Steven Bishop, performer
by Nathalie Latham Courtesy of the artist

Interview with Steven Bishop

What does it mean to you as a performer to be working beyond Australian shores?
As a performance artist you need an audience. Working in Australia as a creative person it was always about creating work for a somewhat limited audience that existed in either theatres, clubs or corporate venues. This skews what you do and how you do it. Most of your energy is spent just finding an audience, getting the gig. In Paris I created more freely. In 'Varekai' on tour with Cirque du Soleil I know the audience will be about 2,600 people, once or twice every night. Now I can concentrate on the art of making people laugh.

Will you return to live in Australia?
For my family and I, Marcoola Beach on the Sunshine Coast in Queensland, is our spiritual resting place. We will always return to the beach to reconnect with nature and recharge our batteries when we get the chance. Whether we find ourselves living back in Australia, I cannot say.