16/1/15 The Weekly Review - Damien Leith Realises a Dream wi
Feb 17, 2015 14:03:46 GMT 10
Post by thebraff (Braffy) on Feb 17, 2015 14:03:46 GMT 10
www.theweeklyreviewstonnington.com.au/story/1832516/damien-leith-realises-a-dream-with-the-parting-glass-video/
Damien Leith realises a dream with The Parting Glass | Video
Bianca Villarosa
| 15:57:PM 16/02/2015
Since taking out the Australian Idol competition in 2006, Irish-born entertainer Damien Leith has become a household name.
“Australian Idol was the ultimate springboard for me and it was incredible,” Mr Leith said.
“The win was a surprise and since then, it has opened so many doors for me, and has offered so many opportunities.”
Apart from loving music (and selling platinum albums), Mr Leith has always had a passion for acting.
“If you ask my parents growing up, I used to call the neighbours over to our house to watch my tiny plays or whatever crazy show it was,” he said.
“I used to love acting and I had no interest in music at all – when I was young I wanted to be an actor – the music bug got into me at about 18.”
Mr Leith has since fulfilled his dream to take the stage as both singer and actor.
Later this month, he will bring his acclaimed one-man-play The Parting Glass to Chapel Off Chapel for two special performances.
Mr Leith said the play is something different for him and his audience.
“It’s a play about a father and son who are catching up on five years of lost time on a rainy Sunday afternoon,” he said.
“The son was in Australia for five years and he ends up meeting his father in an Irish pub – it’s quite humorous but there’s a darker side that’s waiting to come out.”
Mr Leith plays the father, the son and singer in the band and said “the play is demanding because there’s a lot going on, on my side” – but he wouldn’t change the madness for anything.
“I’m really excited about it – it took a while to get the play off the ground and it has changed a little bit since when I wrote it for the Adelaide Cabaret Festival in 2012,” he said.
“The play now runs a lot smoother now, in terms of me knowing what I have got to do acting-wise and preforming-wise.”
Mr Leith said The Parting Glass encourages the audience to feel part of the show.
“It’s almost like they (audience) will be sitting in someone’s living room, getting settled in and and getting involved with the music, lots of fun and little gags.”
When asked about more recent reality shows such as The X Factor and The Voice, Mr Leith said he would love to think he would get as far in either competition as he did on Australian Idol.
“I’m a big believer of being in the right place at the right time – two friends convinced me to audition for Idol and literally the same day I went down to the audition and I thought it would be a waste of time and that I’d get kicked out – I was 30 at that stage,” he said.
“I think it’s tougher now, with more of these kind of shows, because there’s lots of talent out there – and from an audience point of view – they are bombarded with another show soon as soon as one wraps up.”
The Parting Glass
Where | Chapel Off Chapel
When | February 21; 2pm and 8pm
Details | For information and tickets for The Parting Glass visit www.chapeloffchapel.com.au
Damien Leith realises a dream with The Parting Glass | Video
Bianca Villarosa
| 15:57:PM 16/02/2015
Since taking out the Australian Idol competition in 2006, Irish-born entertainer Damien Leith has become a household name.
“Australian Idol was the ultimate springboard for me and it was incredible,” Mr Leith said.
“The win was a surprise and since then, it has opened so many doors for me, and has offered so many opportunities.”
Apart from loving music (and selling platinum albums), Mr Leith has always had a passion for acting.
“If you ask my parents growing up, I used to call the neighbours over to our house to watch my tiny plays or whatever crazy show it was,” he said.
“I used to love acting and I had no interest in music at all – when I was young I wanted to be an actor – the music bug got into me at about 18.”
Mr Leith has since fulfilled his dream to take the stage as both singer and actor.
Later this month, he will bring his acclaimed one-man-play The Parting Glass to Chapel Off Chapel for two special performances.
Mr Leith said the play is something different for him and his audience.
“It’s a play about a father and son who are catching up on five years of lost time on a rainy Sunday afternoon,” he said.
“The son was in Australia for five years and he ends up meeting his father in an Irish pub – it’s quite humorous but there’s a darker side that’s waiting to come out.”
Mr Leith plays the father, the son and singer in the band and said “the play is demanding because there’s a lot going on, on my side” – but he wouldn’t change the madness for anything.
“I’m really excited about it – it took a while to get the play off the ground and it has changed a little bit since when I wrote it for the Adelaide Cabaret Festival in 2012,” he said.
“The play now runs a lot smoother now, in terms of me knowing what I have got to do acting-wise and preforming-wise.”
Mr Leith said The Parting Glass encourages the audience to feel part of the show.
“It’s almost like they (audience) will be sitting in someone’s living room, getting settled in and and getting involved with the music, lots of fun and little gags.”
When asked about more recent reality shows such as The X Factor and The Voice, Mr Leith said he would love to think he would get as far in either competition as he did on Australian Idol.
“I’m a big believer of being in the right place at the right time – two friends convinced me to audition for Idol and literally the same day I went down to the audition and I thought it would be a waste of time and that I’d get kicked out – I was 30 at that stage,” he said.
“I think it’s tougher now, with more of these kind of shows, because there’s lots of talent out there – and from an audience point of view – they are bombarded with another show soon as soon as one wraps up.”
The Parting Glass
Where | Chapel Off Chapel
When | February 21; 2pm and 8pm
Details | For information and tickets for The Parting Glass visit www.chapeloffchapel.com.au
much appreciated that you look and find these gems. Lovely pic of Damien and "the boys" 
