09 September 2017

How to Fringe 2017: Hannah Camilleri

Hannah Camilleri
Writer, performer


Vision Statement
15–19 & 24 September
Club Voltaire


Hannah Camilleri. Photo by Pat Mooney. Design by Bonnie Mooney

If you could invite anyone to your show (and you knew they would come), who would it be?
Danny Kaye from The Court Jester, but not from his other films; I haven’t seen the others. His humour has transcended time so I’m really curious to see if he would enjoy the humour inspired by his own work. Give me Bette Midler, Glenn Close, Angelica Houston and all the other witched who had starred in films. Give me everyone who is interested in watching be silly and enjoying it. When are we silly and not enjoying ourselves? Come for the fun and stay for the Q&A.

The Melbourne Fringe in three words.
Hey Hey Yeah!

A favourite Melbourne Fringe memory.
My current director, Tom Halls, emerging from underneath a performer’s long white train and dancing passionately, and via tight choreography, to Madonna’s "Frozen" in The Festival Hub. I knew then that Tom was the epitome of Fringe and that he had to direct my show. So, he directs and performs. We get it. He’s in a show called How To Kill The Queen of Pop and he’s going to blow your head off.

Your experience as an independent artist being part of the Melbourne Fringe?
It feels quite magical to be on the inside. As the audience we see the festival approaching and book tickets, but on the inside something builds and everyone’s bursting to share what they’ve been working on for months prior.

What makes the Melbourne Fringe unique?
The hub being in North Melbourne makes for a different atmosphere to that of CBD-based festivals like MIFF or MICF. I see it really as a westie festivals. West fest best yes-t please.

Your advice for choosing what to see in the Melbourne Fringe.
Okay! Go through the program and circle what you’re interested in, even if it’s a hunch, then choose your strongest, dirtiest hunch, choose a time to see it and start to add other shows either side of it. You want a few in a row so you’re not basing your whole experience of Fringe on one show. Soak up the atmosphere of moving from show to show in one day/evening. I wanna see lists and hear, ‘Do we have enough time to get to that venue?’.

Do you think there’s a better system than star ratings for reviews?
I’d like to see established artists and shows giving a stamp of approval to other established or budding artists and shows, this way we’d know if we would potentially like it because other performers like we have given their stamp of approval. Does that make sense? Call me, but I’ll be pretty busy preparing a show for Melbourne Fringe 2017.

Five shows/events you will not miss at the 2017 Melbourne Fringe.
How To Kill The Queen Of Pop
Josh Glanc: Karma Karma Karma Karma Karma Chamedian
Chilton-Chalmers: Night Out in Melbourne
TESTOSTalone by Liam O'Kane
Let’s get Practical! Live. Presented by The Very Good Looking Initiative