Photos – John McRaeWho says sport and the arts don’t mix?
Former elite sportsman Matthew Mitcham trades the diving platform for the stage in his second splash hit, Under The Covers.
With the infectious enthusiasm and energy that took him to Gold Medal Glory in the Olympics, Mitcham presents an all singing, all dancing sixty minutes that examines the pitfalls of transition.
For most of his life he was focused on sport, transcending triumphant trampolinist to ascending the pinnacle of diving. He had a support team that woke him, told him what to eat, trained him, put him to bed.
He had no idea of the day to day running of normal life.
So when it came time to jettison his career as an elite sportsman, after suffering a awalking the plank equivalent of stage fright, of course he thought of diving in to the normal world of television!
Mitcham had already had a taste of TV in a stint on Dancing with the Stars, in which he was a finalist.
The title of the show comes from the time when he bit the bullet to swap his togs for TV and spent two weeks binge watching the box to gain insight into his chosen profession, a session that prompts a medley of theme songs from a diverse range of shows.
After a fallow period that seriously dented his confidence in the path he had chosen, the phone finally rings with an offer to become a commentator at the Rio Olympics.
Written by Mitcham and the show's director, Nigel Turner-Carroll, Under The Covers is a fun, flamboyant fondue – yes, unashamedly cheesy, and all the more delicious for it – with saucy side kick support from Spanky and musical accompaniment from “the smallest pianist I have ever worked with”, Matthew Ogle.
Mitcham's TV fame came at a price. He received vitriolic tweets criticising his presentation. No such criticism could be legitimately solicited at his presentation of this good natured, good humoured cabaret.
Twists and Turns Productions Pty Ltd in Association with TheatricHals and Hayes Theatre Co
UNDER THE COVERS
Matthew Mitcham
Directed by Nigel Turner Carroll
Venue: Hayes Theatre Co | 19 Greenknowe Ave Potts Point NSW
Dates: 19 – 23 July 2017
Bookings: www.hayestheatre.com.au
