Southlanders’ reluctance to go to see live shows “unless it’s the Pink Floyd Experience” has prompted a partnership between two very noisy city women.
Liv Cochrane, of Into the East fame, and former journalist and performer Sarah McCarthy have teamed up to bring Invercargill a live talk show, Mc & Coch.
“We think that maybe ticket sales lag because people are uncomfortable spending money on something they might not like,” McCarthy says.
“We have world-class theatre and music coming to Invercargill yet they play to tiny audiences. And then things like the Pink Floyd Experience sell out the Civic and they’re basically a covers band!”
Opportunities for performing artists in Invercargill suffer as a consequence.
“We’ve got some amazing talent here and it often goes unnoticed.”
So Cochrane and McCarthy put their heads together.
“Everyone knows what a talk show is like – Letterman, Graeme Norton, Ellen – it’s a comfortable format for people with plenty of room for shenanigans for us.”
McCarthy will interview three guests, using techniques honed during her interview with Helen Clark at the Civic Theatre in October, while Cochrane will be the band.
“She’ll be the Paul Schaefer to my Letterman except she won’t have to force herself to laugh at my jokes and she’s not Canadian,” McCarthy says.
First guest announced this week is the enigmatic First Lady of Invercargill, Asha Dutt.
“Asha never gives interviews so we’re so excited to have her for our very first show.”
Their second guest is local boy done good Hamish Macgregor.
“Hamish screwed his courage to the sticking place and moved to Auckland to pursue his dreams. Now he’s acting, directing and touring the country with Operatunity. He tells an amazing yarn and we’re so excited to have him on the couch,” McCarthy says.
Their third guest remains a mystery – to everyone.
“We have a couple of people on our radar but if something interesting happens around the town in the next couple of weeks we want to be able to respond to that. Our show has to be interesting and relevant as well as being lots of fun.”
Mc & Coch is something of a pilot, with the pair planning to roll out more shows in the future.
“We see a great future for this kind of entertainment and we really hope Southland comes along for the ride.”
More Info:
Mc&Coch
Repertory Theatre
Invercargill
Friday, June 21
8pm
Tickets available at eventfinder.co.nz