Alex Ellis talks about the latest comedy from Flaxworks, Carol & Nev, and the challenges and rewards of running a theatre company.

Ellis says the characters Carol and Nev came to life while touring Murder by Chocolate in 2007 with Flaxworks co-founder and writer Phil Ormsby.

Alex Ellis talks about the latest comedy from Flaxworks, Carol & Nev, and the challenges and rewards of running a theatre company.

Ellis says the characters Carol and Nev came to life while touring Murder by Chocolate in 2007 with Flaxworks co-founder and writer Phil Ormsby.

“We just started pretending to be these characters Carol & Nev while driving from town to town and it just developed from there,” says Ellis.

During what hours of the day do you feel most inspired?
From about 10pm or just before a meal when I’m trying to decide what to eat.

How would a good friend describe your aesthetic or style?
Classic with a touch of crazy.

What aspect of your creative practice gives you the biggest thrill?
All of it! Performing, organising the tours, travelling to a new place to perform…oh alright, performing!

How does your environment affect your work?
I’m distracted quite easily, so being somewhere familiar is good, so there is nothing new to explore! And I need it to be quiet although a song break is always good to re-inspire me.

Do you like to look at the big picture or focus on the details?
I know you should do both but I’m definitely a details person.

What's your number one business tip for surviving (and thriving) in the creative industries?
Just keep going and work hard.

Which of your projects to date has given you the most satisfaction?
It would have to be Biscuit & Coffee, there were just so many firsts, nothing else can really compete. It was my first solo show, Flaxworks first tour, first time (and hopefully the last) performing in Gore to 8 people when it snowed in April.

Who or what has inspired you recently?
Anna Marbrook. She is directing Carol & Nev and is amazing.

When was Flaxworks theatre company set up and why?
Flaxworks was set up in 2005 to produce and tour Biscuit & Coffee.

Who wrote the latest show, Carol & Nev, and how long has it been in the making?
Phil Ormsby wrote Carol & Nev and has also written our other shows Murder by Chocolate and Biscuit & Coffee and is the other half of Flaxworks. The idea for Carol & Nev came while we were touring Murder by Chocolate in 2007, we just started pretending to be these characters Carol & Nev while driving from town to town and it just developed from there. Although they have changed a bit since then!

What have been the challenges and rewards of running your own theatre company and writing original shows?
Challenges, are that everything falls on you which I guess is what everyone gets when they own their own business but it then makes it quite hard to let go when you need to collaborate, which is such an important part of theatre. Rewards are too many to name, creating and performing your own work is such a thrill!

What is Carol & Nev about?
Carol & Nev is a roadtrip (something we know a lot about after all the touring) Carol & Nev are driving down to their daughters wedding at the bay. Only catch is Carol died in 1984. So it’s basically about Nev trying to deal with Carol reappearing, is she a ghost? Is he having a nervous breakdown? It’s about memories and what can happen in 25 years, to you and the world. It’s about getting out and doing something! Oh… And it’s a comedy.

Who else are you working with?
Flaxworks is usually just Phil and I but this time we have Anna Marbrook directing, Kasia Pol designing, Nik Janiurek doing the lighting design, all the people at the EDGE and the STAMP programme and early on we had workshopping and dramaturg assistance from Conrad Newport, so it’s been a real collaboration.

Where is it playing and what are your plans for the show, and Flaxworks, in the future?
Carol & Nev plays at The Basement in Auckland from Monday 15 – Saturday 20 June at 8pm. There is always a plan to tour but that won’t be until next year for Carol & Nev, (we learnt pretty quickly that touring in the middle of winter is not so much fun) but we are performing Murder by Chocolate and Biscuit & Coffee again this year, which will be great fun. And then the plan for Flaxworks is just to get bigger and better and perform in more places here and overseas.

What are the strengths and challenges of the theatre industry in NZ?
I think the positive and negative stem from the same thing, being small, it’s easy to tour, people know you and you know them and everyone is really supportive but maybe being small can be a hindrance too, not so many opportunities and you can be boxed in quite easily.

If you could go back and choose a completely different career path to the one you've chosen, what would it be?
There were many many ideas but I’ve never seriously considered another career path.

What place is always with you, wherever you go?
My Nana’s kitchen, making biscuits with her when I was little.

What's the best way to listen to music, and why?
Loud and in your lounge, so you can dance and sing at the top of your lungs.

You are given a piece of string, a stick and some fabric. What do you make?
A lamp.

What's the best stress relief advice you've ever been given?
Just do it and then you won’t have to think about it anymore!

What's great about today?
It’s a brand new day, who knows what exciting things will happen

What’s your big idea for 2009?
My dream is New York for Christmas and New Year!