Who is Luke Murphy?
The great question of life – well, I’m a writer, a choreographer, a director and a performer and I spend my time professionally taking off one of those hats and putting another on depending on what project I’m working on.
Beyond that I’m Irish, I’m 37, I’m recently married, I’ve lived in Ireland, New York, London, Brussels and Shanghai – so my friends and community are kind of scattered across the world. I take my work very seriously and try not to take myself very seriously at all. I have a real soft spot for animation.
What would you do differently from what you do now?
I really love what I do. I’m at a point where if I want my own work to develop, I need to give it my full time and attention but that also means I don’t get to dance quite as much as I’d like. I wouldn’t change it because I know I’m doing what’s right for me but I do miss going off and just working as a performer in other companies too.
Who inspires you and why?
I consume and watch and study an awful lot. A few off the top of my head- I found the Sydney Theatre Companies Dorian Gray in London and that was really inspiring, the ambition and complexity of the production was just staggering. I think how PT Anderson writes and then manifests that writing in film is super inspiring and specific. The professional climber Adam Ondra. Peter O’Mahony. Hayao Miyazaki and Studio Ghibli.
I don’t know how you can work in dance without being inspired by artists like William Forsythe, Lloyd Newson, Crystal Pite, Bill T Jones. I worked with Wim Vandekeybus and learned a huge amount there. Also Max and Felix at Punchdrunk, the work and the scale of imagination alongside the simple approach of solving things scene by scene was always very inspiring. I also really love Ben Duke’s work in the UK. Eoin French. My mom, my dad, my sister. So many people, there’s always so much to learn.
What would you do to make a difference in the world?
Little things every day. Buy ethically, recycle, re-use, be kind, try to be self-aware, listen.
Favourite holiday destination and why?
I’ve never been to this part of the world before, so I’ll get back to you in a couple of months.
When friends come to town, what attraction would you take them to, and why?
I’d take people to West Cork to see the countryside and the sea. It’s a big part of me.
What are you currently reading?
I’m working through a big fat collection of plays by Simon Stephens right now.
What are you currently listening to?
Talos – an amazing Irish musician and incredibly good person. He passed away very recently but his music lives on.
Happiness is?
Laughing – and there’s always a reason to laugh.
What does the future hold for you?
Hopefully a good run of shows in Brisbane! My wife’s flying over and we’ll have a little adventure around Australia afterwards. Then I go back to some development work for projects I’ll be premiering in 2025 and 2026. So the choreographer hat for a little while, then the writer hat for a little while. I have a new production opening in May so I’ll be gearing up to that.
Luke is the writer, director and choreographer of Volcano – which will be presented at the Brisbane Powerhouse, as part of the 2024 Brisbane Festival from 30 August – 14 September. For more information, visit: www.brisbanefestival.com.au for details.
Image: Luke Murphy (supplied)