Local Creative – Mike Booth
Mike Booth is an actor, director, writer, and teacher with more than twenty years professional experience. He studied acting at the Atlantic Theatre Company in New York, the Steppenwolf Theatre Company in Chicago, and the Impulse Company in London, and he has worked extensively in Australian film and television, as well as Sydney’s independent theatre scene.
Mike has also directed close to twenty theatrical productions, with a particular focus on intimate venues. That led, in 2021, to the founding of the Sydney Actors Playhouse (SAP), headquartered at Manly’s iconic Desire Books & Records.
With the support of an Arts and Creativity Grant, Mike and the SAP are staging theatre performances - right inside the bookstore. (There’s one running there 20 May - 8 July! Book tickets to Stupid F*cking Bird! )
(Find the Sydney Actors Playhouse on Facebook.)
What can you share with us about how The Manly Bookshop Theatre Project has developed so far?
The cast of seven has been in rehearsal since early January. All are alumni of the Sydney Actors Playhouse, and five of them Northern Beaches locals. It's been a joyful and challenging experience bringing this show to life in the Desire Books space. A quick synopsis of the play: s sort of adaptation of Chekhov's masterpiece "The Seagull", Stupid F*cking Bird is the story of Con, a young theatre maker wrestling with his passion to make meaningful art whilst seeking his famous movie star mother's approval. When Con's girlfriend and muse runs away with his mother's famous boyfriend, all hell breaks loose. The play is hilarious, clever, and timeless. And much like Con's own creation, in the confines of the bookshop, proves to be a site-specific meta-theatrical event! We are delighted to partner with local Manly businesses Jerry's Pizza Pasta and Print & Copy Works. With the former, we have a "dinner & show" deal, allowing audiences to discover one of Manly's lesser-known dining treasures. That local support and involvement is an honour, and the sense of community spirit is palpable. The show opened on Friday April 15 and will play every Friday night for 12 weeks. I'm very excited to see how word-of-mouth over a long season will benefit not only the show's success but awareness of Manly as a cultural destination.
In your experience, how have audiences responded to performance outside of the theatre?
Audiences love the novelty of being in the bookshop. In the last 12 months the Sydney Actors Playhouse has performed seven "Scene Nights" in the bookshop. The space has a wonderful ambience, and the audiences delight at being so up close with the interaction of the performers. Check out our trailer for the Playhouse on Youtube for a little taste of what it's like.
What in particular about the character of the bookshop captured your inspiration?
I've always loved intimate theatre. To me, good live theatre is like tennis. Heads turn. Literally. True drama is the exchange between people. It's not spectacle; it's story through action. And the action is verbal. Plays are constructed around people throwing ideas at each other. When I first encountered Desire Books & Records I immediately saw its potential. Thirty chairs in one room...perfect! No bad seats. The atmosphere in the shop is enchanting and comforting. The book-filled shelves that line the walls add to that intimacy. It's cozy and informal. I love that. And the shop is divided in two by a raised area, so the space comes with a ready-made stage! Plus the location on Whistler Street is right in the heart of Manly. It's got a vibe. It's a two-minute walk from the nearest bar or restaurant, five minutes from the ferry. So accessible and attractive for a well-rounded night at the theatre.
What encouragement do you have for people who are considering trying out acting for the first time?
Do it! One of the main reasons I designed the Fundamentals of Acting course was to do exactly that: to encourage people who've never acted before. There is a myth that it's too late. It's never too late. And it's a lot easier than you think when you realise what "acting" actually is.
Gallery
All images courtesy Mike Booth
