New Interview With Tristan—June 7, 2017

Tristan is back in the UK for the next leg of the Good Mourning Mrs. Brown tour.  We caught up with him on Wednesday, and he answered lots of your questions.  Enjoy!

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You have recently taken a break from dancing but will be performing again this fall.  During your time off the dance floor, did you try anything new? (a sport, activity, travel somewhere new, etc.)

Yeah, I've been doing loads of new things since taking the break and, to be honest, it's been really good for me. I'm working as a project manager in Sydney building commercial properties so a fair bit different—ha—but again my head needed the break from what I was doing and not enjoying. I've also joined the RFS and I'm back playing football and, obviously, the best job of all is being a father. I always need to get away from things from time to time to reassess what I'm doing and find out whether I am happy enough doing it or not, so for that reason the break is great. I can try new things and appreciate the old things. 
 
If you had the opportunity to sing with any band or solo artist (other than Gladys Knight), who would it be? Do you ever sing to Echo? What’s on the playlist?

I have no interests in singing with famous people, no—ha. I'm happy with the sing song at the house or at the pub. We sing all the time at home for Echo. She loves it.....well, she puts up with it more like, but Tahyna has a lovely voice and she has the talent with the instruments. I just close the eyes, throw the hand in the air, and smash out (perfectly) those Mariah Carey notes / every music is blasting there. Echo loves all sorts—generally an epic remix mashup of Peppa Pig and Giggle and Hoot. 
 
Speaking of Echo, have you introduced her to football yet?  How about dancing?

Echo watches the football with dad, yeah, and she will sit and watch the UFC but her mammy won't let her— hahaha. She is always dancing around though. Yeah, it's funny. She is gonna be a handful but is a hilarious little girl. She knows how to get what she wants.
 
What do you like most about being part of the Good Mourning, Mrs. Brown tour?  Are you back touring with them in June/July?

We are back on tour with Mrs. Brown’s Boys now. The first show is tomorrow [Thursday, June 8], and I love it as always. I feel very comfortable when I'm with these guys.  Everyone just supports each other here and appreciates each other's work and time. Everything is very transparent, and you always know where you stand. If something needs to be said about anything, you will be sure you will hear it firsthand and not through whispers. That's very important to me. It's a positive environment where backstage is equal to onstage, and I love the affection the venues and their staff have for the cast and crew and how much is it returned with no expectations. It's second nature to be kind and thoughtful, so you can't ask for more from your surroundings and the people closest to your family. 
 
You were scheduled to dance at the ABBA Festival in May. How did that go? What dances did you do?

ABBA festival was a bit of craic—bizarre and mental but a bit of craic. I'd go back again. We did three dances—Samba, Cha Cha, and Rumba to some of ABBA's songs. I can't remember which ones. Basically, Trundle (the town) shuts down, and the whole place is taken over by ABBA enthusiasts. The people line the streets, and we danced in the middle of the town. The next town over has the biggest Elvis festival, and this was set up to rival it. There is a tribute band, fancy dress, and table quizzes—all that shebang. If you love ABBA, you will have a good time. It was a long, but enjoyable, road trip for the family up there.
 
We were delighted to hear that you will be touring with Kristina Rihanoff this fall. Do you have any details about the tour, when you will begin rehearsals, or any other information? Will you and Kristina be doing the choreography? Is there anything in particular that you are looking forward to with regard to this show? (a venue, the tour itself, the performing, etc.)

Yeah, I’m looking forward to this tour coming up. We will choreograph it and probably start putting ideas together over next few weeks while I'm in the U.K.  Initially it will probably be for about three weeks—two in the U.K. and one in Ireland.  Mark Read who was in A1 will be hosting and singing, so it should be good.  I’m looking forward to doing the Irish shows. I’ve never really done any at home before so that will be special.
 
I don’t know everything about it yet, but I'm guessing it will be all ten dances with probably a few more thrown in, but we will be catching up soon and going through what the plan is. 
 
You have a busy schedule coming up. Are you looking forward to getting back on the dance floor? (And do you have any plans to return to the U.S. anytime soon?)

Lucky enough. it’s going to be very busy for the rest of the year and hopefully some things coming up in the new year. I'd love to come back to the states and do some shows, but it's not that easy just saying “Yeah. I'll do it.”  I kind of closed that door.  It was making me too frustrated and most shows rightly so need to stay relevant and, in my opinion, need to use people more recent on the tv so who knows? I'll come back and teach for sure, and if timings work, I'd be happy to do some shows.
 
You’ve choreographed many dances and performed many more, but have you ever been tempted to try songwriting? If so, how did that go for you?

No, I don't do the songwriting. I used to be real smooth and have all the right things to say but had to stop that when I grew up—haha. I absolutely love lyrics and anyone who knows me knows I love doing an impromptu speech now and again, be it gibberish or banter, but the sensitive words are saved now for my girls at home. 
 
You said these wise words in one of our interviews back in September, 2012: “Don’t fit in, stand out, be different. There is a place for everyone in everything.”  How does that apply, in particular, to those in the entertainment industry?

The entertainment industry is its own beast. Most people think they are more important than they are, but it's also full of genuinely good people following their dreams so it's a fine split. I sometimes notice that people at times find what they like about other people and become that until the new flavor comes. You have to choose what it is you want.  For instance, you have to decide what is success to you and appreciate what you do.  Some people, as strange as it sounds, rely completely on acceptance of other people and never appreciate their own value. The biggest and most important thing I think you can have is knowing worth—value of worth in yourself, your talents, and the people around you and the people you let in your life. I can't comprehend spending your life trying to impress a bunch of assholes who don't care about what happens to you before or after they have got what they want from you! Do your best and know the value of hard work and achievement.  The important thing is your opinion of worth, not someone else's. 
 
Finally, a few random words or phrases. Just respond with the first thing that comes to mind.

*dance partners
Farbs and Emma
 
*a food you tried once but will never eat again
Oysters and shellfish
 
*a beverage you tried once but will never have again
That stuff that tastes like licorice
 
*Mrs. Brown’s Boys
Family/home
 
*contemporary dance
Not for me but enjoyable when it's done right
 
*football
Seagulls 
 
*Irish pubs
Trad music
 
*Irish music
Proper story telling
 
*Rumba
Love it. I just saw a few old dances with Kym recently, and I'd like to some dancing with Kym again. That was always fun. 
 
*choreography
Derek stories
 
*teaching
Learning. I've met a lot of great people from teaching, and they inspire you and remind you to appreciate what you are lucky enough to do.
 
*tea
I love a cuppa tea.
 
*An Evening with Kristina Rihanoff and Tristan MacManus
 Hopefully fresh, fun, honesty—haha 

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Thank you, Tristan! For information on both Good Mourning Mrs. Brown and An Evening With Kristina Rihanoff and Tristan MacManus, refer to the links below.
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Good Mourning Mrs. Brown
http://mrsbrownsboys.com/tours-events/
Tickets for the UK dates:
http://www.ticketmaster.co.uk/Good-Mourning-Mrs-Brown-tickets/artist/27227
Tickets for the Ireland dates:
http://www.ticketmaster.ie/Good-Mourning-Mrs-Brown-tickets/artist/27227

An Evening With Kristina Rihanoff and Tristan MacManus
https://www.strictlytheatreco.com/kristina-tristan

Photo Credit: Strictly Theatre Co.