Damien Warren-Smith is the creator of Garry Starr, the renowned classical actor. In his landmark show, Garry Starr Perfoms Everything, Starr delivers every style of theatre imaginable, thus saving the performing arts from extinction.
And now, for the first time in five years, Garry is bringing his original debut show back to the UK for a four-week run at Southwark Playhouse.
Nothing is sacred during this ‘masterclass in mockery’ (London Evening Standard). From Classical to Physical Theatre, Burlesque to Butoh, Melodrama to Mask, even Cirque Nouveau and contemporary ‘Euro Theatre’ get the Starr treatment.
Damien trained as an actor in Sydney, a clown in Paris and a mime in Berlin. ‘Garry Starr Performs Everything’ was nominated for both Best Newcomer & The Golden Gibbo at the Melbourne International Comedy Festival. He lives in Melbourne where he continues to write and perform and ride bicycles and read books and hang out wherever there are dogs.
Read our interview with Damien Warren-Smith below.
GARRY STARR PERFORMS EVERYTHING is at the Southwark Playhouse Borough from 29th November – 23rd December 2023. Information and tickets here.
Age Recommendation: 18+ - Content Warnings: Verbal Audience Interaction; Audience Participation Including Physical Contact With Audience Members (Entirely Optional); Full Frontal Nudity (you will see a lot more of Garry than you might expect).
What is the last thing you do before you go onstage (apart from check your flies and/or check your knickers aren't sticking out of your skirt and check for spinach between your teeth)
The last thing I do before I go on stage is remind myself to do this show for this audience. Every collective experience is unique and as a performing artist you must rediscover that relationship each night. Prior to this I thoroughly clean my bumhole with wet wipes as I get very naked and everyone sees my gooch.
What irritates you?
Nothing irritates me more than g-strings made of wool. I only made this mistake once but paid the price. Some synthetic thongs also irritate me so generally cotton is best. Having said that, its structure contains short fibres which expand and contract, causing a rubbing movement that can irritate a delicate perineum such as mine.
What is the most dangerous thing you have ever done?
That would be the wool g-string.
What is the most stupid thing you have ever done?
Again, wool g-string.
What has surprised you the most during your career in comedy?
Can I say wool g-string again? No? Ok. In that case, the thing that has surprised me the most is how quickly this became a career. I only planned to do a two week run of Garry Starr Performs Everything at Adelaide Fringe in 2018 because my mate was getting married nearby and I thought if I was flying all that way I could kill two birds with one stone. So I made a solo comedy show. Turns out comedy is incredibly easy and very lucrative. I don’t know if I’ll ever go back to law.
Interview continues here
