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Q&A: The Great Almighty Gill
Written and performed by Daniel Hoffmann-Gill and presented by New Perspectives, The Great Almighty Gill is an autobiographical performance. The audience is invited to join Daniel as his family and friends as he recreates his fathers funeral and eulogises his deceased dad, observing the legendary life of Dave Gill. Through tribute, stand-up and occasional lip-syncing, Daniel remembers his sometimes wonderful, sometimes troubled relationship with his father, a beloved husband, a naturally gifted artist and sometimes misunderstood.
For those who don’t know, what is your show about?
The Great Almighty Gill about? It’s about my dad, David Gill. About his incredible life of adventure, crime and doing whatever the fuck he wanted no matter what the human, financial or emotional cost. But that life includes, as all our lives do, disease and death. So you know, perfect light entertainment fodder for an afternoon.
Is it difficult to perform your dad’s funeral every day?
No, it’s lovely. I get to do it 25 times at the Fringe and then many more times after that, when we go on tour. It is magic, to tell strangers about him, it brings him back to life for a short while.
You didn’t have the easiest relationship with your dad, so why did you want to make a show about him?
Life is a complicated business, shades of grey abound, no absolutes, even if you think there are dead certainties, it’s a myth. So even someone who was a twat to you can be someone who inspires you, who said sorry and who you fell in love with. Also, he lived a thousand lives, great adventures and he’s not around anymore to tell the tale so it’s my job, as his son, to keep that narrative going.
What do you want audiences to take from your show?
Love, love is all there is and all that we feel is love or the deadly absence of love and the solution is always throw more love at it. Even if it kills you. Best to die doing something fucking useful and good.
What’s the best audience reaction or interaction so far?
Too many to mention, basically whenever an audience member comes to me and shares their story of the person they love that is no longer here and we speak their name and talk about what they got up to and they live again. That feeling I’ll take with me to the grave.
What else should audiences see or do in Edinburgh this August?
Sadly the Fringe is still riddled with mediocre white dudes who think they’re funny but guaranteed excellence can be found with Seann Walsh at The Stand, Garry Starr at Underbelly and Isto é um Negro? at Summerhall.
The Great Almighty Gill is at Assembly George Square until 29th August at 1.15pm.
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