Blog - Meet Trygve Wakenshaw ahead of his show, Silly Little Things!
Trygve Wakenshaw (pronounced Trig-vee ) comes to Aberdeen from New Zealand as part of our inaugural International Season with Silly Little Things. Get to know the hilarious and fun, physical comedy performer ahead of his show heading to the Lemon Tree Monday 29 July and Tuesday 30 July 2024.
What can people expect from Trygve Wakenshaw: Silly Little Things?
My first show Squidboy was created the only way I knew how, with storytelling. I had a character, a strange world and a cute little question about the imagination. Then I rebelled against “stories” and made KRAKEN which followed no real logic aside from the here-and-now of my stream of consciousness. Nautilus and Trygve-versus-a Baby were made of sketches, little scenes but no great tale to tell. And now I’m back to story. Silly Little Things is ironically titled really, or flippant, because it’s story is about friendship. That’s right, get ready for a mimed solo show about an old magicians love for a rabbit. Also, get ready for magic, music, and physical madness.
Outside of performing, what else do you enjoy doing?
Travelling with my family. We’re great travellers, adventurous but not bananas, and it’s just a great way to spend a life with my wife and two boys. At home we get into our own rhythms so quickly and we all love being busy so we get quite efficient at working together to get time alone. But when we’re on the road we all just get much more present with each other and the world around us, meal times are longer, conversations are deeper.
Who are your biggest influences in the world of theatre and comedy and what inspired you to pursue a career in the arts?
Julien Cottereau was a big influence on how I started, while I studied in Paris I went to see his show “Imagine Toi” nearly every weekend for a couple of months. His whimsical clowning and mime played right into everything that made my dreams. James Thieree keeps me spellbound in the rigour you can see behind his routines (rigour does not appeal to me, but I deeply admire those who have it). And how could I not be influenced by my nearest and dearest collaborators; Barnie Duncan, Thom Monckton, Radím Vizvary, Filip Zahradnicky. I really pursued a career in the arts because I loved being around people who make things. I love being in a theatre. I love when someone makes something that I don’t understand but want to. I love when something makes something terrible which makes me think “here is how I would have done that better…”. I pursued a career in the arts because I love it.
How do you incorporate improvisation into your performances?
All of the solo shows I’ve made spend the first year with lots of improvisation as I find the shape of the show that fits most best. This show will be stuffed full of improv. Sometimes in moments where I feel lost and need to improvise my way back to the path, and sometimes in moments of inspiration where I can see a new path that the show hasn’t tested out yet.
What advice would you give to aspiring physical theatre performers?
I’d say you’re in the right business. If you are aspiring to be a physical theatre performer then you aren’t going to be sitting by the phone waiting for your agent to call you about an audition, you’re going to be out there making things. Silly little things that make the world a more interesting place.
How do you balance humor and physicality in your acts?
It’s mostly just playfulness. Playfulness and listening. If you wiggle your body around (you can try this at home if you like), if you wiggle your body around in front of someone, or many ones, at some point they will laugh. Listen to that laugh, and keep wiggling. Chase the laugh with your wiggling. After a while you’ll have a show.
What’re you most looking forward to about visiting Aberdeen?
Performing. Honestly, I’m really looking forward to getting stuck into testing out this lovely new show I’ve made, fattening it up before the upcoming month in Edinburgh. And then after the show, I’m looking forward to seeing what Aberdeen has to offer. It will be my first time there, so any tips are welcome. See me after the show. 🙂
