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The Life and Legacy of Spike Milligan

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COMING SOON TO A TOWN NEAR YOU PRESS KIT 10 August 2005, for immediate release Media release The godfather of alternative comedy is back Comic legend Spike Milligan, voted “the funniest person of the millennium” in a BBC poll and known to fellow comedians as the “godfather of alternative comedy”, always broke conventions and made up his own rules. Following in this tradition, the makers of a new documentary about Spike, have created a bold and unprecedented venture which will tour the east coast of Australia in August and September. Led by a life-size doll of Spike, the tour will bring back memories and shed new light on this extraordinary man. It will include radio broadcasts, a live show featuring Spike’s eldest daughter Laura telling stories and reading some of his letters accompanied by musician Glenn Cardier who toured with Spike in the 80s, and a new documentary film. The documentary film “I TOLD YOU I WAS ILL: THE LIFE AND LEGACY OF SPIKE MILLIGAN” sold out at its world premiere in Adelaide in February this year and has since played to packed houses in Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane and the far North Coast of NSW. The show brings tears of laughter and sadness as it takes audiences on a roller coaster ride through his life, reminding fans of his brilliant and outrageous humour and shedding new light on his tortured and troubled personal life. For the first time, his family have opened up their personal archives to reveal Spike as a father, brother and husband: a man of passion and contradictions who trod the thin line between genius and debilitating depression. The producers of the film, Hatchling Productions, have been inundated with requests from Spike fans around the country to bring the film to their town, and have decided to take the show on the road as the SPIKE IS BACK: PICK UP A PEN TOUR. “The ‘Pick up a Pen’ subtitle relates to how active Spike was with his pen,” said Laura Milligan. “He wrote 83 books and was a dedicated activist and prolific letter writer who took a stand on many, many issues that he considered important”. “The film highlights this aspect of Spike’s legacy and I will encourage audiences to get active with their pens again” said Laura. Special Spike pens will be available along with other Tour memorabilia such as T-shirts, bags, badges and the DVD of the documentary, which also contains a wealth of extra material. “A life size Spike doll, with pen in hand, has been created to lead the Tour and will ride on top of the tour bus as it arrives in each town.” “I call this ‘payback time’ for those nights when we were children and Spike would wake us, tie us to the top of his mini and take us out bunny spotting!” “The Spike doll will welcome fans as they arrive, start the show and may even sign autographs.” Ends Interviews: Laura Milligan and Glenn Cardier are available for interviews in all regional areas Photo opportunities: the Spike doll welcomes ideas for photo opportunities, no matter how outrageous or ridiculous. For further information, photographs or interview opportunities: Carolyn Anderson: M: 0407 665 179 T: 02 6685 7251 E: [email protected] For more information about Spike and the full story of this ground-breaking project, visit www.spikemilliganlegacy.com Images to download Jane and Laura Milligan in Woy Woy Glenn Cardier PRESS KIT Spike is Back: Pick up a Pen Tour Page 3 About the documentary…… Film Finance Corporation Australia presents a Hatchling Productions film in association with 2005 Adelaide Film Festival I told you I was ill: the life and legacy of Spike Milligan An intimate portrait of comic legend Spike Milligan, a complex and multifaceted man who trod the thin line between genius and debilitating depression. “We don’t have a plan, so nothing can go wrong” PRESS KIT Spike is Back: Pick up a Pen Tour Page 4 Brief synopsis I TOLD YOU I WAS ILL: THE LIFE AND LEGACY OF SPIKE MILLIGAN is an intimate and deeply personal portrait of comic genius Spike Milligan through the eyes of his brother, three daughters and third wife. Each saw a very different side of this complex and multifaceted man who forever changed English comedy and trampled on the notions of decorum and deference. For the first time his family have opened up their personal archives to reveal Spike as a brilliant, tortured and visionary man who brought laughter to millions around the world while battling debilitating depression. Jane Milligan with Spike “The godfather of alternative comedy” Eddie Izzard “Modern British comedy started with Spike Milligan” Michael Parkinson The funniest person of the millennium” BBC poll “A great inspiration” Michael Palin “Pure