Tim Minchin

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Tim Minchin
Tim Minchin

Tim Minchin (born 7 October 1975) is an Australian comedian, actor, composer, songwriter, pianist, musical director and self-proclaimed "rock 'n' roll megastar".

Born in Western Australia, he attended the University of Western Australia before launching onto the world stage at the 2005 Edinburgh Fringe Festival, winning the Best Newcomer Perrier Comedy Award.

His eccentric appearance (wild unkempt hair, heavy eyeliner and bare feet juxtaposed with a crisp and clean suit and tails, and a grand piano) adds to his comedic performances.

Notable songs include “Inflatable You”, “Rock 'n' Roll Nerd”, "Peace Anthem for Palestine" and the anthem “Canvas Bags”, the latter often used as a finale in which Minchin will discard his jacket and lead the audience in an increasingly dramatic environmental pledge for people to reject plastic bags in favour of reusable canvas ones.

His 2005 and 2006 shows (Dark Side and So Rock, both named for songs within the shows) have been recorded to CD.

He currently resides in London with wife Sarah. They have a daughter, Violet Minchin, who was born on November 24th, 2006.

"Tim was a fat, deaf asthmatic, allergic child, who was suspected to be mentally retarded until he started doing slightly complex jigsaw puzzles at the age of three. He grew up to be a slightly less fat, not-so-deaf, asthmatic, allergic teen who taught himself piano instead of doing his homework. We all should've known he'd be a f**king clown" -Tim Minchin (what his mother would enter on Wikipedia about him) Look Who's Talking Interview, 2008

Tim is well known for getting 'pissed off' when audience members take 'wee-breaks' during his shows.

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[edit] Stage performances

His most recent dramatic theatrical performance was as the title role in the 2006 Perth Theatre Company production of Amadeus (see review[1]), Peter Shaffer's fictional play about the downfall of Mozart at the hands of the reigning court composer (and later Austrian and Imperial Kapellmeister), Salieri.

Minchin’s stage acting roles also include the title role in the 2004 Perth Theatre Company / Hoopla production of Hamlet, and The Writer in the original PTC production of Reg Cribb’s The Return. He has also acted for The Australian Shakespeare Company (Twelfth Night), the Black Swan Theatre Company (Cosi, One Destiny) and in various other plays, short films and TVC’s. Roles from days in musical theatre include Don Quixote in Man of La Mancha and understudying Judas twice (and playing Pontius Pilate) in Jesus Christ Superstar. He has played small roles on the ABC telemovie Loot, and on Comedy Inc.

[edit] Recent appearances

Late in 2007, Minchin toured New York, Las Vegas and LA before returning to Australia to perform a role in a feature film. His first performance in the United States was at the "Ars Nova Theatre" on West 54th Street in Manhattan. [1][update needed]

Recently he has appeared on BBC Radio 4's programme Mark Watson Makes the World Substantially Better alongside Mark Watson and Tim Key, in which he is the "in-house musician". He also had his own show, Tim Minchin and Friends, on BBC Radio 2, of which a Christmas special will be made in 2007.

He appeared on the Australian music-themed quiz show, Spicks and Specks on the 18th of October 2006, where he serenaded host Adam Hills (as Hills lay across Minchin's piano) by singing "The Adam Hillsong (Not endorsed by the Hillsong Church)".

He returned to the show on 11 April, 2007, where Minchin serenaded Alan Brough with his song (which was written at 1pm with jet lag) "Six Foot Four Kiwi", as all he knew about Alan was that he was big and a New Zealander.

In 2006, as part of the ABC's My Favourite Film, Minchin encapsulated Australia's 5th favourite film, Donnie Darko, with a spoken word poem which began: "So there’s this kid called Donnie Darko?/He’s a schizophrenic teen/And this aeroplane engine/Falls through his roof/And lands where he’s just been."

He appeared as a guest on the BBC's Never Mind the Buzzcocks on 24 January 2008.

On February 1st, The TANK Vodcast featured an interview with Tim Minchin filmed during his 2006 Australian tour, where he discussed his views on religion, skepticism and his fans, as well appearing in a 'blooper reel' about the making of the show.[2]

March 3, 2008. Minchin travels back to New York City for another run off-Broadway at New World Stages. Minchin's show opens to stellar reviews from 'The New York Times,' 'Variety,' and others.

[edit] So Live DVD

In June 2007, Minchin recorded a performance for a DVD entitled So Live, featuring material from Dark Side and So Rock in the Sydney Opera House Studio. Running for 105 minutes, the DVD is for all regions and includes Minchin’s performances from the 2006 and 2007 Melbourne International Comedy Festival Gala and from TV shows such as Spicks and Specks, The Sideshow, and the BBC Comedy Shuffle. The DVD was released on November 7, 2007.[3]

[edit] Discography

  • 2001 - Sit (with band Timmy the Dog)
  • 2005 - Dark Side
  • 2006 - So Rock
  • 2007 - So Live

[edit] Awards

[edit] References

  1. ^ Tim Minchin · Comedian
  2. ^ YouTube - The TANK Vodcast Feb. 1. 2008 - Tim Minchin
  3. ^ Tim Minchin - So Live

[edit] External links