A Conversation With Brett Haylock

Interview with a Creative Producer

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La Soirée Creative Director Brett Haylock | Image Taken by Myself

As announced in my earlier article, La Soirée has kicked off another season in Brisbane at the Queensland Performing Arts Centre (QPAC). This event shortly follows the show receiving a 2015 Olivier Award for Best Entertainment & Family Performance – even if it isn’t a show you should necessarily bring younger family members to. Set to celebrate the show’s 10th Anniversary, this three week run at QPAC is sets out to feature both new and crowd-favourite acts, delivering a cocktail of cabaret, burlesque, circus sideshow and contemporary variety to all whom attend.

Prior to the show’s first session at QPAC on Thursday evening, I managed to get a few minutes to speak with La Soirée’s creative producer Brett Haylock, and ask him a few questions about the show in its successful ten year run. My brief Q&A with Haylock can be found below:


First of all, in your opinion, what do you think gives La Soirée an edge in comparison to other circus performances?

It has, at its core a really cheeky, irreverent nature. That was always the case, and I guess we were the first show to kind of bring this spirit. From day one, we have never been a show that was suitable for families. Humour is very, very important to the show, and its got a great kind of, almost larrikin sense of humour threaded through it.

What is the process you go through to determine what acts go into a show?

Wherever we are, we’re looking for guest artists. And so in our travels all around the world, we are always looking for guest artists, and always keep our eyes and ears open looking for new talent. That’s a constant process. Something happens, it is now after all these years, it is quite instinctive. It’s just something magical, kind of happens on stage. Really importantly as well, it has to be acknowledged that we’ve been touring for ten years now, so that magical thing has to happen on stage and there also has to been something quite magical that happens off-stage. We would have never survived these ten years touring as a dysfunctional family, and if there wasn’t a natural kind of click that happened among the company members back stage.

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Hamish McCann Performing Pole Routine – one of the acts chosen for La Soiree’s 2015 Brisbane Season | Image Taken by Myself

From your time touring other states in recent months, what has the overall reception been like in your opinion?

The show internationally is not presented as an Australian show. It was co-created by two Australian’s, so it has by default a kind of Australian irreverence and sense of humour, and so its a natural fit for Australia. So we love being here, we don’t spend as much time in Australia as we would like because of international touring commitments. The bar is important part of the equation, and it is no secret that Australian’s love to have a drink. So regardless of where we are playing in Australia, Australian audiences are up there with the best in the world.

Because you have had so many acts over the years, and added new performances for this show, what advice would you give to someone to someone looking to potentially have their act on La Soirée?

Primarily for us, we’re looking for a connection with the audience, I guess that’s one of our signatures. We’re looking for that unbroken with an audience, where it can be quite flirtatious or whatever. But, that’s really, really important. You’ll find many of the acts  that I would choose for La Soiree is where the skills almost become secondary, where character and developing this character is first and foremost. Then on top of that are these world class skills. But they’re never played with a *clap* *clap* tah-dah! That is really important to us.

Where do you see yourself in another ten years with this show?

That is the million dollar question, I have no idea. If you asked us that ten years ago, we could have never, ever imagined that we would be still be touring and have a number of awards under our belt. But I really don’t know. Whilst its still fun and whilst there’s still a demand for the show – and the demand as strong as ever for the show internationally – we’re going to continue on this roller-coaster ride.


I would just like to pass on my thanks to Brett Haylock for taking some time out of his busy schedule to speak with me regarding La Soirée, as well as the QPAC Publicity team for helping organize it.

La Soirée is being held at the Queensland Performing Arts Centre (QPAC) from now until May 24th, with sessions being held Tuesday-Sunday each week. Tickets can be purchased via the QPAC website or through their box office.

Sam
Sam
Founder of The Otaku's Study. I have been exploring this labyrinth of fandom these last fifteen years, and still nowhere close to the exit yet. Probably searching for a long time to come.

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