Describe the best day of your life.
It’s hard to go past the birth of my child and the day I became a mother (not counting my fur baby, of course). But second to that would be the day I climbed the Hollywood sign for a photoshoot to promote my show ‘The Girl Who Jumped Off The Hollywood Sign’. When I was creating the show in Adelaide I would visualise being up there, and only a few months later I was clutching the sign and looking out over Los Angeles. It was a very special bucket list moment, but now I can’t help thinking about those impacted by the fires over there.
Describe your best purchase.
A Snoo! It’s an electronic bassinet that rocks your baby back to sleep and as a solo parent, this device was a game changer in the early months. I love a good gadget. My house is basically robotic with the amount of smart technology I use. I always get a thrill when the blinds roll up and down on schedule, or the lights turn on at sunset, or I can turn on my air conditioner from my phone.
What is the best photograph you have?
I have a picture taken many years ago at Christmas with my grandmother, my mother and me. My maternal line is made of smart, sensible women who care deeply about their families. When I look at this picture, I see my past and my future at once. It reminds me of the importance of family, of lineage and of love. We pass on the voices of our ancestors to our children, and then to their children, and so on.
What’s the best advice you’ve been given?
My Grandma Joy once told me “don’t take the highs too high and don’t take the lows too low”. I’ve been fortunate to have many “highs” in my career, and a few “lows” along the way too. My grandmother knew me well and knew that I felt things keenly. She was watching the beginnings of my exciting, roller coaster arts career when she told me this, and staying grounded has indeed been really important in maintaining momentum and overcoming stress. Her words have helped me to take things in my stride – good or bad.
Describe the best meal you’ve ever eaten.
I find it very hard to go past a degustation menu with paired wines, but it’s my grandma Ray’s lemon chicken with rice and peas that is the winner overall. Lemon, soy, paprika and white pepper covered chicken cooked in the oven to create a brown sauce. It’s a simple meal, but so hearty and nourishing. It is the taste of my childhood.
What are the best qualities of your favourite person?
My mother Margaret is balanced and fair, and has an extraordinary understanding of people. She is a retired psychologist, and her motivation is always in pursuit harmony and happiness. She strives to help us solve problems and reframe solutions to be effective. She suggests we make decisions that give us the most flexibility moving forward. She is above all a loving wife, mother and grandmother – the matriarch of our family. My father Jonathan kindly jokes that she is “ruler over the rest” but she “reigns” in service to us rather than expectation. I hope I’m becoming more and more like her.
Best five songs on your playlist?
‘Back In Time’ by Jess Beck. Jess is an outstanding First Nations pop artist, and I have her solo music (as well as her band ‘Pirra’) playing on repeat.
‘I Could Write A Book’ by Harry Connick Jr. I rewatched ‘When Harry Met Sally’ over Christmas and I was reminded of my obsession with Rogers & Hart.
‘Suddenly I See’ by KT Tunstall. It’s my getting ready anthem
‘Colour Me In (so I’m not just black and white)’ by Phil ‘Clive’ Grainger. This song is from Wright & Grainger’s ‘ORPHEUS’ and it never fails to make me tear up.
‘All I Could Do Was Cry’ by Etta James. The storytelling and passion in this song gives me chills and defies genre.
See what Joanne Hartstone is up to this Adelaide Fringe season here.