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Jeremy Elwood’s role as a NZ comedian coping with international stardom in the play Success might sound like art imitating life.

Despite Jeremy’s public profile in the NZ comedy scene and TV comedy show 7Days, he humbly describes it as ‘a small amount of success’. But he does acknowledge truths in the play’s themes of jealousy, resentment and artistic differences.

“I think you have to have a level of inherent competitiveness to perform or create for a living, and you will always compare yourself to your peers on several levels, so whilst this is totally fictional, there’s a large dollop of, possibly ugly, truth to it.”

He may be less well known for his acting, but as Jeremy tells us in this QnA, he’s had a passion for theatre since the early days of school plays, followed by university theatre studies and plenty of forays into professional theatre.

During what hours of the day do you feel most inspired?

Mainly in the evening. I’ve worked nights ever since I can remember, first in hospitality and then in theatres and comedy clubs. I write most of my stand-up comedy “on the fly” – either just before gigs, or onstage during them, so that’s my most productive period.  

How would a good friend describe your aesthetic or style?

I had one recently call me opinionated, observant and intelligent. I’ll take that!  

What aspect of your creative practice gives you the biggest thrill?

Sneaking in big ideas under the audience’s guard. Laughter is a great leveller; it can get people thinking about bigger concepts than the joke is ostensibly about more powerfully than a soapbox diatribe can – if they’re laughing at something they may not realise they’re thinking about it until later.

How does your environment affect your work?

I work mainly from current events, so local news, issues and attitudes can have a big influence. I travel a lot, which allows me to compare different cultures and countries, which I hope gives me a more nuanced view on certain aspect of our society.  

Do you like to look at the big picture or focus on the details?

I like to look at the details within the big picture. That’s where comedy comes from, for me. For example, instead of just railing against, say, racism, I like to ask “what are the small details that inform exactly how stupid that kind of bigotry is?”

What's your number one business tip for surviving (and thriving) in the creative industries?

Enjoy the creativity, but remember, it’s only about half of what you do. The rest is a job, like any other. Keep track of the paperwork, and look at the rough patches as nothing more than a bad day at the office.  

Which of your projects to date has given you the most satisfaction?

The last play I was in, The Slapdash Assassin (Court Theatre, then The Basement) was pretty special, and one or two of my Comedy Festival shows over the years have come close to what I’d like to achieve – close, but I’m still aiming higher.  

Who or what has inspired you recently?

Opening for Doug Stanhope in Auckland last year was a great validation. Also, my wife Michele publishing her first book Stuff I Forgot To Tell My Daughter reminds me that hard work pays off.

Tell us a bit about your creative background.

I’ve always has some kind of creative output, starting with music (I played violin from a very young age, then saxophone and guitar later). As the years passed I got involved in school plays, then “proper” theatre, improv, and finally, stand up comedy. So I always knew I’d end up doing some mix of all of those for the rest of my life.  

Tell us about your training and experience as a stage actor.

I have a degree in Theatre Studies from Otago University, which is a fantastic course covering practical experience in several disciplines. While I was still in Dunedin I had my first forays into professional theatre, with the Fortune Theatre (Much Ado About Nothing, Auntie and Me), WOW productions (Arcadia) and Les Enfants Productions (lead roles in Hamlet and Waiting For Godot). In recent years I’ve done the aforementioned The Slapdash Assassin and now Success.

Tell us about Success, how you got involved, and your character.

Stephen Sinclair sent me the script after seeing The Slapdash Assassin in 2014. I play Carl, a stand-up comedian who has gone from NZ to the bright lights of LA, but returns home under a cloud of controversy to hide out with Jules and Derek, two local stand-ups he started out with.

How does your character relate to the real world of comedians?

The play looks at issues of jealousy, resentment and artistic differences between three acts at different stages of their careers. That kind of thing does happen in comedy, as it does in any other creative art. I think you have to have a level of inherent competitiveness to perform or create for a living, and you will always compare yourself to your peers on several levels, so whilst this is totally fictional, there’s a large dollop of, possibly ugly, truth to it.

How have you handled success?

I’ve been very lucky, not just in being given some great opportunities, but in the way people around me have reacted to the small amount of success I’ve had. My friends and my audience have been supportive, but also pretty much left me alone to do what I do. I’m grateful, so on the rare occasions where people want something from me because of my so-called fame, I’m usually happy to oblige.  

What other projects are you working on?

7Days keeps rolling along, and I’ll be involved with that the rest of the year, hopefully! We’re hoping Success may have a longer life that just these two seasons, and apart from that I have my usual schedule of stand-up gigs both here and overseas.

If you could go back and choose a completely different career path to the one you've chosen, what would it be?

I’m not sure I chose this one! I did start a law degree, so that was (briefly) another option, but if I had complete control I’d run a beachside bar and moonlight as a dive instructor.

What place is always with you, wherever you go?

New Orleans. It has a way of life, and an embrace of life, that I’d love to be able to recreate. The music plays in my head constantly, and a good Bloody Mary always cheers me up.

What's the best way to listen to music, and why?

Live. For me, seeing music performed, the interplay between musicians or the focus of a solo act, is almost as fascinating as hearing the end result.

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

A new flag, so we can get this stupid debate out of the way once and for all.

What's the best stress relief advice you've ever been given?

Always plan something else to do after a stressful appointment. For example, if you have a big audition plan to meet a friend for coffee afterwards, so the audition isn’t the only thing happening in your day.

What’s great about today?

The suns out, and I go on holiday in exactly two weeks.

What’s your big idea for 2015?

I’m going to give turning 40 a go, see how that works out.

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SUCCESS – A new stage comedy by Stephen Sinclair (Ladies Night, The Bach, The Sex Fiend), starring Jeremy Elwood (7 Days, The Slapdash Assassin), Stephen Papps (Blowing It, Russian Snark) and John Glass (Agent Anna, Pitman Painters).

“… hilariously funny and very moving … all three actors (are) exceptional” Dominion Post.

Carl, Jules and Derek are stand up comedians. Starting out in Auckland, they shared dreams, ideas, and a flat, convinced they were changing the world with every laugh they could elicit.

And then Carl went and did something stupid.

He moved to America, and made it big.

Now, ten years later, he’s back; and this time it’s because he’s possibly done something even more unforgivable. 

Under siege from the media, these three men will have to confront their pasts, their resentments, their friendship (or what’s left of it), and the ramifications of success.

This new play by one of New Zealand’s leading playwrights explores themes of betrayal, plagiarism, the tall-poppy syndrome, and the price of fame. A mix of drama, standup comedy and theatrical commentary, Success takes an all-too-believable premise and turns it into a black comedy about jealousy, redemption and the fine line between genius and madness.

Following its world premiere season at BATS in Wellington, Success will have a short season at The Basement Theatre in Auckland from July 28th to August 7th.