David Campbell: ‘I feel lucky my job doesn’t take me away from my kids’
ACTOR, musician, TV and radio presenter David Campbell wears many hats, but his favourite is being dad to his three kids.
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ACTOR, musician, TV and radio presenter David Campbell wears many hats, but his favourite is being dad to his three kids.
Assassins sold out at Hayes Theatre last year and you won the Sydney Theatre Award for your role. It must be an incredible feeling to see it do so well?
It was wonderful to be a part of it. The funny thing about that role is that no one had cast me as someone like that before. I’ve always been the leading man or the nice boy next door, characters that are not too far away from myself. But when they said ‘Do you want to play someone who is out of their mind crazy and wants to take down the president?’ I was overjoyed. They usually give roles like that to proper actors. I gave it everything I had.
What does it mean to be staging it at the Sydney Opera House in June?
It’s huge to transfer it to the Opera House. It means more people will get to see it and it reaches a wider audience. For me as an actor, I’m so proud of everyone involved.
Are the political themes in the play still as relevant today?
They really are. One theme is gun culture in America, we talk about it today reaching a zenith. A lot of attention is being paid to it with the violence we’ve seen recently. And this shows how far back gun laws go and questions how much reach governments should have. When this was originally done it was so fringy and now it’s mainstream. It’s crazy to think a piece written way back then is now more pertinent than ever. And the political schtick of Trump and the all-right like Steve Bannon, people who we — Trump exempted, didn’t know about 18 months ago — are now changing the face of a nation.
What are your thoughts on musical theatre in Sydney? Is it becoming more popular?
We need more productions to stage, but for that we need more venues. Melbourne has so many remarkable venues. We didn’t have the forethought to keep those things going. Fringe/independent theatres like Hayes and Griffin are the outsiders looking in and creating musicals where there are gaps. The reason we started Hayes was because we needed more of a musical theatre culture in Sydney so actors, creators and performers could have a place to go that wasn’t just a big musical house. We need more venues but what we are seeing now is the demand. Audiences want to see more.
Is there one show on your bucket list to perform in?
I’m happy with my bucket list at the moment. I think I’m very lucky, I’ve got to do a lot of interesting things in my career and worked with wonderful people who are at the top of their game. It’s more important for me now to create roles. I’m not looking at my record collection and wishing they’d revive this musical for me. I want more people to have chances, there’s nothing I’m wishing to play. I’m grateful for the things that have come along but I’d love more musicals for Aussies, to see our story being told.
How is Today Extra going? How do you juggle three kids and the early alarms?
It’s going great. Sonia and I have a fantastic time and laugh every day and sometimes a video makes us cry and sometime we talk to fabulously interesting people — it’s a wonderful job. The younger of the twins, Billy, doesn’t want to sleep past 5.30am most days anyway and I don’t have to get up as early as Georgie or Karl — 5.30am is good by me.
What’s been the best thing about being a dad?
Being present and watching them grow day in and day out. I feel lucky my job doesn’t take me away. I’m not doing what a lot of other performers have to do, touring the nation for months. I can be here to pick the kids up from school, take them to swimming lessons or the park and I do bath time nearly every night. I’m so grateful because that’s what I didn’t have with my father (singer Jimmy Barnes). He was the biggest artist in the country and had to tour around. For me simply knowing I’m there for the most important years of their life, to help guide them — just kicking a footy around or putting them to bed.
Do they get to see you rehearse?
When I’m doing a show it’s usually at night and they have very strict bedtime rules. They did see me do a few songs from Dream Lover but they don’t see me do too many things. I try to keep that separate. Their grandfather is the legend in this country, he’s the big singer and I like to downplay my work. My son asked if I was famous and I said no. I get to interview famous people and that’s how I like it.
You posted on Instagram that Google had your age as 70 — any other surprising David Campbell facts you’ve come across?
It’s a brilliantly common name. I’m also a British clarinetist and Beck Hansen’s dad shares the same name, and he’s one of the top musical arrangers in America and has credits on Kiss albums and movie soundtracks. There’s also a politician and a ninja warrior. I’m pleased to say there aren’t too many criminals who share it.
Where do you get your energy from?
I really am a big advocate of getting 6½-7 hours of sleep a night. I drink three cups of coffee a day — but no more — and I’m vegan so my diet is stable. I keep active as much as I can with yoga and running. But if I have one coffee too many my day gets wonky. It’s just consistency. I like repetition, it’s something I wish I’d learnt earlier in life.