Skip to main content

Interview: Lucas Proudfoot

Jake's Art Adventures was lucky enough to sit down with Lucas Proudfoot of Proudfoot Productions to talk about their upcoming production, Proudfoot & Friends playing at QPAC for a limited time 8-11 March 2024!

What sparked your interest in performing? 

It was a combination of seeing my family sing and play guitar growing up, along with being part of a cultural dance group at school. These experiences really helped build my confidence as a performer. The feeling after a show was amazing. It’s been something I’ve strongly connected with ever since I was a young lad.

What was the development process for Proudfoot & Friends?

Having performed around 1500+ shows over the last decade in schools and kindies across Australia, I’ve been able to test and refine my material on a regular basis. The 'seven years and under' audiences are very honest, so having this face-to-face sounding board has helped shape the Proudfoot & Friends story world.

What has been the most rewarding parts of creating this show? 

Sharing the show with my family and friends, along with my community. There’s also a phenomenal team behind the scenes that has brought this story world to life. Sharing the ride with them has been amazing. 

What is it like performing for children rather than adults?

It’s amazing! Seeing their smiling faces is great. But most importantly, you need to match their energy and know when to push and when to pull back. It’s a balancing act from start to finish as they like to interject at the most random times. Keyword… ‘random’! I encourage new performers into this space, to embrace the random 😊

Can you tell us a little about performing with puppetry and digital elements in the show?

This is truly a unique offering because the animated characters who appear on-screen can interact with not only myself but the audience as well. This is all via digital puppeteering technology which is controlled in ‘real-time’ via a handheld ‘game controller’ backstage. Our Technical Director is a master with this, having some 300+ cues to deliver throughout each performance. Timing for myself is the main factor here, but we’ve created a format that allows for natural spontaneity between the characters and me.

First Nations stories are integral to Australia's arts landscape; how does it feel sharing your story about caring for country to the next generation of Australia?

Caring for Country relates to all of us as a nation. Being proud of where you come from and looking after the place you call home is very important. Simple things like making sure you leave the beach or park the way you left it and respecting the flora and fauna that also live alongside us. Proudfoot & Friends shares these subtle themes through music, story, song and dance.

 Proudfoot & Friends performs at QPAC's Cremorne Theatre from Friday 8 March to Sunday 10 March, tickets can be purchased at qpac.com.au

Watch out for our review next month!

Labels:

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Review: The Cemetery Club - Tugun Theatre

Written by Rett Visser Meet the Cemetery Club! Three longtime friends in their late fifties to early sixties, who are now also united by bereavement. Meeting once a month to visit the cemetery where their deceased husbands lay, their friendship and love for their husbands form the cornerstone of ‘The Cemetery Club’. As in real-life, each woman is dealing with grief differently, as every relationship is different: Doris is struggling with losing the love of her life Abe, despite it being four years since his passing, Lucille is kicking up her heels and spending the inheritance left by the unfaithful Harry, and Ida misses her Murry but realises that she doesn’t want to mourn forever. When Sam, the widower meets the ladies whilst visiting the grave of his deceased wife, a shy attraction to Ida sees cracks in the friendships begin to grow. Efficiently directed by Julie Neumann, the space was well-considered enabling the audience to feel like they were included in the conversation as the la...
1 comment
Read more

Love Labour’s Lost // Footlight Theatrical

  By Jake Goodall “Your wit’s too hot, it speeds too fast, ’twill tire.” Footlight Theatrical’s Love Labour’s Lost sets hearts ablaze with wit and charm in a dazzling Queensland Premiere at the Ron Hurley Theatre in Seven Hills! William Shakespeare’s brilliant and hilarious comedy takes centre stage as the King and his friends swear off women, only to find themselves falling in love with a princess and her ladies.  The ensuing courtship and a year of separation make for an unsatisfying yet tantalizing ending, leaving the audience yearning for more. Could Shakespeare’s elusive sequel, ‘Love’s Labour’s Won,’ hold the key to further adventures? Only time will tell, leaving us at the mercy of the bard’s whims. The production’s set, masterfully designed by Ian Johnson, immerses us in a visually stunning world reminiscent of Mamma Mia. The use of Greek-inspired elements and a towering white wall representing the King’s house are executed with finesse, while the on-stage spa adds an ...
Post a Comment
Read more

Review: Company - Phoenix Ensemble

  Written by Mark Rickell "Company, Sondheim’s sixth Broadway musical, was his breakthrough to serious credibility. It received 14 Tony Award nominations, a record at the time. It’s a minimally plotted collection of songs and stories (more like a revue than a traditional musical) about a single man, his married friends, and several girlfriends. Robert wrestles with relationships and commitment. The show’s title has multiple facets, all important to appreciating its complexity. “Company” is the opposite of solitude and loneliness. It means being surrounded by friends and loved ones. It’s also the tightly knit ensemble of actors performing a show.” - Rick Pender, Everything Sondheim Company at Phoenix Ensemble was exactly as Rick has suggested above. A tight knit, and truly excellent, ensemble of actors performing this show. Director Tammy (Sarah Linde) and assistant director Luke (O’Hagan) are responsible for the set design and the simplicity of form and function they have elected ...
Post a Comment
Read more