madness” Robyn Williams PRESS KIT Spike is Back: Pick up a Pen Tour Page 5 One Page Synopsis This is the definitive story of the man dubbed ”The Godfather of Modern Comedy” For the first time, Spike’s family have agreed to open the archives and reveal the real Spike Milligan: visionary, comic, writer, father, husband, knight of the realm, and the most famous manic depressive in England. Featuring commentary from a cast of Milligans, including his brother, three daughters and third wife, plus Joanna Lumley, Michael Palin and Eric Sykes, this intimate portrait uncovers the man behind the silly noses, funny accents and unending love of the absurd. From 19th Century vaudevillian Ireland to an Australian backwater he satirically christened "the largest above ground cemetery in the world", and all points in between (including Rangoon, London and outer Lewisham), Spike’s story unravels like one of his scripts. Alternately comic, dramatic, romantic and often surreal, it paints a picture of an idyllic childhood tempered by war, depression and English weather, and casts a light on the reckless and sometimes tortured trail left by a man burdened with the gift of genius. For centuries there has been debate about the connection between creative genius and mental illness and particularly manic depression, now known as bipolar disorder. Aristotle asked in the 4th century BC "Why is it that all men who are outstanding in philosophy, poetry or the arts are melancholic?" English poet John Dryden wrote: "Great wits are sure to madness near allied" and throughout the 20th Century the claim has been made that "there is a thin line between genius and madness". The life and legacy of Spike Milligan adds a new chapter to this debate. The central storyteller of the film is Spike’s youngest daughter, Jane Milligan. She and her sisters Laura and Sile have agreed for the first time to open their family archive and tell the story of their father as they knew him. They do not believe that Spike’s depression was inherited or that it has been passed down to the Milligan children and grandchildren. Jane speaks to people who were close to Spike during key periods in his life, and through these interviews and archive footage, the story of Spike’s life is re- examined and reviewed. Much of the story is located in a small Australian town just north of Sydney called Woy Woy, where Spike’s parents lived for 40 years and where Spike made frequent visits. He wrote many of his famous books in his parent’s small weatherboard house and became involved in local campaigns to protect the environment and heritage of the area. Over the years, Woy Woy came to regard Spike as one of their own, and after his death, the town came together to stage a unique festival called Spikefest in honour of their famous visitor. Spike’s brother Desmond and daughters Laura and Jane played an active role in the festival, and Desmond allowed the crew to film in the Woy Woy house which is a treasure-trove of Milligan family history and memorabilia. His own archive plus Jane’s discovery of Spike’s old home movies shot in Woy Woy create a vivid picture of Spike’s family history in Ireland, India and their connection to Australia. The story of Spike’s professional life is revealed through his manager Norma Farnes, and colleagues such as Eric Sykes, Joanna Lumley, Eddie Izzard and Michael Palin. His children reveal what he was like as a father, sharing their memories as well as their photographic, audio and visual archives. Shelagh Milligan talks about Spike from the perspective of a wife and partner for 25 years. This unique portrait of a man who changed the face of English comedy and left an indelible impression wherever he went is accompanied by a comprehensive web site with a rich array of additional features. A DVD is currently in production. The film includes a rich archive of Spike Milligan material from the BBC and ABC as well as valuable personal and family photographs, audio tapes and home movies of Spike with his family, where he claims he came closest to finding some kind of happiness and a sense that his life was worthwhile. PRESS KIT Spike is Back: Pick up a Pen Tour Page 6 Principal Characters Spike Milligan Jane Milligan (Spike’s daughter) Laura Tierney (Spike’s daughter) Sile Harrower (Spike’s daughter) Desmond Milligan (Spike’s brother) Shelagh Milligan (Spike’s third wife) Norma Farnes (Spike’s Manager) And interviews with: Michael Sellers (son of Peter Sellers), Joanna Lumley (Actor), Eric Sykes (Comedian), Michael Palin (Comedian), Eddie Izzard (Comedian), Richard Lester (Film Director), Beverley Spiers (very close friend of Spike’s), Georga Malcolm (Spike’s Granddaughter), Paul Gunning (Historian), Myles Dungan (Radio Presenter and Author).
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