Tim Minchin

Infobox Comedian
name = Tim Minchin


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birth_date = Birth date and age|1975|10|7|df=yes
birth_place = Perth, Western Australia, Australia
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nationality = Australian
active = 2002–present
genre = Musical comedy
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spouse = Sarah (1 child)
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website = http://www.timminchin.com/
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Tim Minchin (born October 7, 1975) is an Australian comedian, actor and musician. He is best known for his musical comedy, which has featured in two CDs, a DVD and a number of live comedy shows which he has performed internationally. He has also appeared on television and radio in both Australia and Britain. Born in Western Australia, he attended the University of Western Australia before moving to Melbourne in 2002 where he began to develop his act. His breakout show, "Dark Side", launched him into the public eye, achieving critical success at the 2005 Melbourne International Comedy Festival and the Edinburgh Fringe Festival.

Minchin has a background in theatre and has appeared in various stage productions, in addition to some small acting roles on Australian TV. He has written a script for a television pilot which has received some interest from US networks; in late 2007 he was reported to be in talks with HBO.

Personal life

Minchin was born and raised in Perth, Western Australia.cite web |author=Millar, Anna | url=http://www.list.co.uk/article/10610-tim-minchin-looney-tunes/ | title=Tim Minchin - Looney tunes |work=The List |date=2008-07-31 | accessdate=2008-08-20] He started learning piano at the age of eight, but gave it up after three years because he did not enjoy the discipline. He redeveloped an interest in the instrument after he started writing music with his brother, a guitarist, but still describes himself as a "hack pianist... a 'more you practice, the better you get' kind of guy."cite web |author=Minchin, Tim | url=http://thevoidcomedy.wordpress.com/2007/06/05/hello-world/ | title=INTERVIEW: Tim Minchin |work=The Void |date=2007-06-05 | accessdate=2008-08-21] Minchin graduated from the University of Western Australia in 1995 with a Bachelor of Arts in English and Theatre, and in 1998 completed an Advanced Diploma in Contemporary Music at the Western Australian Academy of Performing Arts.cite web |author= | url=http://www.timminchin.com/about/ | title=About |work=TimMinchin.com |date= | accessdate=2008-08-20] He currently lives in London with his wife, Sarah, and daughter Violet.

Career

Musical comedy

After completing an Advanced Diploma in Contemporary Music in 1998, Minchin started out composing music for documentaries and theatre. He released a CD titled "Sit" with his band Timmy the Dog in 2001, but achieved little success. In 2002, after only one professional acting job, he moved from Perth to Melbourne to pursue work.cite web |author=Saltmarsh, Abigail | url=http://www.eveningnews24.co.uk/content/GoingOut/story.aspx?brand=ENOnline&category=GoingOutComedy&tBrand=ENOnline&tCategory=GoingOutComedy&itemid=NOED22%20Aug%202008%2011%3A40%3A27%3A820 | title=Interview: Tim Minchin |work=Norwich Evening News |date=2008-08-22 | accessdate=2008-09-12] Minchin struggled initially; he could not get an agent for a year and had been unable to find any acting work. While several record companies gave him positive feedback, they were not sure how his music—which was a mixture of satirical songs and more serious pop songs—could be marketed. He decided to compile all of his humourous songs into a single live show to "get the comedy stuff off [his] chest" before going back to more serious music. [cite web |author=Minchin, Tim | url=http://www.abc.net.au/dig/tv/episodes/20060807_2100.htm | title=August 7 Episode |work=Dig TV |date=2006-08-07 | accessdate=2008-09-13]

Minchin says he entered into comedy "naively", having never even attended a live comedy gig before performing one himself. His break-out show, "Dark Side", achieved critical success at the 2005 Melbourne International Comedy Festival, where it won the inaugural Festival Directors' Award and attracted the notice of Karen Koren, the manager of the well-known Gilded Balloon venues. [cite web |author=Woodhead, Cameron | url=http://www.theage.com.au/news/arts-reviews/tim-minchin/2006/04/19/1145344122118.html | title=Tim Minchin |work=The Age |date=2006-04-19 | accessdate=2008-08-20] Koren backed the show's run at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival, where Minchin received the Perrier Comedy Award for Best Newcomer. [cite web |author=Reuters/AAP | url=http://www.theage.com.au/news/arts/minchin-best-newcomer/2005/08/28/1125167538808.html | title=Minchin best newcomer |work=The Age |date=2005-08-29 | accessdate=2008-08-20] His 2006 show, "So Rock", was nominated for the Melbourne International Comedy Festival's top prize, the Barry Award, and in 2007 he won the award for Best Alternative Comedian at the HBO US Comedy Arts Festival. [cite web |author=Platt, Craig | url=http://blogs.theage.com.au/lastlaugh/archives/2006/05/last_laugh_barr.html| title=Last Laugh: Barry Award nominees announced |work=The Age - Last Laugh blog |date=2006-04-01 | accessdate=2008-08-21] cite web |author=Maxwell, Tom | url=http://edinburghnews.scotsman.com/theguide/Tim39s-just--funny-that.3734007.jp| title=Tim's just funny that way |work=Edinburgh Evening News |date=2008-02-01 | accessdate=2008-08-21]

