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Gaëtan SCHMID is a Belgian theatre artist currently living and working in South Africa. After studying theatre at the École Internationale de Théâtre Jacques Lecoq in Paris, France he toured new creations to festivals and theatres all over the world. Russia, Sweden, Romania, USA, Belgium, The Netherlands, England, Wales, Uganda, Andorra, Spain and Scotland.
Since arriving in South Africa 20 years ago – when his South African wife (not wife then) told him to “… come … come and have a look … couple of weeks max …” – Gaëtan produces, creates, writes and performs his own excitingly original one-man-shows … well, most of them are his own:Body Language I & II - The Belgian - (Fleur du Cap nominated) Rumpsteak - The Dog’s Bollocks - The Incredible Beer Show - the pigeon - The Comical Tragedy
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Physical theatre maven, Gaëtan Schmid is unleashing his new solo show in Cape Town at Alexander Upstairs (June 18-22) and then he heads for the National Arts Festival (June 27 to July 7). How to explain the art of Gaëtan Schmid? To say that he draws extensively on “physical theatre” doesn’t adequately convey what he gets up to on stage – clown, raconteur, storyteller, mime-maestro, thespian professor ranting about his country of birth (Belgium- lots to rant about), linguistics, body language, culinary exploits.
Zombie Attack is his 8th solo show in which he says that he returns to his “first love of fast mime and unbridled creativity” in which he creates an “audio collage of movies”.
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TheCapeRobyn: You talk about Zombie Attack as an “apocalyptic zombie nightmare…furiously miming to a thrilling soundtrack of 101 movies… all without leaving his little chair.” More info?
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Gaëtan Schmid: This is the story of ‘little me’ sitting on my school chair in a classroom. And the teacher calls my name, because it’s my turn to stand up and go in front of the class to recite my poem. And I freak out. I have a panic attack. And I ‘escape’ from the real world into an imaginary world, where I am being chased by zombies. (A little bit similar to the comic strip Calvin & Hobbes; when Calvin is asked a math question by Miss Wormwood and Miss Wormwood transforms into a T-Rex.)
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TheCapeRobyn: I am assuming that you have dipped into Zombie films for this piece and pulled out bits that make you freak and that you will convey that to us- with the signature use of your physical comedy skills?
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Gaëtan Schmid: “Signature use of your physical comedy skill” … I can live with that description … so, yes. In fact, the idea of the zombies came much later within the creative process. My initial longing was to make a show out of movies. To create a soundtrack made of movie clips. An audio collage of movies. Movies that spoke to me, movies that moved me when I grew up.
I wrote the name of each movie (waaaaay too many) on Post-Its and very soon the walls of my study were full of Post-Its. Then I let this massive puzzle of movie Post-Its inspire me to write the storyline of my show. Like a mind map. And this mind map has now become the décor, the set backdrop of my show.
The storyline evolved into an epic action adventure, but still without beginning. I was missing the impulse, the spark to start the adventure. And that’s when idea of zombies came along.
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TheCapeRobyn: You are a Zombie film fan? Where did that start? Growing up in Belgium?
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Gaëtan Schmid: Strangely enough I am not per se a Zombie film fan … but the Zombie idea was ideal to kick start the big action adventure. I am definitively a movie fan. I always loved the escapism. When I grew up in Belgium I loved to go to the movies during the day in the middle of the week when I was alone in the cinema. Taking off my shoes, letting my socks dry.
As a student in Paris I spent hours in art cinemas. I remember seeing the psychological horror story Le Locataire by Roman Polanski late at night. Had to run to catch the last metro, not feeling too heroic. In fact, whenever I spent time in a new country for my theatre work, I felt compelled to do two things: eat a lamb shawarma and go to the movies.
In St Pietersburg I watched Groundhog Day dubbed in Russian, in this amazing movie house with the biggest chandelier I’ve ever seen.
In Havana I went to see Cold Blood with my girlfriend of the time Lara Bye and remember enjoying the air con A LOT!
TheCapeRobyn: What’s your earliest memory of watching a Zombie film? How old were you? Do you remember the name of the film?
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Gaëtan Schmid: The Night of the Living Dead … when the zombies were still super slow. If they were still as slow today, people would take selfies I’m sure.
Special mention goes to Shaun of the Dead … a mixed genre introduction to my teenage son and his pug. (Shaun of the Dead- Shaun of the Dead - 2004 comedy horror film directed by Edgar Wright. Co-writer Simon Pegg, plays Shaun, an aimless Londoner who is sucked into in a zombie apocalyptic uprising. The film was nominated for a BAFTA. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LIfcaZ4pC-4)
TheCapeRobyn: Direction is by Andrew Laubscher. Is this your first collaboration with him?
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Gaëtan Schmid: Yes. First collaboration. We have a very similar theatre language. We enjoy movement precision and are both still big kids. Perfect combination of silliness and discipline. Especially when we tackle a John Wick scene.
TheCapeRobyn: Anything else to say about Zombie Attack? Should we be very afraid?
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Gaëtan Schmid: No. Absolutely not. Zombie Attack is a lot fun. Pure joy. Like reliving a wicked childhood adventure.
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