Ultimate Entertainer: Capsis is still rocking

May 4: He is one of the most talented and confident entertainers on the Australian theatre scene. But as AussieTheatre.com's ERIN JAMES discovered, Paul Capsis wasn't always so sure of himself....

His performance credits span the genres of art: from film to musicals, cabaret to theatre. With more than 20 years experience, it is fair to say the current star of The Rocky Horror Show has certainly earned his artistic stripes. However the enigmatic Paul Capsis, who hails from the Sydney suburb of Surry Hills, is the first to admit his career in show business certainly hasn’t been one long frolic down the Yellow Brick Road.

Despite having been involved with school productions during senior years like Guys And Dolls, when asked if he had always known he wanted a career in the arts, Capsis responded emphatically: “Definitely not! Performing seemed so remote. I had no way of knowing back then that I could do this."

So, how did he do it? How did a young Greek-Australian boy become the international success this phenomenal man is today?

“I am here through lots of hard work and dedication”, he said.

“The first paid job I ever did was a musical by Hilary Bell (daughter of John Bell) called Pocketfull Of Hula Dreams, back in 1987. It was, essentially, an Australian Surfie Musical, and I think I spent my first pay check on transport to and from the theatre!”

Since then, Capsis has appeared in many shows in Australia and around the world, earning himself two Green Room Awards, two Helpmann Awards, an AFI award nomination for the film Head On and critical acclaim everywhere he goes.

Capsis’ vocal quality is deliciously unique and his performances are absolutely captivating, however as a young performer eager to learn the trade with each new gig, this uniqueness was often a hindrance.

“I noticed (after a few unsuccessful auditions) that I wasn’t going to be able to just audition for something and be what they were looking for," he said.

"I was always too short or my voice was too high or something."

For many performers this may have the moment of truth, but Capsis never once threw in the towel. He took matters into his own creative hands, and began embarking on a solo career.

“I started in a small way, doing one person shows. My first opportunity was during Mardi Gras in the early 90s. I was lucky enough to perform downstairs at the Belvoir Street Theatre, doing characters," Capsis said.

Luckily, the show was successful and he was noticed by the powers that be at the Sydney Theatre Company and Company B. “I began to be offered roles which required me to play ‘unusual’ or ‘unique’ characters. I often played female characters who sang, or non gender specific roles."

So when it comes to performing the role of Riff Raff in the current production of Rocky Horror, Capsis quips, “I loving that I’m playing a male character!”

For Capsis, working on The Rocky Horror Show has been a whirlwind of inspiration, enthusiasm and depth. When speaking of his rehearsal period with director Gale Edwards, he has nothing but praise and admiration.

“I had never worked with Gale before and I found her very inspiring. I looked forward to every single day of rehearsal, being able to work with a woman so full of knowledge," he said.

He reflects upon her directing technique and her vision for the show “she wanted to take it back to the story, back to what the songs and characters are really about. So many other productions are just like fun romps, but Gale has really kept the darkness in the story".

Capsis raves about his colleagues, describing his experience in this show as a “dream come true”. Despite being plagued with injury and sickness, the cast of Rocky Horror seem to pull through any adverse situation with flying colours, in his eyes. “I’m very lucky to be working with such a talented cast. This is such a wonderful experience for me."

So where to from here, for the talented Mr Capsis? Vienna, New York? Despite resisting the move overseas for his entire career, Paul Capsis is beginning to hear the call of the City That Never Sleeps. A recent stint in the Speigeltent in New York seems to have stirred a desire to see how another arts industry functions.

“I never felt like an outsider in New York," he said

Did he feel like an outsider in Australia, then? “Not so much now, but I used to, yes.”

There is a sense of pride in Australian theatre that emanates from Capsis as he speaks of the arts.

“My passion has been to break the mould of how Australians view the arts. In the past we have had a very narrow view of the arts, but I think Australians are on the way to change," he said.

"I’m hoping we are heading back to who we are – a diverse culture. I hope we can embrace that in the theatrical world.”

He does mention that there is still a long way to go, and that over the years there have been “many signs that we’re not moving forward”, due to various political decisions.

During his career in the Australian Arts industry, Capsis believes there has “never been a dull moment”.

From playing an 80-year-old Grandmother in an STC play, to channelling Judy Garland and Marlene Dietrich in Boulevuarde Delirium, to the energetic chaos of The Rocky Horror Show, Paul Capsis always has a spectacular and personally challenging project on the go.

Who knows what Paul Capsis’ next defining project will be? An album? A cabaret? A film? From such a versatile performer, all of the above is certainly not out of the question.

But for now, it is well worth anyone’s while to catch him in the Rocky Horror Show while you can. Paul Capsis is an institution.

“So now it’s time to get on the light rail to Star City, shave and gargle…. So I can do the time warp again.”

The Rocky Horror Show is currently playing at Star City’s Lyric Theatre, and is expected to tour the country. Bookings: www.showbiz.com.au.