Hometown: Melbourne, Australia
Education: Bachelor Degrees in Arts & Mechanical Engineer, Masters in Creative Writing
Tell us about ‘Mining’ My Own Business?: It's a one man show based around my experiences on a mining site in Australia. It's funny first, insightful second, and you don't need any previous knowledge of mining or Australia.
What inspired you to create ‘Mining’ My Own Business?: Working on a mining site in Australia for six months to pay off some art incurred debts, I realised that it was a truly and surreal and often hilarious place, as well as being an important moment in Australian history that nobody else was discussing.
Tell us about 2014 - When We Were Idiots?: It's a comedy walking tour including local history, thinking about the future and yelling at strangers, led by a penguin with a megaphone. I don't think any further explanation is necessary, do you?
What inspired you to create 2014 - When We Were Idiots?: After going on a few walking tours, I thought how good would it be if this thing included some jokes?
After going to the zoo, I realised that penguins can't fly, but they can walk and are awesome.
By setting the walking tour in the future, everyone on the tour has permission to laugh at themselves.
Then after yelling at strangers, I realised that become far more fun if I had a megaphone and was dressed as a penguin.
Please note: I don't yell at anyone who's already on the tour. They were intelligent enough to buy tickets so are not picked on at all.
What kind of theater speaks to you? What or who inspires you as an artist?: I think that the role of humour is often underrated, if somebody makes you laugh, you'll definitely listen to the next thing they say. Still, I do adore serious pieces as well.
If you could work with anyone you’ve yet to work with, who would it be?: A wealthy producer.
What show have you recommended to your friends?: They're all in Australia, so I've just recommended New York in general. So far, zero takers.
Who would play you in a movie about yourself and what would it be called?: "Point Break" era Keanu Reeves and it'd be called, "Point Break"
What’s your biggest guilty pleasure?: Puns.
What’s the most played song on your iTunes?: "Nail it Down" by The Drones
If you weren’t working in theater, you would be _____?: Wealthy and extremely depressed
What’s up next?: Working on my second book, a sequel to 'Mining My Business' - the non-fiction comedy memoir on which this show is based.
For more on Xavier, visit http://www.xaviertoby.com/
