Who is Ali McGregor?
I’m a singer who ran away from the opera and joined the cabaret REVOLUTION!
What would you do differently to what you do now?
Eat less carbs?! As far as my work and my art go I don’t think I would want to do anything differently – even the mistakes are glorious in their own way…
Who inspires you and why?
Lately I have been surrounded by badass ladies who never say ‘no‘ to an idea but rather ‘how can I make this work?’ There seems to be a renewed sense of freedom and power that comes from sharing your faults and weaknesses with the world and working out how to make them into wins, and my ladies are good sharers and good listeners…
What would you do to make a difference in the world?
Create art, consume art, read books and connect with people. I think that empathy is more important than money, more important that greed. If more people made the arts a priority in their lives they would be more aware of the human condition and less likely to be [insert censored curse word].
Favourite holiday destination and why?
Point Lonsdale is a sleepy little beach town in Victoria that I spent my holidays growing up and it is still without doubt my favourite place to unwind. Probably more so now that I have kids of my own because this allows me to reconnect with my own fairly idyllic childhood.
When friends come to town, what attraction would you take them to, and why?
I take them to our local village (Yarraville) so they can hang out in our favourite café and visit the beautiful art deco Sun cinema and book store. Then the NGV for the gallery itself but also the garden at the back and scones and cream in the café, then onto Fed Square, take a walk down by Birrarung Marr… I’d see what was on at the Arts Centre & Recital Centre and then if we felt like a trip out of town I’d head out to Monsalvat or go down the Great Ocean Road.
What are you currently reading?
Haruki Murakami’s Wind/Pinball – which is a reprint of his first two novellas. They are not his best work but I’ve read everything else and at this stage I’d read his old shopping lists if he printed them…
What are you currently listening to?
A lot of the soundtrack of Hamilton the Musical. I am off to see it in NYC in a few weeks and I am OBSESSED.
Happiness is?
Spreading happiness is the secret to life– find it wherever you can and share the hell out of it.
What does the future hold for you?
As co-artistic director of the Adelaide Cabaret Festival my future holds much research in the form of going to as many shows, by as many different cabaret performers as I possibly can around the world. I’ve never been happier.
The Adelaide Cabaret Festival runs 10 – 25 June 2016. Ali will also be presenting her show, Decadence in the Dunstan Playhouse on Saturday 11 June 2016. For more information, visit: www.adelaidecabaretfestival.com.au for details.
Image: Ali McGregor – photo by Alan Moyle