Welcome to Homer's Podyssey: Conversations on Purpose. In this episode, I talk to the multi-award winning theatre-maker, writer, director, actor, performer, rapper, beatboxer, looper and singer, (and that’s to name just a few of his talents), Conrad Murray.
Conrad was raised in Mitcham, (South-West London), and references his Anglo Indian working class roots to address issues such as class, race and heritage in his work.
Many of these themes are referenced in the host of productions where Conrad has been the creative lead including Frankenstein: How to Make a Monster, No Milk For the Foxes, DenMarked as well as more recent shows such as Pied Piper and Romeo and Juliet.
We begin this edition of the podcast by talking about Making Hip Hop Theatre: Beatbox and Elements, a book that Conrad collaborated on with the Researcher and Lecturer Dr Katie Beswick.
This provides the spring-board for a whole number of topics including the democratic and accessible nature of hip-hop and beat-box, (as Conrad says \"all snares are welcome\"). We also talk about creative agency, the importance of self-belief, cancel culture and representations of masculinity, which includes the most recent Super-Man film. Conrad's incredible record of making the arts more inclusive which, alongside providing opportunities for a host of creatives, is also discussed and demonstrated by his efforts to change the culture at the Battersea Arts Centre, particularly through his Beatbox Academy workshops. His commitment to enabling more people to get into the creative industries, together with his incredible body of work, was recently recognised at the Fringe Theatre Awards. With more productions in development as well as a new tour of Pied Piper coming up, Conrad looks set to continue making immersive and engaging productions as well as bringing the performing arts to wider audiences.
The songs used in this episode of Homer's Podyssey: Conversations on purpose are...
Welcome to Hamlyn by Conrad and Katie Donnachie from Pied Piper
No Chill by Conrad and Katie Donnachie from Pied Piper
No Milk for the Foxes by Conrad and Paul Cree from No Milk for the Foxes
Moonlight Cabaret by Conrad and Katie Donnachie from Romeo and Juliet.
We also talked about the brilliant work from writer and performer Paul Cree. You can check out his work via the link below...
Thank you listeners for making the time to check out this show. I would love your comments and feedback which you can submit through the new Instagram account or through the contact details on my website.
Thank you also to my bro Nick Homer and to Maz for the podcast artwork, (you may know Nick from the Bridge Brothers Presents podcasts), and to the amazing Sea of Days for his incredible song City Shroud.
Until next time, safe travels and see you soon!