Minchin describes his act as a "funny cabaret show" and sees himself primarily as a musician and songwriter as opposed to a comedian; his songs, he says, "just happen to be funny". He draws on his background in theatre for his distinctive onstage appearance and persona. In his performances, he typically goes barefoot with wild hair and heavy eye makeup, which is juxtaposed with a crisp suit and tails, and a grand piano. According to Minchin, he likes not wearing shoes in his shows because it makes him feel more comfortable. He considers the eye makeup important because while he is playing the piano he is not able to use his arms and relies on his face for expressions and gestures; the eyeliner makes his features more distinguishable for the audience. Much of his look and persona, he says, are about "treading that line between mocking yourself about wanting to be an iconic figure. Mocking the ridiculousness and complete unrealistic dream of being an iconic figure."cite web |author=Low, Lenny Ann | url=http://www.theage.com.au/news/tv--radio/rocknroll-nerd/2007/11/07/1194329300055.html | title=Rock'n'roll nerd |work=The Age |date=2007-11-08 | accessdate=2008-08-20] The eccentric appearance removes Minchin from reality somewhat, allowing him to make outrageous statements onstage "without annoying (most) people". [cite web |author= | url=http://www.timminchin.com/faq/ | title=FAQ |work=TimMinchin.com |date= | accessdate=2008-08-21]

The shows consist largely of Minchin's comedic songs and poetry, with subjects ranging from social satire, to inflatable dolls and sex fetishes, to his own failed rock star ambitions. In between songs, he performs short stand-up routines. Several of his songs deal with religion, a subject with which Minchin—a self-described atheist and a fan of Richard Dawkins—says he is "a bit obsessed".cite web |author=Arthur, Tim | url=http://www.timeout.com/london/comedy/features/5586/Tim_Minchin-interview.html | title=Tim Minchin: interview |work=Time Out London |date=2008-09-01 | accessdate=2008-09-13] He argues that as one of the most powerful and influential forces in the world, religion should never be off-limits to satirists. He says that his favourite song to perform is "Peace Anthem for Palestine", which reflects his feelings about religious conflict. [cite web |author=Taylor, Darlene | url=http://www.thegroggysquirrel.com/articles/2007/02/12/tim-minchin2/ | title=Interview: Tim Minchin interview |work=The Groggy Squirrel |date=2007-02-12 | accessdate=2008-09-13] His comedy also deals with taboos more broadly, a subject which Minchin says interests him due to what he considers the hypocrisy in the things society classifies as appropriate and inappropriate. [cite web |author=Minchin, Tim | url=http://www.angry-feet.com/fans/interview/11.php | title=Interview |work=Angry (Feet) |date=December 2007 | accessdate=2008-09-13]

In August 2008 Minchin debuted his third solo show, "Ready For This?" at the Edinburgh Fringe and subsequently took it on tour across the UK. During the Edinburgh run, he contributed to "The Guardian" newspaper's podcasts, [ [http://www.guardian.co.uk/culture/audio/2008/aug/14/comedy.podcast.10 The Guardian Live at the Gilded Balloon, with Tim Minchin] ] despite his new show containing a song about a "Guardian" critic who once gave his show a one-star review. [cite web |author=Chianta, Rosanna | url=http://scotlandonsunday.scotsman.com/sos-review/A-show-worth-a-Minchin.4350766.jp | title=A show worth a Minchin - Tim Minchin interview |work=Scotland on Sunday |date=2008-09-07 | accessdate=2008-09-13] . Live recordings of his 2005 and 2006 shows, "Dark Side and "So Rock", have been released as CDs. In 2007, he released a DVD entitled "So Live", featuring a live recording in the Sydney Opera House Studio with material from both of his previous shows. He has also made musical appearances on various radio and television shows, including the BBC's "Never Mind the Buzzcocks", BBC Radio 4's "Mark Watson Makes the World Substantially Better" and two specials on BBC Radio 2 in Britain; and the ABC's "Spicks and Specks" and "The Sideshow" in Australia.

Minchin has written a pilot episode for a television series. Originally intended for the BBC, it has yet to be purchased by any TV network but has received some interest in the United States. In late 2007, Minchin was reported to be in talks with the American network HBO. [cite web |author=Gadd, Michael | url=http://www.news.com.au/perthnow/story/0,21598,22614081-5012990,00.html | title=Tim Minchin could appear in American sitcom |work=Perth Now |date=2007-10-19 | accessdate=2008-08-20]

Acting

Minchin's background is in theatre and he has appeared in various stage productions. His most recent dramatic theatrical performance was in the title role for the 2006 Perth Theatre Company production of "Amadeus", a fictional play about the downfall of Mozart at the hands of the reigning court composer.cite web |author=Tucak, Layla | url=http://www.abc.net.au/stateline/wa/content/2006/s1677328.htm | title=Tim Minchin taking on Mozart and the world |work=Stateline |date=2006-06-30 | accessdate=2008-08-21] His other stage acting roles have included 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 his 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."

Discography

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

Awards

* Best Alternative Act at the 2007 U.S. Comedy Arts Festival
* Festival Director’s Award for "Dark Side" at the 2005 Melbourne International Comedy Festival
* Best Newcomer Perrier Comedy Award at the 2005 Edinburgh Fringe Festival

References

External links

* [http://www.timminchin.com/ Official web site]
* [http://www.angry-feet.com/ Official fan site]
* [http://www.myspace.com/tim_minchin MySpace Page]
* [http://www.youtube.com/timminchin Tim Minchin's YouTube Channel]
* [http://www.guardian.co.uk/stage/2005/aug/16/comedy Phil Daoust's Guardian review in 2005] about which Minchin wrote a song three years later.