Company Interviews: Daniel Briere as Iachimo
We asked Daniel Briere, who plays Iachimo in our production of Cymbeline, a few questions about himself, the production, and camping...
Daniel Briere as Iachimo. Photo by Kyle Purcell.
Shakespeare BASH'd sets its productions in bars. What is the weirdest place you've performed?
I once performed a devised short play with a bunch of Shakespeare's characters in a Skate park as part of a youth outreach program. I'm not sure if they were more interested in the swords or pumpkin pants, but we at least caught their attention. Between kickflips.
What's your favourite fairy tale?
I always liked the story of Rumpelstiltskin. Sure there are plenty of child-snatching fairy tales to go around, but it seems to me that poor Rumpelstilskin got a bum deal. Here's a guy who can literally spin straw into gold, could likely make anything of himself, and all he really wants is some companionship, someone to teach, a family. And when he finally gets a child, some new money princess scours the country for the one thing that can break her legal contract. Tragedy. But, there is great power in names.
What is your history with Shakespeare BASH'd?
I've done three shows for BASH'd so far, but I've never been in one that Julia Nish-Lapidus has directed! She has such great vision and understanding of the process. The rehearsal room is a place of such trust and care, which is crucial for a story like this. Plus there's snacks!
If your character were at Junction City Music Hall, what drink would they order?
Bottle service. I'm aware that Junction City Music Hall likely doesn't do that, but that's what Iachimo would order.
What is your post-show drink of choice?
3 drinks.
Tell us about your most ridiculous camping experience.
Once my friend Tyrone Savage and I went camping and we brought very little food with us, determined to catch our food. We ate very modestly the first night, and fished entirely for two days, only to finally catch a fish just before sundown on the last day. Realizing that neither of us had actually killed a fish before, only catch and release - we quickly discovered how squeamish we both were. Finally we managed to clean, scale and gut the poor fish, but by this time it had started raining. So another hour trying spent trying to shield the fire pit from the rain and get a fire going. It must have been nearing midnight by the time we finished cooking our little fish filets in the dark, sogging wet, and extremely hungry. Best. Tasting. Fish. Ever.
What are you most excited for people to see in this production?
I think the giant flying Jupiter book head will be pretty cool. Also, I feel like this is one of Shakespeare's plays that people don't know as well. It will be a lot of fun to take them through a story where they don't necessarily already know the ending. Or the middle bits either.
I once performed a devised short play with a bunch of Shakespeare's characters in a Skate park as part of a youth outreach program. I'm not sure if they were more interested in the swords or pumpkin pants, but we at least caught their attention. Between kickflips.
What's your favourite fairy tale?
I always liked the story of Rumpelstiltskin. Sure there are plenty of child-snatching fairy tales to go around, but it seems to me that poor Rumpelstilskin got a bum deal. Here's a guy who can literally spin straw into gold, could likely make anything of himself, and all he really wants is some companionship, someone to teach, a family. And when he finally gets a child, some new money princess scours the country for the one thing that can break her legal contract. Tragedy. But, there is great power in names.
What is your history with Shakespeare BASH'd?
I've done three shows for BASH'd so far, but I've never been in one that Julia Nish-Lapidus has directed! She has such great vision and understanding of the process. The rehearsal room is a place of such trust and care, which is crucial for a story like this. Plus there's snacks!
If your character were at Junction City Music Hall, what drink would they order?
Bottle service. I'm aware that Junction City Music Hall likely doesn't do that, but that's what Iachimo would order.
What is your post-show drink of choice?
3 drinks.
Tell us about your most ridiculous camping experience.
Once my friend Tyrone Savage and I went camping and we brought very little food with us, determined to catch our food. We ate very modestly the first night, and fished entirely for two days, only to finally catch a fish just before sundown on the last day. Realizing that neither of us had actually killed a fish before, only catch and release - we quickly discovered how squeamish we both were. Finally we managed to clean, scale and gut the poor fish, but by this time it had started raining. So another hour trying spent trying to shield the fire pit from the rain and get a fire going. It must have been nearing midnight by the time we finished cooking our little fish filets in the dark, sogging wet, and extremely hungry. Best. Tasting. Fish. Ever.
What are you most excited for people to see in this production?
I think the giant flying Jupiter book head will be pretty cool. Also, I feel like this is one of Shakespeare's plays that people don't know as well. It will be a lot of fun to take them through a story where they don't necessarily already know the ending. Or the middle bits either.