What do your parents think of your job?

They usually like what I do and if they don’t they’re fairly frank about it.

What’s the worst thing about your job?

There’s nothing terrible about it, but I suppose the routine is always changing. I’ll be in a show for 3 months working evenings and weekends and then just when I’m in the swing of that I have 2 months of writing where I work an almost opposite schedule. Then I’m back to the show schedule again. I love what I do but it’s not always an easy job to synchronise with your personal life!

I think you are very good at what you do (that’s why I’m asking these questions). What do you think of you?

Well thanks, that’s very kind of you to say. I think I’m ok, but there’s always more to learn, more experience to gain, a more nuanced understanding to reach, for me that’s what’s exciting about being an artist, you’re never at the end of your education.

How much do you earn and how much would you like to earn?

I’m lucky enough to earn a good income and I’m very happy with the money I make.

How important is luck in terms of career success – have you had lucky breaks?

Luck plays a part. It doesn’t matter how talented you are, if you don’t get the right opportunities or meet the right people you won’t get that far and lots of that comes down to luck. I’ve certainly been very lucky in my career… I was lucky to meet my collaborators at Mischief, lucky that The Play that Goes Wrong was spotted by our amazing theatre producers Kenny and Mark, I think we’re lucky as writers that audiences share our sense of humour. But by creating your own work you can take your career more into your own hands and reduce the importance of luck.

It has been said that performers fall into two categories - golfers and self-harmers. The former just get on with life, the latter are tortured artists. Which are you – or do you think you fit into third category?

I take work seriously, I find the set backs tough sometimes but I think you have to find a way of seeing the positive even in a negative situation, I’d go mad if I didn’t. For example when a TV commissioner passes on a script you’ve been working on for months instead of dwelling on the failure its always better to say: well, think how much time that project would have taken up and I’ve now got that time to try new things and explore newer and even better projects.

Who is your favourite person ever and why – not including family or friends or other performers?

There are so many but I really like Neil deGrasse Tyson. A truly brilliant communicator and an amazing thinker.

Do you keep your drawers tidy and if not why not? (please think long and hard about this question, it's to settle an argument with my girlfriend. The future of our relationship could depend on your response).

Yes I do keep them tidy and I believe it is important to do so for three reasons:

1. Practicality - so you can see what’s in them and access what you need.

2. Psychology - mess or clutter bothers me even if (and sometimes especially if) I can’t see it.

3. Morality -  a closed but messy drawer is only the facade of tidiness and is therefore the moral equivalent of a lie.

Picture: Pamela Raith Photography

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