This is the final edition of a two-part interview with Australian comedian/song-writer/musician Tim Minchin. It follows on from the first part, which can be read here.
His recent tour saw him make the jump up to arenas, which he admitted is all a little strange.
"I don't quite think I'm big enough to deserve an orchestra," Tim humbly admits.
The tour came from Minchin writing for an orchestral tour in Australia, alongside writing Matilda, and having no time to write a third show for a UK run.
He was eventually joined by the Heritage Orchestra, a collective that Minchin has many kind words for, describing them as "just the most incredible bunch of young people."
As always, the tour blurred the lines between genres and career-paths - Minchin explained that the orchestra's mentality was "more like a massive band."
He elaborates: "They go out and get p*****, they tour on a bus and they don't get paid very well," adding that they still "had a cracking time."
Despite being written with the intention of filling arenas, the tour's performance at the Royal Albert Hall was filmed for Tim's upcoming DVD.
He admits that he finds it difficult to become enthused about comedy DVDs, although not because he thinks there's anything wrong with them.
"They're a souvenir of a live show," Tim says, "They can't be the live show, and comedy is all about being in the room and in the moment."
Ever committed, Tim's still convinced they have made a quality DVD, one that sounds just as good as any concert release.
He lays to rest any fears that the orchestra may have taken away his humour: "There's always stupidity on top - it's fun, I'm proud of it. I can't watch it myself, but that's because I can't stand watching myself."
Many around the world clearly do enjoy watching Tim Minchin, regardless of the sometimes-risky content of his lyrics.
"There's lots of things that I wouldn't talk about," Tim admits, "but I wouldn't not talk about them because anyone else things they're too far."
Explaining that he has no taboos, because comedy is - by definition - about talking about things we're told we can't discuss.
He adds that whilst he wouldn't fundamentally not talk about anything, he has to find a balance between humour and ethics.
"Rape jokes being the ultimate," he explains. "If you make a joke about it, and people laugh, you feel like the king of the world, because you're making people laugh at the un-laughable."
Has he come up with any jokes of that nature? "I've got a couple of corking, cracking rape jokes, I think, but they don't suit me."
He ponders: "Even though I could come out and joke about rape, I would have to think about what I'm trying to say. If anything, I think I could make a joke that comedians are obsessed with making rape jokes. That might be worth commenting on."
Keen not to sound conceited, Tim still thinks his shows boil down to one thing: "My shows are basically about ethics."
Speaking about his song 'Confessions', he explains: "Even if I sing "F*** I love boobs though", that's about the fact that we can thing about the environment, poverty and feminism, intellectually, but on some deep level we're more driven by primal things."
This deeper meaning is someting Tim strives to include in his comedy, and 'Confessions' is a good example of his lyrical depth.
He continues: "That is a battle, daily, for people who care about acting morally - the fight you play out in your head between the fact that I'm intellectually a feminist, but I want to f*** chicks when I see them in short skirts or see their boobs."
A song of a similar nature is 'Ten Foot C*** And A Few Hundred Virgins', which comments on religion and philosophy, a whole verse dedicated to Payley's Watch.
However, Tim admits that he's stopped playing that song now: "It hassles people for being religious. What I try to do is hassle people for being religiously discriminatory."
He continues: "So, I hassle people for being homophobic and blaming God," although concedes that he "fell off the the wagon on that" by writing a song that makes fun of those who pray.
Tim was quick to defend the song in some way though: "I think there's something fundamentally wrong with thinking that there's a God who looks after you, but kills everyone else. There's something, if not immoral, then gross about it"
Always seeing both sides, he adds: "If you're a starving person is East Africa, then no-one would resent you your right to pray, but I just can't bare it when rich people thank God for their success. There's something just disgusting about it."
Looking to the future, Minchin seems to be consumed by live dates and seeing how Matilda performs.
"I'm trying to work out what my next big thing is. I'm probably writing another musical before I write another live show," he reveals.
Whilst a lot of people see him as new to the comedy game - something Minchin can admit to - he still wants to embrace his return home.
"I'd like to consolidate this lovely move back to theatre. There's some opportunities to maybe write a musical film. I just want to put my roots down in this pure songwriter world, and take a little break."
As Matilda and his solo career have shown, there's more to Tim Minchin than many would give him credit for, although he's still humbled by his career.
He ponders: "I belong in a cover band in a pub in Australia. What the f*** is going on?"
Be sure to check out the first part of our interview.
Tim Minchin And The Heritage Orchestra will be released on DVD and blue-ray 14th November. It can be pre-ordered at amazon.co.uk.
Female First - Alistair McGeorge (Follow me on Twitter: @AlistairMcG)
This is the final edition of a two-part interview with Australian comedian/song-writer/musician Tim Minchin. It follows on from the first part, which can be read here.
His recent tour saw him make the jump up to arenas, which he admitted is all a little strange.
"I don't quite think I'm big enough to deserve an orchestra," Tim humbly admits.
The tour came from Minchin writing for an orchestral tour in Australia, alongside writing Matilda, and having no time to write a third show for a UK run.
He was eventually joined by the Heritage Orchestra, a collective that Minchin has many kind words for, describing them as "just the most incredible bunch of young people."
As always, the tour blurred the lines between genres and career-paths - Minchin explained that the orchestra's mentality was "more like a massive band."
He elaborates: "They go out and get p*****, they tour on a bus and they don't get paid very well," adding that they still "had a cracking time."
Despite being written with the intention of filling arenas, the tour's performance at the Royal Albert Hall was filmed for Tim's upcoming DVD.
He admits that he finds it difficult to become enthused about comedy DVDs, although not because he thinks there's anything wrong with them.
"They're a souvenir of a live show," Tim says, "They can't be the live show, and comedy is all about being in the room and in the moment."
Ever committed, Tim's still convinced they have made a quality DVD, one that sounds just as good as any concert release.
He lays to rest any fears that the orchestra may have taken away his humour: "There's always stupidity on top - it's fun, I'm proud of it. I can't watch it myself, but that's because I can't stand watching myself."
Many around the world clearly do enjoy watching Tim Minchin, regardless of the sometimes-risky content of his lyrics.
"There's lots of things that I wouldn't talk about," Tim admits, "but I wouldn't not talk about them because anyone else things they're too far."
Explaining that he has no taboos, because comedy is - by definition - about talking about things we're told we can't discuss.
He adds that whilst he wouldn't fundamentally not talk about anything, he has to find a balance between humour and ethics.
"Rape jokes being the ultimate," he explains. "If you make a joke about it, and people laugh, you feel like the king of the world, because you're making people laugh at the un-laughable."
Has he come up with any jokes of that nature? "I've got a couple of corking, cracking rape jokes, I think, but they don't suit me."
He ponders: "Even though I could come out and joke about rape, I would have to think about what I'm trying to say. If anything, I think I could make a joke that comedians are obsessed with making rape jokes. That might be worth commenting on."
Keen not to sound conceited, Tim still thinks his shows boil down to one thing: "My shows are basically about ethics."
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