How did Mantaur come together?
Harry [Milas] and I met at uni, and started doing Theatresports together in 2011. We gravitated towards each other because we were both newbies and we made each other laugh. After winning the Sydney University Theatresports comp in 2012 we thought we should have a crack at doing some comedy as a duo. As for what the name ‘Mantaur’ actually means, that’s a secret we’ll take to our graves. NB: it’s unrelated to the WWF wrestler from the ’90s.
You’ve each got differing backgrounds in performance – how well do the likes of magic and musical theatre go hand-in-hand?
Magic and music theatre go together remarkably well – for our purposes, at least. From the beginning Harry and I have been committed to using our disparate talents and interests to our advantage. We have put on shows where I sing and play a little boogie-woogie on the tuba, while Harry does a mindreading act and convinces the audience he’s piercing his own skin with a knitting needle. It’s a weird combo, but we love our separate skill sets, so it works.
Premium Fresh, your Sydney Comedy Festival show, is an improv-style piece. What should audiences expect, or is it completely unpredictable?
At the top of Premium Fresh we will very politely ask an audience member about their day, and then create an interpretation of the dream they’re going to have that night. It’s based on an old format from Chicago. We anticipate that it’s going to get very weird. There’s no logic like dream logic, after all.
What’s your number one tip for keeping things premium fresh in our everyday lives?
Fibre.
After Sydney Comedy Festival, you’ll represent Australia at the Theatresports World Cup. Do you feel the weight of the nation on your shoulders?
We do now. But really, the whole point of Theatresports is to be incredibly silly and to make people laugh – the World Cup is going to be a perfect excuse to have ridiculous fun onstage with some of the world’s best improvisers. Comedy will be the real winner on the day.
Premium Fresh,as part of Sydney Comedy Festival 2015, is on atEnmore TheatreWednesday April 22 – Saturday April 25.
