Who is David Williams?
I make theatre, attend football matches, and convince people (my partner mostly) that these two activities are completely entwined and of similar value.
What would you do differently to what you do now?
I’m not sure – most of choices that have fundamentally shaped my life have felt accidental, or come by surprise. But they have been no less powerful for that.
Who inspires you and why?
Tricky question. At the moment I’m finding activist and playwright Van Badham pretty inspiring – fearless, passionate and erudite in a way I cannot hope to emulate.
What would you do to make a difference in the world?
Attempt to build spaces that encourage passionate but civil conversation about complex ideas.
Favourite holiday destination and why?
Sadly I rarely get to go on holiday – one of the joys of life as a freelance theatre artist is the lack of paid holidays. But we went to New York City back in 2012, and that was an amazing three weeks. Hidden treasures everywhere – cocktail bars hidden inside train stations, fancy restaurants in parks, and museums tucked away in private homes. A feast for the soul.
When friends come to town, what attraction would you take them to, and why?
I always think that the Manly ferry is the best way to see Sydney in all it’s beauty, and it’s pretty cheap as well.
What are you currently reading?
Hillbilly Elegy by J.A. Vance and Do Not Go Gentle by Patricia Cornelius.
What are you currently listening to?
Deborah Conway’s new album Everybody’s Begging.
Happiness is?
A glass of excellent wine and a lazy evening at home.
What does the future hold for you?
Performing my show Smurf in Wanderland at Parramatta and Griffin, then writing Grace Under Pressure, a verbatim play about bullying and harassment in the health sector, for the Seymour Centre and The Big Anxiety: festival of interactive arts.
Smurf in Wanderland plays Parramatta’s Riverside Theatre: 20 – 29 April, before heading to the SBW Stables Theatre: 2 – 13 May 2017. For more information, visit: www.nationaltheatreofparramatta.com.au for details.
Image: David Williams – photo by Eric Berry