Tim Fountain's latest play is The Rock at The Oval House
Biography
Tim’s writing credits include Resident Alien (Bush, New York Theatre Workshop, also BBC Radio 3), Sex Addict (Royal Court), Julie Burchill is Away, Hotboi and How To Lose Friends (Soho). TV includes Bob and Margaret (Channel Four) and The Significant Death Of Quentin Crisp (presenter, Channel Four). From 1997-2001 he was Literary Manager of the Bush Theatre and is currently Lecturer in Creative Writing at Strathclyde University. He recently published So you want to be a playwright?(Nick Hern). His personal journey up the highways and bi-ways of British sex, Rude Britannia, will be published by Weidenfeld and Nicolson on June 12.
What first attracted you to the theatre?
The prospect of limitless sex and drugs. Sadly the Bramham church players weren't like that but the vicar was very instructive…..
If you could pick any one person or theatre company to work with on your next project, who/which would it be?
I should imagine me and Peter Brook would get on famously. But if Pete wasn't up for it I'd like to work with one of the great European puppet theatres. I already have some experience in the field as I directed the West End production of Puppetry Of The Penis but I'd relish the opportunity to develop my techniques further.
What is your opinion of Off West End theatre, in general?
I'm not one to generalize but it seems to me to be in rude health. I am always amazed so many want to do so much for so little. They must love their art.
What was the most inspiring performance you have ever seen? Why?
Probably the one my boyfriend gives every night when he gets into bed with me and tells me I look hot. As someone once said – if you can fake sincerity you have got it made.
What piece of work are you the most proud of?
Sex Addict because it's the show where I met my boyfriend. It was in Glasgow at the Tron Theatre and the audience chose him to have sex with me over a mechanic called Jimmy from The Gorbals. It was the last performance of the show and I've been with him ever since. He says 'he cured me' of my sex addiction and I choose not to disabuse him of the idea.
What makes a really good character?
They are their own worst enemy.
Are there any actors/actresses you would like to write a play for?
I'd love to see Con O Neil in something else I wrote. He was terrific in my adaptation of Midnight Cowboy and he's good to have a drink with afterwards – very important in my book!
What play do you wish you’d written?
The Goat by Edward Albee. Apart from it being brilliantly written I just wish I'd had the idea of writing a play about a man who fell in love with a goat. I did recently meet such a man for my book though. He was arrested after having sex with a goat on the Paradise Allotments just outside Hull. When he appeared in court he told the judge he'd been a fool to himself.
Can you tell our readers about what you’re doing now/next?
Right now I am promoting my book, Rude Britannia which is published by Weidenfeld and Nicolson on June 12 .
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