Meet the Makers: Milo Cawthorne
Published: Thursday 27 July, 2023
Joining Jennifer and Joel, is Nightsong favourite Milo Cawthorne. In addition to his successful career in film and theatre, Milo has worked with the company as a puppeteer, actor and behind the scenes superstar. Milo plays two guinea pigs in this production.
Having acted from a young age, Milo has established a prolific career in film, television and theatre. His television credits range from children’s shows P.E.T Detectives and The Amazing Extraordinary Friends to drama series When We Go To War and The Brokenwood Mysteries. He has appeared in feature films Human Traces, Guns Akimbo (alongside Daniel Radcliffe), the 2016 remake of Kiwi classic Pork Pie, and a leading role in Deathgasm. We had the pleasure of sitting down with him and chatting all things I Want to Be Happy.
Introduce yourself and your arts practice.
I'm Milo Cawthorne. An actor for stage and screen. A past student of the John Bolton Physical Theatre school.
What’s your favourite thing about you do?
The absorbing/talented people you get to spend precious time with.
What’s the hardest thing about what you do?
The constant and diabolical financial dread.
What’s the best advice you’ve ever received?
When there's no wind, row.
What’s the best show you’ve seen this year?
Scenes From A Yellow Peril (I don't care that it was 11 months ago, it feels like yesterday).
Who are your favourite artists/theatre companies/musicians etc. and why?
- Garry Winogrand - American photographer from the 60's and 70's.
- Flamin Groovies - Band from (you guessed it) the 60's and 70's.
I like the idea that you don't have to be an inspired genius to make art. You can just plug away until you get good at it. Both of these artists are examples of that. Huge amounts of work. Some good, some great, some average. But the more you absorb their work, the better it gets.
Tell us about I Want to Be Happy.
It started as a solo show and still has the soul of one (except now there's more people on stage). It follows two characters who are more connected to each other than they first realise. They both have to face incredible loss and find a way to survive. It's tragic in a funny way. It's hopeful. It's clever.
What can audiences expect from I Want to Be Happy?
Stage design that gives you layers of depth and scale. Characters that are: earnest, flawed and funny. Dialogue that whips poetically and spins around on itself. Surreal musings of guinea pigs. Tragedy, tragedy, comedy.
