The Surprise Party cast, from left: Chloe Thomsen, Brayden Creswell, Ben Porter, Stephen Papps, Alison Quigan, Shauntelle Jones. (Photo: Matthew Diesch)<\/p>\n
What bothers you most about the world right now?<\/p>\n
Where do I start? Europe is burning, America\u2019s gone crazy and people are yelling at each other here. As a playwright who says he\u2019s interested in bringing different people together, I\u2019ve certainly got my work cut out.<\/p>\n
What sort of people do you avoid?<\/p>\n
I try not to avoid anyone. As a playwright, even the most insufferable person can make a great character in a play. It\u2019s actually nice, reasonable, considerate people who aren\u2019t much use. I sometimes find myself talking to people thinking, \u201cmy God this person is insufferable, but I can\u2019t wait to put them in a play\u201d.<\/p>\n
What makes you want to get up in the morning?<\/p>\n
Coffee, morning paper, writing \u2013 usually in that order. After the recent opening night in Wellington of my play Local Library, I got up early the next morning and started work on the next one. That\u2019s never ever happened before but hopefully is a good sign that I\u2019m not quite past it yet.<\/p>\n
How do you hold onto hope in these crazy times?<\/p>\n
A politician once said to me, \u201cjust as I\u2019m really hating this country, something wonderful happens. Half of a town forms a human chain around a public hospital or something\u2026\u201d While I\u2019m often dismayed by what goes on, I\u2019m also impressed by ordinary people who are just living their lives and sometimes doing amazing things. And kids always give me hope. Despite the best efforts to make them conform and be boring, many have a fierce spirt of independence.<\/p>\n
What is the single best quality a human can have?<\/p>\n
It\u2019s a tie between tolerance and a wicked sense of humour.<\/p>\n
What\u2019s over-rated?<\/p>\n
The latest thing. Beware of fashion. I love the diversity and the different forms of contemporary theatre that are emerging, but we should break rules to make things more interesting, not for the sake of it. Hopefully there\u2019s still a place for well-made plays and good old-fashioned political satire.<\/p>\n
What\u2019s under-rated?<\/p>\n
The incredible taonga that is the people of New Zealand. As a writer, I\u2019m never short of interesting people to talk to, amazing stories to hear, fantastically interesting places to visit. A bus stop in my suburb is actually an amphitheatre full of the most amazing people and conversations. There was a time when creatives in New Zealand would nip off to England to \u201cmake it\u201d. I feel that era has well and truly passed.<\/p>\n
If you could have a do-over, what would you change?<\/p>\n
I\u2019ve had the same haircut for over two decades, my wife buys all my clothes except my soccer boots, so if someone offered me a full make-over I\u2019d say, \u201cjust a trim, please\u201d. I have no regrets although I wish I\u2019d started learning foreign languages earlier, learned Te Reo at school, and not misbehaved so much during third form French.<\/p>\n
What brings you joy?<\/p>\n
Music. Great literature. The little guy winning. Dogs. Family. Kids who haven\u2019t been cowed by authority and are allowed to be original. My wife has a great saying about what makes great theatre \u2013 \u201cbeauty and joy\u201d.<\/p>\n
What\u2019s the best advice you\u2019ve ever been given?<\/p>\n
An American screenwriter whose name I forget once said \u201cthere is nothing more useless than an unfinished script\u201d. Finish the bloody thing. The other advice which I pass onto students when writing first drafts is \u201cfast and bad\u201d. After a while it turns into fast and good.<\/p>\n
What advice do you wish you\u2019d never followed?<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019ll be a boring function but useful for networking.\u201d \u201cThis is must-see theatre.\u201d \u201cReportage is the enemy of drama.\u201d<\/p>\n
Tell us about a controversial opinion you hold.<\/p>\n
I strongly support housing intensification but I also love old buidings. YIMBYs call me a NIMBY and NIMBYs call me a YIMBY. The obvious answer is for me to be the only person in the country who is allowed to decide whether a building has heritage value or not.<\/p>\n
When you\u2019re feeling low, what helps?<\/p>\n
When our beloved 17-year-old fox terrier Jolene finally went to sleep we went for a long drive around Wellington\u2019s beautiful southern coast. When I play soccer I never think about work or any problems. I\u2019m too busy regaining my breath and yelling at younger, fitter players with more talent to get into position. A mountain bike ride in native bush with my brothers does wonders for the soul.<\/p>\n
In what ways is public-facing Dave Armstrong different to private Dave Armstrong?<\/p>\n
His public views are a little sanitised. The private Dave Armstrong can be way ruder, grumpier, nastier, outrageous and defamatory. I think he likes writing plays because he can say things through his characters that he\u2019s way too polite (and scared) to say in public.<\/p>\n
Give us some life advice<\/p>\n
Don\u2019t study something because someone says it\u2019s \u201cuseful\u201d, follow your interest. If you treat writing as a job not a love one day it might become a job you love. If your parents speak a language that is not English, don\u2019t be ashamed. Learn it, become fluent, it will help you greatly one day. Don\u2019t take yourself too seriously.<\/p>\n