Who is Alex Pinder?
Alex Pinder is a sometime actor, sometime theatre teacher and director, sometime community artist. Born as Jyotirindra Mukherjee in London England to an English mother and Indian father. Took the stage name on the advice of an agent. Pinder is my mother’s maiden name.
What would you do differently from what you do now?
Learn to play the harp. I loved watching the Marx brothers as a kid, and loved the sequences when Harpo Marx played on the harp. Such a beautiful sound.
Who inspires you and why?
Great actors, such as Derek Jacobi, Robert De Nero and Meryl Streep. Political leaders such a Nelson Mandela and now Greta Thunberg
What would you do to make a difference in the world?
If I ruled the world all education would be done through the prism of the performing and visual arts! That is probably why I don’t rule the world.
Favorite holiday destination and why?
I love traveling. Many great places. Paris, London and Amsterdam to name a few. In recent years, a week in the city of Udaipur, Rajasthan India was magical.
When friends come to town, what attraction would you take them to, and why?
I have taken visitors to the old La Mama Theatre. They find it such an unusual and charming venue. (Look forward to it re-opening soon after the fire of 2018) I love taking friends to Badgers Creek near Healesville. Beautiful bush land so close to the city and you might see a liar bird.
What are you currently reading?
In lock down in Melbourne plenty of time to read. Rediscovering some old favorites. 1599: A Year In The life of William Shakespeare by James Shapiro. A revealing insight into the man and his times. I just read a section on when he and his company were having a particular tough time as all the theatre were closed due to the plague. Sound familiar?
What are you currently listening to?
Also plenty of time to delve into my old CD collection. I have been listening to plenty of Beethoven and Mozart, to Miles Davis, Louis Armstrong and of course The Beatles.
Happiness is?
Such a hard question! It could be the perfect cup of coffee, an excellent meal in good company, watching, or better still performing in a great show. Or at dawn, listening to the sound of birds outside my bedroom window.
What does the future hold for you?
Being a freelance performing artist one never knows. That is what is so exciting and terrifying.
Alex can be seen in Iron Lung Theatre’s production of Andrew Bovell’s When the Rain Stops Falling at Theatre Works, St Kilda for a limited season from 12 July 2021. For more information, visit: www.theatreworks.org.au or www.ironlungtheatre.com for details.
Image: Alex Pinder (supplied)