Hand to God - Interview with Jake Speer

Hand to God - Interview with Jake Speer

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Posted 2018-03-10 by Belinda Nolan-Pricefollow

Thu 22 Feb 2018 - Sun 18 Mar 2018

Jake Speer joined me for a 'Coffee Break' to chat about Hand to God which is currently being staged at the Alex Theatre in St Kilda until 18 March. You can book tickets online here .

You're a cast member in Hand to God which will be currently being staged at the Alex Theatre. Can you tell me a bit about the show?
"Hand To God" is a play unlike anything Australia has ever seen before. Nominated for 5 Tony Awards, it's an outrageously funny American comedy about a young boy's possessed sock puppet who terrorises the members of a small town church in Texas. Any fan of Trey Parker, Matt Stone or Seth MacFarlane's work will be a fan of this.

What character do you play in Hand to God and can you tell us a little about your character?
I play the character of Timmy. He's your quintessential high school bad boy bully. He torments the other kids, intimidates the Pastor and is utterly fixated on Margery played by Alison Whyte. But underneath the filthy one-liners and bravado is a kid who just wants to be cared for. That's a testament to the writing of the play. There are some genuine sometimes tragic human moments in this play that are, to a greater or lesser degree, disguised by the unforgiving, uncensored comedy.

What other actors appear in the Hand to God?
I have the privilege of working with some truly gifted and even legendary actors. Alison Whyte and Grant Piro play the two adults of the production. Both have taught me a great deal over the course of the play. Grant's comic ability is extraordinary. Alison has been very trusting and if you see the show you'll understand why! Gyton Grantley plays Jason and the demonic puppet Tyrone. This guy is an acting force. His energy and focus is infinite and his incredible flexibility and playfulness has been a joy to experience on stage. The final member of our ensemble and the nearest character Timmy has to a nemesis is Jessica played by the hilarious Morgana O'Reilly, who does a very good job of cracking me up all the time.


Jake, you are best known for your role as Oscar Maguire in the television show Home and Away. Do you have a favourite memory from your time on the show?
The few years I spent on "Home and Away" were some of the best years of my life because of the people I got to work with every day. My favourite moments on that show were always the big scenes where all the cast were involved. I loved it cause I'd spend the day trying to crack everyone up. There were lots of great moments and plenty of great laughs too, much to the frustration of 1st AD's at times I'm sure.

Recently, you starred in your first musical Kinky Boots. Did you enjoy this experience?
"Kinky Boots" was really a dream come true for the 10-year-old in me. I grew up doing a lot of singing and performing in local community musicals so to step out on stage in my first professional musical, some nights as the lead, in a show so full of colour and energy and positivity was such an incredible experience. I've been blessed so far in my career because that show is another example of a tremendous company of talented, driven and passionate people I got to work with.

You wrote, produced, directed and starred in a documentary called Leeton - The Formative Years. Are you able to tell us more this project?
I grew up in the small town in Leeton in the Riverina of NSW and by the time I was graduating drama school the town was celebrating it's centenary. I thought this was a great opportunity to combine my three years of training and my passion for filmmaking and my hometown. We raised $20,000 thanks to the local rotary club and over the course of two weeks, we shot a feature-length documentary depicting the founding of our town using over 200 actors, crew and townspeople. We started filming on my 21st birthday and it was the steepest self-induced learning curve I'd ever experienced. I'm very proud of that film.

Can you tell more about your involvement in the short film, Inside Water?
"Inside Water" is a short film that I started writing in late 2014 about a young farmer who inherits a failing sheep farm in the wake of his father's suicide. The young farmer must protect his family, his sheep and his scarce water supply from a rising and relentless threat. It's story of grief, family and how we all must deal with change and consequence. It's a chance for me to get in front of the camera again and I've partnered with my longtime friend D'Arby Deck who will direct the film. We are scheduling an April shoot back in my hometown of Leeton with an amazing group of actors and crew bringing this story to life. We are now reaching the final stages of securing our funding so if anyone is interested in finding out more about the film, following our journey or even donating to our funding campaign they can visit Inside Water Short Film or google GoFundMe and search Inside Water Short Film.


Do you have any hobbies?
I'm always looking for a new bush walk and trek to go on. Any chance I get to pack up and go camping I'm going to take.

What is your favourite food?
Burgers and doughnuts. I'm probably not going to live very longÂ…

Do you have a favourite movie?
World's hardest question. At the moment I'd say Lady Bird. I saw it a few weeks ago and I'm in love with Greta Gerwig and Saoirse Ronan.

What is your idea of a good holiday?
Well for my next holiday I'm heading back to Nepal to summit Island Peak a 6,200m peak right next door to Everest. They're the kind of holidays I like.

What is the last album you listened to?
I just finished the original cast recording of "Dear Evan Hansen". I think that's a role I'd enjoy playing.

If you were stranded on a desert island, what items would you take with you?
Is there a limit? If I had a choice probably vegetable seeds and a fishing net. If I could take a person it would be Bear Grylls no doubt about it. I like to live vicariously through him.

Is there anything which you don't you leave home without?
Well the last thing that goes through my mind before I leave the house is "phone, wallet, keys". I'm always forgetting something.

#comedy
#interviews
#nightlife
#performing_arts
#south_east
#st_kilda
#theatre
#february
!date 22/02/2018 -- 18/03/2018
%wnmelbourne
215665 - 2023-06-16 07:19:06

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