On the Couch with Ben Noble

Arts Review On the Couch Ben NobleWho is Ben Noble?
Ben is a Creative Producer, a Writer, an Actor and a Workaholic. He incorporates all these into his solo show MEMBER at La Mama as part of Midsumma Festival.

What would you do differently to what you do now?
I would spend more time on holiday relaxing and maybe earn large sums of money that I could put back into the arts. But honestly I wouldn’t give up the collaborations, working alongside people you respect and whose work inspire you. 

Who inspires you and why?
The advocates of this world. The people who fight for others, for the rights of others, so they can make a change. A difference in this world. Or they fight for justice. Steve Johnson for instance, is one such advocate. He has been relentlessly fighting for truth and answers about his brothers death. His brother, Scott Johnson’s body was found at the bottom of a Manly cliff in 1988 and was ruled as a suicide. After spending 29 years searching for answers, a new inquest into his death was ordered just this year. MEMBER was inspired by those advocates, those cases and the people they are looking for.

What would you do to make a difference in the world?
Put more money back into youth arts and allow creativity to continue to thrive and grow. I met a lot of our collaborators from this show in youth arts.  In fact we started the company back at St Martins. This piece was commissioned for our 10th anniversary show. I couldn’t have done that without that training ground where I was allowed to experiment and explore. To use words from a friend, young Australians need the arts as a motivating, collaborating, identity making and empowering condition, and with recent cuts to youth theatre, in this country, we are in trouble.

Favourite holiday destination and why?
New York. It was the first place I lived by myself to study and it changed my life. But I would also incorporate a quick trip to Toronto as well. I lived there for 7 years and it feels like coming home again.

When friends come to town, what attraction would you take then to, and why?
Beach time we’ll do the Great Ocean Road. But in town, so many amazing places to visit for food and art. It would be a jam packed activity hub.  I’d probably do a spreadsheet.

What are you currently reading?
My lines for MEMBER. So many lines. We’ve woven together six other writers work within the script!

What are you currently listening to?
I currently obsessed with Season 2 of Serial. But Tay Tay is making me very happy as I run to the train.

Happiness is?
Family. Friends. The pursuit of your dreams. Pana Raw Mint Chocolate.

What does the future hold for you?
A quick jaunt to Tassie for my birthday before heading back to teaching and creating the second part of this story. 

Ben is currently appearing in MEMBER at La Mama as part of the Midsumma Festival until 30 January. For more information, visit: www.lamama.com.au for details.

Image: Ben Noble