WITH all the frenzy of
Christmas and New Year out of the way what better way to relax and
ease into 2015 than to see some shows that form part of the London
International Mime Festival.
Now in its 38th year
the event is the longest-established annual theatre season of its
kind and this year boasts innovative acts from around the world –
including artists from America, Belgium, France, Japan and New
Zealand.
Over the course of 24
days, 18 companies will entertain audiences in venues across the
capital, from Sadler's Wells to Soho Theatre as well as the Southbank
Centre.
Amongst those taking
part will be comedian, juggler and all round entertainer
extraordinaire Mat Ricardo.
The award winning
"gentleman's juggler" will be taking to the Purcell Room
stage at the Southbank Centre with The Showman.
It's not the first time
the 45-year-old from Honor Oak Park has performed at the festival but
this time he has some new and awe inspiring tricks up his sleeve.
"I've been a fan
of this event for years and to be invited to take part is an honour
so I couldn't turn it down," he tells me.
"I've been touring
the show for 18 months all over the world and it's the best one I've
ever done so I'm really excited to be taking it to the Southbank
Centre."
It will be a welcome
return to the venue not least because at the beginning of his career,
Mat used to do street performances outside it.
"I started out as
a street entertainer and back in the 1990s I did street shows on the
South Bank a few minutes walk from the Southbank Centre. I used to go
inside to count my money!"
But what is a juggler
and entertainer, who spends a lot of his routines chatting to the
audience, doing at a "mime" festival I wonder.
"Ah yes, it's a
bit curious isn't it," Mat laughs cheerfully. "The Mime
Festival has always been really good at incorporating not just mime
but a variety of circus and other stuff which is great, especially
for me.
"So I can
categorically say there will be lots of talking in my show as I don't
shut up! In fact there are only about six minutes during the whole
thing when I don't say anything.
"It's very high
energy, sit on the edge of your seat stuff and also funny.
"It has to be
funny otherwise it's just showing off," he adds.
He promises the show
will be packed with awesome skills, object manipulation and
fascinating tricks some new and some old favourites - and it will be
suitable for all the family.
"It's perfect
family entertainment - it's really important and something you learn
as a street performer that you are able to entertain and engage all
ages and every background.
"I still do the
table cloth trick but I've added to it by bringing in another table
and moving things from one to the other."
As well as that expect
juggling of balls, plates, bricks and glasses as well as balancing
tricks, and those involving other objects such as umbrellas and
bowling balls and electric saws.
It is all performed by
Mat in his trademark natty suit with his witty banter. And although
he makes it look easy he says sometimes mistakes do happen - but
that's all part of the fun.
"I've been doing
this for 30 years but some of the tricks are more complicated than
others - it's not dead easy," he says.
"It’s weird as I
don’t get nervous of things going wrong. It’s the only art form
where if you get something wrong you can try it again and the
audience appreciate it all the more.
"If you tried that
as a comedian you are dead. However, with this kind of entertainment,
people like seeing someone try again and succeed - as long as you
succeed in the end.
"Sometimes I will
be waiting in the wings and I will be a bit nervous but really I
can’t wait to get on stage. For me it’s the safe, comfortable
place and where I feel at home. I am much more nervous at parties. On
stage it’s my house."
And he says there will
be moments where he wants the audience to be sitting on the edge of
their seats, as they watch a potentially dangerous stunt.
"There are a
couple of moments of mild panic with dangerous stuff - and there are
two moments in the show where bad things could happen but I don’t
die which is good!" he chuckles.
"There is also a
trick I do where I start by telling a story about it - it was done by
a vaudeville performer called Paula Deluca who performed it on stage
in a vaudeville theatre on Broadway in 1936.
"It involves
juggling three 16lb bowling balls. She misjudged the trick and died
on stage.
"In terms of the
chainsaw juggling, it’s real cliché but it’s a con and not as
dangerous as perhaps a performer would make out.
"I talk about it
and do a stunt involving three carving knives which are going at
2,000 blade strokes per minute.
"They are like
blurs but luckily I have still got my fingers!"
Instantly I wince and
Mat laughs.
"I am a showman
and an old circus guy and so when I describe it, your reaction is
what I like - where the audience are in that heightened state
wondering what I am going to do followed by the palpable relief when
I do it and show I can do it and make it work without injury.
"I love that and
to be able to make an audience feel all those different ways is
great. I love making them laugh and to making them think about it."
As well as being part
of the festival, Mat says he is excited to see the other acts who
will be performing.
"It’s such a
respected festival with a well deserved reputation that I know it
will be good whatever I see," he says.
"I trust they will
book the best stuff in the world so I can be confident of seeing some
great visual treats.
"I'd encourage
anyone who loves variety, vaudeville, old style cabaret, circus and
old school jugglers as well as contemporary performers to go and see
some of the amazing shows on offer. You will love it and will be
amazed. Tell them I sent you!"
Mat Ricardo will be
appearing at the Southbank Centre between January 19 and 21 as part
of the London International Mime Festival (January 8 to 31). Tickets
cost £18. Visit www.mimelondon.com or www.southbankcentre.co.uk for
tickets or call the box office on
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