Each month we like to spotlight one of the members of the Limelight Theatre community. This month, meet Tim Riessen, actor, musician and soon to be director!
Tim’s first experience of working in theatre was while he was living in Albany, where he was fortunate to land a role in a production of Jesus Christ Superstar. He found this to be a wonderful experience and, caught by the bug, managed to land roles in two other productions. This fuelled a desire to do more, so Tim started looking for further acting opportunities when he moved to Perth.
In 2013, Tim came across an audition notice in a local paper for Limelight Theatre’s production of The Phantom of the Opera. He was cast in a supporting role and hasn’t looked back since! Since Phantom of the Opera, Tim has performed in at least two shows a year at the Limelight, including Pride and Prejudice, The Glorious Old Time Music Hall, Don’t Shoot the Messenger and Blitz!. His favourite role, however, was playing Eli Whitney in 2014’s Anything Goes. ‘He was a fun character to play,’ says Tim. ‘He was a bit of a caricature.’ Tim also enjoyed the challenge of his role in 2015’s Speaking in Tongues, where he played several characters in marital strife.
Tim’s proudest theatrical moment, however, was when he was cast in his first leading role as Pa Larkin’s in The Darling Buds of May in 2015. ‘To carry this off and learn all the lines was definitely an achievement’.
2017 brings about new and exciting challenges for Tim, who will be directing his rst show – next month’s Let the Sunshine. ‘I wanted to direct because it seemed the next natural step,’ he explains. ‘Much as I’d like to have the lead role Jean Val-Jean in Les Mis, I’m probably past that. So if I want to put my stamp on a play and bring to life characters as I see them, then directing is the obvious path.’
And if he enjoys the experience? ‘I would like to direct a musical next. I have thoroughly enjoyed the experience of musicals, the camaraderie, the teamwork, the working together to create something enjoyable for an audience. I want to have a go at bringing something like this to life!’
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