Who is Richard Piper?
An Anglo-Australian stage actor and musician with four children and a love of literature.
What would you do differently to what you do now?
I would dance more, have piano lessons and learn languages. My dancing has ground to a halt. I’m a choreographer’s nightmare. So how the hell did I do Grease the Musical in the West End in 1978? A mystery. I’ll work on it.
Who inspires you and why?
Nurses inspire me. Working incredibly hard on a low wage for the good of humanity. Brilliant!
What would you do to make a difference in the world?
Don’t start me off. Put it this way – if I were alive at the time of the French Revolution I would be a follower of Jean-Paul Marat, so I’m talking Revolution. BIG BIG REVOLUTION to overturn the obscene discrepancies in wealth. But as I said, don’t start me off…
Favourite holiday destination and why?
Paris – the home of revolution! Something very special comes alive in me when I’m there.
When friends come to town, what attraction would you take them to, and why?
I’d take them to the Victoria Market – which I dearly love. It’s one of the greatest markets in the world and I know it very well and have a very full social life there. I know it backwards and love taking people round.
What are you currently reading?
I’m reading Byrne by Anthony Burgess, The Secret Scripture by Sebastian Barry, and as always the Dictionary of Literary Terms and Literary Theory by J A Cuddon. It’s so good. And witty!
What are you currently listening to?
Reggae, Ska, dancehall and rocksteady. And traditional British folk music.
Happiness is?
Happiness is the time of childhood before I was sent to boarding school. Happiness is uncomplicated simplicity. Silence. Trees. The moon . A sunset. Swallows…
What does the future hold for you?
The future holds the quest to achieve constantly the happiness described above.
Richard will be featured in Stork Theatre’s 12 hour marathon reading of Homer’s Odyssey at MPavilion on Saturday 1 December 2018 from 11.00am. For more information, visit: www.storktheatre.com.au or www.mpavilion.org for details.
Image: Richard Piper (supplied)