Michael Matou was an original. All those who knew him, who saw his work in the halcyon days of Sideshow or with the Lindsay Kemp Company, will never forget him. He possessed natural qualities others strive for, his imagination took his thoughts beyond the day to day, he was comfortable with the surreal, the lateral, the larger than life. His ability to caricature was as defined as the clarity of his observation. And his line on a page could speak as chapters in a book. His conversation was simply the doorway to another world
Matou's character creations remain unforgettable, the productions memorable, his aspirations admirable, his achievements extraordinary. His life? Well - he was a man of his time and very much a man of his own making
Aged fifteen, he found friends in the entertainment heart of Sydney’s Kings Cross. He found writers, poets, artists, dancers, striptease dancers, shopkeepers, cafes, girlfriends, boyfriends, drugs. He was befriended by these colourful tribes in the lower basement of the high rise of society. While working at The Barrel, Michael met the beguiling Cigarette, performing her stylish striptease with characteristic cool and humour. She remembers him at that time as “excruciatingly shy” and quietly obsessed with his artwork in which she observed a striking talent
In 1975, Lindsay Kemp arrived at The Barrel to watch Michael now performing his own erotic cabaret. Lindsay invited him to join the company's forthcoming Australian tour. In saying “Yes!” this catapulted Michael up several rungs of the ladder. Over thirteen years, Matou travelled the world with Lindsay, later becoming Associate Director and sharing his lead role in 'The Big Parade" at Sadler's Wells and La Scala, Milan
Performing in 'Salome' at London's Roundhouse 1977, Michael Matou met Martin Raphael, now working as Lindsay's musician. This was the beginning of a new life together in which they created Sideshow Theatre Company that performed concurrently with Michael's global commitments
Michael passed away in Barcelona in 1987 from AIDS
Matou's character creations remain unforgettable, the productions memorable, his aspirations admirable, his achievements extraordinary. His life? Well - he was a man of his time and very much a man of his own making
Aged fifteen, he found friends in the entertainment heart of Sydney’s Kings Cross. He found writers, poets, artists, dancers, striptease dancers, shopkeepers, cafes, girlfriends, boyfriends, drugs. He was befriended by these colourful tribes in the lower basement of the high rise of society. While working at The Barrel, Michael met the beguiling Cigarette, performing her stylish striptease with characteristic cool and humour. She remembers him at that time as “excruciatingly shy” and quietly obsessed with his artwork in which she observed a striking talent
In 1975, Lindsay Kemp arrived at The Barrel to watch Michael now performing his own erotic cabaret. Lindsay invited him to join the company's forthcoming Australian tour. In saying “Yes!” this catapulted Michael up several rungs of the ladder. Over thirteen years, Matou travelled the world with Lindsay, later becoming Associate Director and sharing his lead role in 'The Big Parade" at Sadler's Wells and La Scala, Milan
Performing in 'Salome' at London's Roundhouse 1977, Michael Matou met Martin Raphael, now working as Lindsay's musician. This was the beginning of a new life together in which they created Sideshow Theatre Company that performed concurrently with Michael's global commitments
Michael passed away in Barcelona in 1987 from AIDS
