British disabled actor Mat Fraser, a musician and a second-degree black belt in dynamic self-defence, will be performing in Malta in the coming days. Massimo Farrugia caught up with him.
What is your background as an actor?
My parents were actors, my mum still is, so I grew up in the theatre. I was a punk rock and speed metal drummer for 16 years before becoming politicised about my disability. This was when I decided to become an actor. I went through a long phase of poetry and rap, some of which I'll be doing in the shows... I trained with Graeae Theatre Co, Europe's first and still leading all-disabled theatre company.
You've been involved in different media - theatre, movies etc. Which one do you prefer most and why?
I love the energy arc of a stage performance, it feels most familiar to my old musician but I think, after all's been considered, I prefer screen work, even though I'm probably not as good at it.
Do you think people come to watch you because you are disabled? Do you owe your popularity to the fact that you are "different"?
Yes, of course, and denying that is, I think, pointless... far better to use it, to utilise it in my work, control the inevitable attention. Anyway, when you are a performer, people are paying money, therefore they can look at whatever the hell they like... and yes, I guess a lot of what popularity I may have is considerably due to my disability... I mean, I hope the audience likes the acting but I am aware that we disabled actors are quite rare and that we present an interesting cultural situation. Or do people enjoy a malicious satisfaction when they see our misfortunes? Whatever, I like to use it all.
You are deemed to be a rather controversial character. What makes you one?
Presumably the above and my outspoken criticism of many of the tired old clichés of drama, in relation to disability... the usual portrayal of disabled characters, the terrible writing metaphors that most disabled characters often represent, and that I swear a fair bit...
A reviewer has said that your work deals with "the social construct of disability". Please explain.
It's the social model of disability. The barriers that society creates between itself and people with impairments or those who behave differently because of bodily impairments, that's the real disability. So, my arms are my impairment, my disability is society's lesser treatment of me because of my impairment.
Did you ever find a problem with people accepting you as a professional artist because of your disability?
Actually no, not really. I'm lucky.
Mention a strong point in your character.
Refusal to give up, tenacity, stamina.
Mention something you don't like about yourself.
Aggressiveness sometimes... My anger gets in the way of my love.
Presented by the British Council and the National Commission for Persons with Disability, Mr Fraser will perform at St James Cavalier Centre for Creativity, Valletta, on tomorrow and Saturday at 9 p.m.
He will be presenting a comedy show that challenges the common assumptions about disability. In addition, three films, including his international award-winning documentary film for Channel 4, Show Stoppers, will be shown at St James.
Tomorrow, he will meet a Maltese audience in an event of Actionbase Studio's Inprogress series at Actionbase, Triq il-Forga, Naxxar.
For reservations at Actionbase send an e-mail to victore@maltanet.net. Tickets cost Lm2.
For the shows at St James Cavalier, tickets cost Lm4, but special ID card holders and students pay half the price. Bookings can be made by calling on 2122 3200 or 2122 3216, or by e-mailing boxoffice@sjcav.org.