Interview: Charles Sanders' evolving exhibit

2011 has been a busy year for AC Arts trained actor and performer Charles Sanders. He made an impressive cabaret debut with his show A Modest Exhibit at 2011 Adelaide Fringe Festival that he wrote, and launched his theatre company Early Worx.  He is now about to bring the revamped version of the show back again at 2011 Cabaret Fringe Festival.  As his opening night approaches tonight, the bright young star talked to Cabaret Confessional to go deep inside his show, his dreams and the future.

How would you describe your show?

A nostalgic reflection on idolisation and identity. A show about being yourself, about being inspired by other people and how to be yourself when the world is saturated by influences.

How did you come up with the concept of your show?

It was a long process – it came from talking to my friend Loki Rickus about doing a roman-à-clef (novel that depicts real people and events under the guise of fiction) show about our relationship back in 2009. We got busy and the show never happened, but the concept stuck with me.

I wanted to do a show about search for identity – how do we present ourselves to the world? With our physical identity, we all idolise someone from somewhere, and in my case, they are usually musicians or performers, like Freddie Mercury, Paul Capsis and Julie Andrews, so it was a great concept for the show.

You debuted this show at 2011 Adelaide Fringe Festival. In what ways has the show evolved since then?

It was an interesting process to reassess the show after the Adelaide Fringe season. This time I own the show a lot more. It’s the same structurally, but the way I approach the show is different. I’m living inside the character’s soul more. The show has been stripped back – it’s simpler and because of it, it brings the show much closer to people.

What were some of the challenges, and what makes it all worthwhile?

The challenging part was really going back to basics, and getting rid of all the superfluous songs, dialogue, movement etc. which was beautiful but didn’t move the story along. I think whittling it down to the purest simple form of the show has been the hardest thing, but I think the most rewarding thing is when the show falls in to place because of this, and I can see it as a complete, simple and formed entity. I suppose it’s my baby, so seeing it grow up and become a whole ‘person’ - to extend the metaphor - is what’s most rewarding for me. Plus, I love it when I see an audience member smiling, or crying, or so enthralled by what they’re seeing - I know I’ve given something of myself to them and they’ve received it and appreciated it.

Where does the title come from?

The title comes from “Lions and Shadows” by Christopher Isherwood. In the book, there’s a quote “My modest exhibit in the vast freak museum of our neurotic generation”. I initially wanted to use the whole sentence but it was too long. I thought the phrase “modest exhibit” has elements of what the show is about…a presentation of something quite simple; basic human interactions.

How did you come to embrace cabaret as an art form?

I first discovered cabaret, I suppose, through Musical Theatre and the musical ‘Cabaret’ and have always been interested in it in some way. I came to really love the art form by seeing some wonderful shows like ‘A Company of Strangers’ and ‘Boulevard Delirium’. 

Who would you choose to collaborate with, if you could pick anyone?

I’d love to collaborate with Paul Capsis. And if he were still alive, Freddie Mercury!

What are some of your future plans?

New ideas are always bubbling inside my head. I can’t help it. My next cabaret show will have no musical theatre songs. It’ll have songs by artists like Paul Capsis, Nick Cave, Lady Carol and Queen.  Keep producing theatre shows that people can have good discussions about. And I’ve got my sights set on Broadway.  That’s where I want to be.

A Modest Exhibit opens tonight (show dates are 17, 18, 19, 23, 24, 25 June) at Higher Ground 9, Light Square. 

 Book your tickets here or call Bass on 131 246.

Lena Nobuhara

Associate Editor, Cabaret Confessional

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