Lachlan Werner – ‘Hilarious. extraordinary ventriloquist’ (Guardian) – invites you to roll up and step this way for a new show so strong, it’s dangerous. Jack Hammer is the strongest boy in the world. He can lift a ten-tonne truck and crush the strongest steel. Just don’t get too close. His management says you can look, but you can’t touch. Following his sell-out cult-hit horror debut, Voices Of Evil, Lachlan Werner welcomes you into a circus ring of stunts, sea-lions, sci-fi, secrets and minimal lip movement…
Would you mind giving us a brief insight into what your show/event/performance is?
It’s a ventriloquist clown theatrical comedy show. I guess genre-wise it’s a bit of an expressionist thriller fairytale? It’s my second solo hour. I’m going to be doing it every night at Pleasance Dome this August.
When touring my first show, I started dreaming about this shadowy neo-vaudellian circus somewhere in America, and (with co-writer Laurie Luxe) we kind of started from there writing this bizarre story.
In this show, I play Jack Hammer. He was born the strongest boy in the world, a miraculous affectation which has prohibited him from touching any other humans. He was raised in a circus by his father, and his only friend is a sea-lion. Over the course of an hour, he learns a lot about himself and the world he exists in… I think that’s all I can say.
Tell us about the creative team and the process involved?
It’s been so collaborative! I’ve been back working with my director/co-writer, Laurie Luxe (who I worked with on my first solo show, Voices Of Evil), and we began mapping out this insane story. I also worked with Patricia Langa and Ella the Great on chorero, movement direction and circus performance. The sound design is by Chuck SJ, and the puppets were created by the hilarious and brilliant Freddie Hayes. Paulina Lenoir (of Fools Moon and Puella Eterna) designed and created my costume with me. I’ve also had help from brilliant people, including Liv Ello, Rosie Yadid, Christian Brighty, Luke Rollason, loads of angels who’ve given sweet thoughts, eyes and time.
It’s been a much faster process than my first show, and I felt a lot more like making theatre. I feel like I’m pushing myself into very scary new territory and waiting to see if it pays off.
How does it feel coming to the Fringe?
It’s genuinely so exciting. And terrifying. The pressure is bigger this time, if I’m honest. I really hope people love this weird theatre show as much as I do, and I’m definitely suffering with second album terror. But overall excited. I missed the Fringe a lot being absent last year, and really just can’t wait to be around friends for a month.
With shows from all over the world at the Fringe, what sets yours apart?
I mean, in some ways, to the chagrin of my agents and everyone in my life, I’m definitely trying to do something impossible all the time now. This show is stupidly ambitious for a solo ventriloquist show. I play at least seven characters, and I do about nine voices. I think this is the only show at fringe where you’ll see one idiot do ventriloquism, puppetry, singing, dancing and circus tricks while trying to tell a massive queer story. I think. If there are others, I’d really love to see it and retire.
Is there anything specific you’re hoping the audience will take away?
Absolutely. Without wanting to spoil the show, I think it asks questions about who gets to decide who/what we are destined to be, and how we get to define ourselves and our identities.
I want people to leave feeling quite empowered vicariously from this journey and this stupid, gay, strong boy. It’s Twunk summer for all.
Your Ideal audience is in attendance, who’s watching? Or more importantly – who isn’t…?
I say this every year but honestly, noisy queers. Everyone is welcome, and I hope this show is something a bit transcendent for everyone, totally regardless of how you identify. But, yeah, I am funniest when the weirdos, clowns, girls, gays, goths, twinks, twunks, t-boys, dolls, etc are in the room. That’s a room I love to hear laughing. This show is for those who can’t be boxed and packaged neatly.
It’s an intense month, so where you’re able, how do you plan to relax, and are there any other shows you intend to see or want to recommend?
Ok, so the list this year is epic –
Julia Masli, Siblings, Cabbage the Clown, Ozzy Algar, Lorna Rose Treen, Sam Nicoresti, Soft Play, Trash Salad, Cameron Sinclair Harris, Luke Rollason, Kathy Maniura, Kate Owens, Joz Norris, Ada and Bron, Alice Cockayne.
I THINK that’s it.
In your ideal world, how can we improve the Fringe, performance, and the industry?
Get competitive people and creepy men out the way first I guess, start there? Then we can tackle some of these greedy companies who’ve really ruined the fringe for everyone.
Everyone, stop aiming for the same things. It’s shortsighted and won’t make you happy, AND feeds the money system. Always know what your own personal marks of success are and don’t look left and right (except to cheer on your friends!)
Everyone just be kind and very very supportive on the ground I think, lift eachother up. It’s Twunk summer for everyone. We are super strong together!
Lachlan Werner: WonderTwunk runs at Venue 23: 10 Dome at Pleasance Dome
Runs: July 30th – August 24th
Photo credit – David Pickens
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