Who is Julian Rickert?
Julian Rickert is a fiction, based loosely on myself and all of the people that have shaped and named me/him.
What would you do differently to what you do now?
I have an imaginary exercise about what I would do if I was still myself but in my life had made different choices and expressed another side of my nature. In that alternate world of me, I am a luthier, a viola maker to be precise, and I spend my time alone finely shaving and shaping wood and have a friendly but brief chat with the very occasional customer who calls into the shop.
Who inspires you and why?
In some ways I am only inspired. Sometimes to be more like someone, sometimes to model myself in reaction to someone. People I repeatedly tell myself I should emulate (a bit) include Suzanne Kersten, George Bernard Shaw, Dante, the Beatles collectively, Muhammed Ali, Jesus Christ, Leonard Cohen… The people I actually emulate, however… well, that’s another story.
What would you do to make a difference in the world?
Just keep doing what’s in front of me & hoping that in some probably unknowable way, I hope to contribute to the evolution of a friendlier world.
Favourite holiday destination and why?
Someplace where I can have a day that’s somewhat holy (not quite sure what that means though). I don’t much care where that is geographically. Home is easier.
When friends come to town, what attraction would you take them to, and why?
I enjoyed it when the big ferris wheel was on its side and rusting – I felt it captured something about Melbourne and our culture in general. Otherwise, home-made pasta in the back yard is nice.
What are you currently reading?
I’m not a big reader. But at the moment I happen to be reading Dante’s Divine Commedia (again) and Peter Hook’s Inside Joy Division.
What are you currently listening to?
Underground cinematic post-rock electronica and other stuff.
Happiness is?
Doing what I feel I can do and what life has presented for me to do.
What does the future hold for you?
My current plan is to keep creating until no-one cares what I do, and then die.
Julian Rickert is co-artistic director of one step at a time like this. Recent and future work includes: Since I Suppose (premiere), Chicago Shakespeare Theatre World Stage Series (September 2014), Since I Suppose (Australian premiere), Melbourne Festival & Arts House (October 2014), and upsidedowninsideout, Arts Centre Melbourne (January 2015).
Other creating, writing, sound & video design and performing credits include: revolution (16) Dublin Theatre Festival (July 2014); People, Letters, Junction Festival, Tipperary, Ireland (July 2014, awarded Festival Judges Award); and en route, awarded Best Live Art Award at Melbourne Fringe Festival 2009, Green Room Award for Best Production, Green Room Award for Creative Collaboration, Best Theatre Production at Adelaide Fringe 2010 and was a Total Theatre Innovation Award Nominee at the 2010 Edinburgh Festival Fringe.
Southern Crossings, a multi platform audio journey at Southern Cross train station, City of Melbourne Arts & Participation Program Commission (2010, Green Room Award for a Site Specific Production); Pop Up Project, 5 reasons to dance in public space, Melbourne International Arts Festival Commission (2010). Julian has also performed in numerous bands, most notably with The Mark Of Cain.
Julian is co-creator of Since I Suppose presented by Arts House as part of the 2014 Melbourne Festival. For more information, visit: www.artshouse.com.au or www.melbournefestival.com.au for details.
Image: Julian Rickert