Who is Karen Therese?
Mother. Artistic Director. Artist. Activist. Outlaw.
What would you do differently to what you do now?
I am doing what I love. But if I had to choose an alternate career, I would be a very creative foreign correspondent.
Who inspires you and why?
My partner. She is kind, deeply intelligent and wonderful. There are lots of strong women leaders in the arts in Australia who inspire me and have mentored me, so I’m pretty lucky really.
What would you do to make a difference in the world?
I make art about human rights in contemporary Australian culture, so I get up every morning believing I am working to make a difference.
Favourite holiday destination and why?
Villefranche it’s a beautiful old seaside village in the French Riviera. I went there on a romantic pilgrimage and I’ll never be the same again.
When friends come to town, what attraction would you take them to, and why?
I live in Sydney. I always take friends to Bondi Icebergs Pool and Sauna. You can sit in the sauna any time of year, watch the ocean, get hot, and then dip in the ocean pool. Its darn good. I also take people to Fairfield in Western Sydney, its where I work and has the best people, best culture and best food in Sydney.
What are you currently reading?
Mostly emails.
What are you currently listening to?
Music: Nearly every morning Billie Holiday. Nothing makes me happier than a good mixtape, I make a new one every couple of weeks. Actually my next theatre work is called Playlist so it gives you a clue how into it I am. At the moment I’m with Son Little, Beyonce, Fugees, Warpaint Magnetic Fields, Tom Waits… and anything blues trumpet. Podcasts: Chat 10 Looks 3, cause I have a crush on Leigh Sales. Also I listen to Pema Chodron because I need to remember to be kind.
Happiness is?
A Sunday at home with my family.
What does the future hold for you?
A few more years as Artistic Director of PYT I Fairfield making art with amazing people, and hopefully another trip to Villefranche. When I’m not doing any of this I’ll be at home playing Lego with my son.
Karen is the Lead Artist on Tribunal – PYT | Fairfield’s profoundly moving and fiercely ambitious verbatim theatre project at Arts House: 20 – 23 July 2017. For more information, visit: www.artshouse.com.au for details.
Image: Karen Therese (supplied)