is Dalston where we might see a show at Arcola Theatre, followed by a drink at Dalston Superstore or The Glory. London is my favourite city, but the UK has been hijacked by a pernicious right wing ideology. London’s pre-eminence as a haven of sub-cultures and individuality is now under threat, and cracking under the weight of Brexit.
What are you currently reading?
I am forever inspired by the truth of people’s lived experience and the courage and commitment it takes from them to share it in front of a live audience. Right now I’m reading the 24 individual scripts which have been sent to me by participants taking part in the Sydney premiere of Truth to Power Café at Riverside Theatres on 11, 12 & 13 March. Our first night on 11 March is a First Nations event with eight participants including artist Travis de Vries, playwright Katie Beckett, social justice advocate Cleonie Quayle and drag artist Nana Miss Koori – who did the Welcome to Country on Saturday for Mardi Gras.
What are you listening to?
Today I woke up to a Bach cantata, and later I’ll go for a walk and listen to Snow Patrol.
Happiness is?
Music, love, life and food.
What does the future hold for you?
Truth to Power Café is a long term project so we’ll be hearing more and more from people whose stories would otherwise go untold. Next year I’m beside myself with excitement as we will tour North America for the first time. We will start in Arkansas and work our way up to the East Coast where I hope to play all those big industrial cities like Pittsburgh, Philadelphia, and Baltimore, ending up in New York. There’s talk of San Francisco and West Hollywood too… I can’t wait.
Jeremy will present the Sydney premiere of Truth to Power Café at Parramatta’s Riverside Theatres on 11, 12 & 13 March 2021. In May, the show hits Brisbane and Melbourne. For more information, visit: www.truthtopower.co.uk for details.
Image: Jeremy Goldstein – photo by Darren Black