Describe the best day of your life.
The birth of our son was a beautiful thing to be a part of. Of course I wasn’t involved in the process, but watching my wife display this raw strength was both terrifying and inspiring. I didn’t sleep that night. I was wired with excitement and absolute joy.
What was your best purchase?
When I was 13, there was a particular Fender Stratocaster I fell in love with in the music shop. Every Saturday I would carry two square bits of plywood down to Rundle Mall, don my tap shoes and busk for a few hours. Then I would take a hat full of whatever coins I was given to Billy Hyde and hand it to the cashier – I do feel a bit bad about this seeing as they would have to count it out coin by coin. But every Saturday I paid a little more off the guitar. Finally, after three months of tap dancing in the mall, she was mine.
What is the best photograph you have?
I’d say the one of Grandpa and me goofing around while we were out for dinner. Us living in Adelaide and him in the UK meant we didn’t see him often enough, but when we did the time was full of memory-making moments. When we were about to leave on the night this was taken, Grandpa took one look at what I was wearing, went back into his room and came out a few minutes later with a matching red jumper and tweed blazer. He was a gentleman, but a whimsical one. That was a good night.
What’s the best advice you’ve been given?
Again, with my grandpa. He took my sister and me out to lunch and I was at an age where I understood we wouldn’t have him around forever, and so needed to get as much out of each moment with him as possible. I wanted to find out what made him tick as a grandparent and as a dad, so asked him. He quoted Rudyard Kipling’s poem, If-, which he had a copy of hanging in the spare room we always stayed in. He said it’s not just for those wanting to be better men, but better parents and grandparents. The same poem now hangs in my own house.
Describe the best meal you’ve ever eaten.
Can’t go wrong with a Bunnings snag. Bangers, mash and baked beans is also a favourite. Lángos is another one, though I only get to eat that when we visit my wife’s family in Hungary. But Mum’s Sunday roast – yep, without question. I get to fill my plate with whatever meat she’s cooked, a serve and half of roast potatoes, a bunch of veg and as many Yorkshire puddings as I’m allowed. Then the whole thing is covered in gravy. Honestly, I could eat this every day.
What are the best qualities of your favourite person?
Tenderness, generosity, hopefulness, patience, quick to forgive and an eye to lookout for those weaker than themselves. A sense of play and whimsy as well. These are qualities that not only my favourite person has but most of my family also have, which I’ve found to be a great privilege growing up with.
Best five songs on your playlist?
Bohemian Rhapsody by Queen has my utmost respect. It’s fully realised form and the wild journey the harmony and guitars take you on will never get old to me. Any version of Pavarotti singing Nessun Dorma from Turandot. It’s incredibly stirring and immensely powerful. The whole first act of Tchaikovsky’s The Nutcracker. I grew up dancing in this ballet every Christmas and it continues to inspire me. There’s a brilliant Adelaide band called Normal Behaviour I’m a big fan of, and their song Slow March is this theatrical mix of all the rock songs I loved in my teens put together. Everybody Wants to Rule the World by Tears for Fears has this syncopated groove that I could listen to when driving, going for a run, doing some gardening, pretty much anything.
The Flying Elephant Company’s next production, Book Nooks: A Christmas Musical will be performed from December 18 to 21 at Burnside Ballroom.