Fringe Fever: Miranda Hill in Moving Scores (Melbourne Fringe)

Miranda Hill is part of performing collective called 3 Shades Black. They describe themselves as classical musicians who don’t blend in. She says their friends call them 3 Shades. Working with local filmmakers and original scores, Moving Scores is one for one night at the Northcote Town Hall. We catch up with this talented musician to ask her our 20 (ish) questions about the Melbourne Fringe (and coffee).

Show Info:

What’s your show called?
Moving Scores When is it on?
Saturday, 1 October, 2011
Where is it on?  
Northcote Town Hall How do you get there by public transport?
86 Tram, 567 Bus, 5-6 minute walk from Northcote and Merri stations on the Epping Line, and a 6-8 minute walk from Westgarth Train Station, on the Hurstbridge Line. Is there parking?
Street parking only
What time does it start?
7.30pm
How much are tickets?
$15 / $10 Are tickets available at the door?
Yes.
For more information, visit the Melbourne Fringe Festival Website

A Quick Chat With Miranda Hill…

What three words best describe your Fringe show?Music, Film, Experimental.
Who does your show speak to?Anyone who’s curious about experimental music. Our mission statement is to make new art accessible, transparent and fun to a new audience. Also, people who already love graphic scores will find this new take on them really intriguing! I know we all do.
What other Fringe show will you NOT miss?I’m looking forward to Syzygy ensemble, and Sara Curro’s Volume 3. New classical music doesn’t get as much air time as it deserves and all these shows are very exciting, and being performed by amazing musicians. I’m also looking forward to taking my nephews to kids shows, and of course, turning up on the night and seeing whatever show is on. That’s the best part.
What other Fringe show do you wish you were in?Crowd Play, I couldn’t make any rehearsals. Drat.
What do you love most about the Melbourne Fringe?The sheer variety of art on display. It’s a rare chance to peek into the underbelly of Melbourne’s art scene, and get to experience performances that normally you’d have to know someone who knew someoneto even hear about them.
How many Melbourne Fringes have you performed in?This is my first! If you could invite anyone to see your show (and you know they would come), who would it be?John Cage, or Nam June Paik, or, if we’re talking possible: Barre Phillips. I think he might actually be in Melbourne.
What is the best theatre advice you’ve received?The difference between an artist and someone who has great ideas, is simply that the artist carries their ideas to fruition. Take risks.
What was your most embarrassing moment on stage?I once fainted during an orchestra concert. My section prised me off my bass and carried me off stage, and the medical team on call took ages to arrive because they thought it was modern dance.
Do you have any pre- or post-show rituals?Ideally, peppermint tea and a banana. Calming.
What’s your favourite theatre superstition? Do you believe it?Classical music is sadly devoid of superstition.
What was the last book you read?Currently reading some of the Wizard of Oz books. They’re all annotated with tidbits about socialism and banking and Baum’s views on America. Fascinating!
What TV show do you never miss?We all get together to watch Dr Who. Every week!
What film will you watch again and again?Life of Brian, it’s a Christmas Tradition.
Who will hate your Fringe show?My sister’s parents in law. They’ve already offered to baby sit to avoid coming.
What show changed how you see theatre? Why?The Elephant Vanishes by the British theatre company Complicite and with Japan’s Setagaya Public Theatre. It’s based on the short stories by Murakami. I saw it in Michigan, and the mix of technology and storytelling was so overwhelmingly brilliant the entire audience forgot to clap at the end. We all just sat there mesmerised for at least 30 seconds before breaking out into rapturous applause. It made me realise that no matter how slick your production is, the success of a show is all about the heart, and the story.
Also Stifters Dinge by Heiner Goebbels in the Melbourne Festival Last year. Such powerful storytelling that a stage full of machines and pianos held us all spellbound. Technology can also be amazingly beautiful.
What was your first time on stage?I’ve been on stage my whole life. There’s a photo of me in nappies sitting on a stage with a maraca shaking it real good through an entire camp variety show. I refused to get off the stage. My mother then sent me to music lessons, I started violin at age 3.
What is the first theatre show you remember seeing?A stage production of The Hobyahs when I was about 6. I hadnightmares for years! So Scary.
If you had access to the TARDIS, what performance would you see first?The first performance of Stravinsky’s Rite of Spring. The story is that the music and ballet were so avant garde that the audience rioted. I would LOVE to see that.
What director/actor/writer would you just die to work with?Yoko Ono. Laurie Anderson.
What is your favourite theatre space in Melbourne?I love the Malthouse. There’s something amazingly intimate about thatspace, and it’s so versatile.
Where in Melbourne do you always take visitors?For a bike ride. Best way to see the city.
How do you have your coffee?Soy Chai Latte.
What’s the best pizza topping?Roast Pumpkin.
What do love most about your Fringe show?Seeing the beautiful scores that have been submitted.
Many by peopleI’ve never met who have been as inspired by the concept as I was. It’s truly inspirational and exciting for the future of new collaborative experimental art.

Read Anne-Marie’s review of Stiflers Dinge, one of Miranda’s favourite theatrical experiences  Photo by: Alison Bennet