 It’s the unique buzz of unpredictability provided by street theatre that enticed Bert into its netherworld.
Throughout his life stage performances had featured sporadically: schooldays cringefests led on to Christmas reviews (sketches, songs and send-ups of senior staff) at the hospital where he worked as a medical photographer. In the mid-90s an involvement with the theatrical element of Bruce Lacey’s summer solstice parties resulted in an invitation to join Norwich’s Crude Apache theatre company. Occasional acting and singing roles were interwoven with the serious business of cultivating the reputation of Party Animal Extraordinaire and his role of company photographer naturally led to director of photography and editor for Crude Apache’s first foray into film, “Revenge of the Supermarket Trolleys”.
Having briefly fronted Stetson Drugs – a comedy country band – at the turn of the century, Bert came to the belated conclusion that performance is a mutually rewarding way to spend time on this weird planet we call home, and should perhaps replace a more mundane method of earning a crust. It was longtime friend Nick Warburton who suggested that focusing on street theatre might be the way forward and so it was in late 2003 that they joined forces and Stuff and Things was created.
Futter’s Child, Bert’s first professional comic creation made its debut in April 2004 in the streets of Norwich as part of the Norfolk & Norwich Festival to a bemused and amused reception. A very successful first season followed with appearances at various events and festivals across England to a universally tickled response. This walkabout is now firmly established as one of the most rib-tickling on the circuit. Antidote to Life is the first collaboration between Bert and Nick, exploring the bizarre character further.
As well as performing, Bert is an acclaimed photographer (professional for 20 years) and was on official duty covering the 2003 Norfolk & Norwich street performers, little knowing that the following year he would be one of them. He is currently exploring the idea of setting up a website to allow fellow performers to download photos he’s taken at street events for their own publicity. Watch this space…
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