Damien Warren-Smith trained with legendary clown teacher Philippe Gaulier, and is an award-winning clown in his own right. He’s best known for his character of Garry Starr, who regularly reduces audiences to fits of giggles. We caught up with Damien to find out more about his latest show, Garry Starr: Classic Penguins, which is coming to the Edinburgh Fringe this August. We caught up with Damien to find out more about Garry.
STARBURST: How would you pitch Garry Starr: Classic Penguins to someone who’s really into books?
Damien Warren-Smith: If you care even the teeniest weeniest of iotas about literature, you simply must see Classic Penguins! In the space of 60 minutes, Garry Starr tears – not literally – through every Penguin Classic novel with the utmost nincompoopery in order to save literature – and by extension, penguins – from complete and utter extinction.
Where did the inspiration for Garry come from?
It came from a visit to a bookshop in Western Australia. There was a book signing taking place, and the author was a penguin. Until that point, I hadn’t realised that penguins had written all of the Penguin Classic novels. I thought it was just a cute publishing name. With penguins also facing extinction, I came to the conclusion that if we all buy more books by penguin authors, we can kill two (flightless) birds with one stone and save both literature and our feathered friends from the chopping block.
What else would we know you from?
If you’ve ever stepped outside your comfort zone and ventured to an Edinburgh Fringe show that doesn’t involve someone standing there with a microphone telling jokes, you would very likely have heard my name being uttered amongst the slightly weird, thrill-seeking audience. You would not know me from the telly unless you caught my brief appearances on Law and Order: UK or the ill-fated BBC comedy series The Persuasionists.
Where does Damien end and Garry Begin?
This is an ongoing discussion with my therapist. It’s very likely that my next show will be a two-hander whereby Damien adapts Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein, casts himself as Victor Frankenstein and Garry Starr to play The Monster. I’m sure it will go very smoothly and be completely absent of metaphors.
How is Garry Starr: Classic Penguins different from normal theatre?
I think the key word there is ‘normal’. Normal theatre is allowed to be boring at times. You invest in the characters and the story, and through patience and commitment, one would hope the time you have invested pays off, resulting in you being enlightened or moved in some way. Garry Starr shows are never boring. But you may still be enlightened or moved.
The show is coming to Edinburgh, which, of course, is the home of the famous penguin, Major General Sir Nils Olav III, Baron of the Bouvet Islands. What do you think they’d make of the show?
I’ve actually been in constant communication with Major Turd – it’s a little nickname I have for him because he pronounces ‘the third’ as ‘de turd’. He calls me Garry-incredibly-well-hung Starr, which I think is sarcastic. He’s very excited about the show as he’s a distant relative of Henning Mankell.
What was the most challenging part of the production?
The most challenging part was during the research and development phase when I spent nine months in a penguin colony in Antarctica. Many authors still spend a good portion of their time there as it’s the safest place for them to breed and write. I immersed myself in order to get closer to their lived experience. I didn’t wear pants for the duration. The shrinkage I experienced was something else.
How do you prepare for a role like this?
In preparation for this role, I universally forwent pants and attempted, unsuccessfully, to grow feathers. Penguins don’t actually have penises, so I spent a good portion of my time tucked back, which makes it very difficult to wee.
What’s next for you?
As I mentioned earlier, I shall be adapting Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein as a two-hander between Damien and Garry. It will likely debut on Broadway.
What other projects would you love to be involved with?
I would really love to do a production of Jane Air whereby all cast members are airborne for the duration.
Emperor Penguins or Republican Penguins?
Can I choose Publican Penguins? More penguins should run pubs.
Doctor Who or Doctor No?
What? Yes.
Simpsons or Futurama?
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles all the way.
Truth or Beauty?
Treaut.
Classic Penguins is on at the Edinburgh Fringe 2024 and you can book tickets here. You can find out more about Damien and any future tours beyond the fringe here.
