The University of Western Australia (UWA) has awarded Tim the Honorary Degree of Doctor of Letters, for his contribution to the arts, recognising his outstanding achievements and worldwide acclaim as a leading composer, lyricist, actor, writer and hirsute modern dance icon comedian.
In the historic Winthrop Hall, Tim took to the podium, in all his red finery, to address the 225 graduates assembled to receive their degrees. He delivered a speech, liberally sprinkled with sage advice and felicitous giggles.
Tim hails from Perth, of course, where he first composed for Christ Church Grammar School’s Midnite Youth Theatre Company. He then attended UWA, where he worked with the University Dramatic Society, graduating in 1996 with a Bachelor of Arts in English and Theatre. He also worked with Perth’s WA Youth Theatre Company, of which he is now a patron. He graduated from the Western Australian Academy of Performing Arts at Edith Cowan University, in 1998, with an Advanced Diploma of Contemporary Music.
Then a bit later, as you may know, he went on to rampage around the globe bashing the living daylights out of a piano, touring his comedy shows, releasing comedy albums and his acclaimed beat poem Storm. He’s appeared all over the radio and telly on three continents and (amongst other things) written the music and lyrics for the hit, record breaking, seven Olivier Award winning Matilda The Musical, which is currently running on Broadway and in London’s West End.
He’s just finished a highly successful run, playing the coin tossing Rosencrantz, in the Sydney Theatre Company production of Rosencrantz and Guildenstern Are Dead. He’ll fly home to the UK soon to rock out, once again, as the dreadlocked Judas Iscariot in the spectacular arena tour of Jesus Christ Superstar, this October and to continue writing a new (top secret) stage musical. AND he’s about to start work on a musical feature film for DreamWorks Animation. In his spare time he hopes to consume dairy products and write some more delicious, satirical comedy songs to tour, possibly within the next two years.
Congratulations Dr Tim Minchin!
Nice landing there, just before the presentation…
36 Comments
Julian Bronte Glenn on 13th of April 2014
Brill. Not that i’d ever think to disrobe in your examination room. But, I’d gladly slingshot a pair of panties towards your podium. MBE can’t be far behind.
Dids on 8th of October 2013
Congrats Tim on a wonderful address at UWA. They knew what they were doing when they ask you to speak. I wish my kids had heard that address when they left secondary school.
May your success continue to escalate. Cheers
Dids
Ana on 18th of September 2013
Muchas felicidades Dr. Minchin saludos de una ferviente seguidora de su trabajo usted es dios grande grande!!
Michael Boudewyns on 18th of September 2013
Congratulations!!!
Lucy on 18th of September 2013
Well done Dr Tim!!!
Congratulations!
John on 18th of September 2013
WOW! Congratulations Dr Tim!
Kat on 18th of September 2013
Congratulations Tim!! :)
Well deserved :) All of us Angry-feeters here in Perth love you so much and are so proud of you :D
xox
Dannielle Finnerty on 18th of September 2013
I graduated with a Master of Psychology last night and I thought your occasional address was perfect for my area of study. PLEASE, please, please make your speech available! Thank you for putting the effort into making the speech thoughtful, useful and hilarious.
ally on 17th of September 2013
Well done Dr Minchin. Your fantastic achievement has been recognised.
Ruth Wise on 17th of September 2013
(Whoops) It was special to hear it first hand but despite by sincerest conviction that I would remember it fairly clearly, it is already slipping away. Plus I would love to be able to show my friends! :)
Ruth Wise on 17th of September 2013
I was there, graduating for the second time. The occasional address at my first grad ceremony last year sent everyone to sleep, but we sure got lucky this time around. I never envisioned that I would hear the words “orgasm” and “asshole” on that stage. Thank you for the laughs, and the sound advice, and for making me feel slightly less idiotic for having decided to do a bloody Arts degree. :) PLEASE YouTube it! It was certainly s
kb on 17th of September 2013
Oh, man. I thought you were gonna be the next Dr Who!
Seriously, deserving Doctorate. I hope they give you one for science communication and critical thinking next.
Steve Somers on 17th of September 2013
Congratulations Dr. . I trust you used the venerable “Piled Higher and Deeper” to tease the academics and await the, inevitable I hope, recording of your speech
cindy on 17th of September 2013
congrats ! and you wore shoes!
Nicole on 17th of September 2013
Congratulations.
Will he make house calls?
Zac on 17th of September 2013
Congratulations, Tim!
However…I know, I’m being selfish, but…the really good news is in the last sentence: “…write some more delicious, satirical comedy songs to tour, possibly next year.”
I love Tim’s work in any form, but a new comedy tour, that’s awesome, can’t wait to see it!!
Giovane Guerreiro on 17th of September 2013
Congratulations!
God Bless You! (I’m kidding).
Bode Zero on 17th of September 2013
Congrats from a physicist in Brazil, in a huge continent amongst the ones you have not been to (yet! (language barriers?…you bet…)).
Regina on 17th of September 2013
That’s incredible! Congratulations, hottest Doctor ever to grace the planet…just what i said would be perfect for you too..;) xxx
Angela on 17th of September 2013
From Spain, with admiration and as a PhD student … CONGRATULATIONS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!1
Jen Yard on 17th of September 2013
Dr Tim- has a definite ring! Congratulations- so much excitement and success!! My undercarriage doesn’t feel quite normal…
Amanda Carrara on 17th of September 2013
Would so love to hear/read the speech. Someone must have filmed this and be willing to share Well done our Tim, your home country/adopted home country salutes you! A matter of time before the UK honorary degrees come rolling in!
Andy on 17th of September 2013
Q: Doctor who?
A: maybe one day… ;-)
Amanda Carrara on 17th of September 2013
Would so love to hear/read the speech. Someone filmed this and must be willing to share Well done our Tim, your home country/adopted home country salutes you! A matter of time before the UK honorary degrees come rolling in!
Muge Karakus on 17th of September 2013
This is amazing!!! Coolest Doc Tim Minchin!!!
Congratulations!
Terry Cain on 17th of September 2013
So cool!!! The doctor is in the house. Congrats Tim, well deserved.
Shell on 17th of September 2013
Thank you Georgia. The first was a typo. Duly corrected. :)
Wagner A. Costa on 17th of September 2013
UWA? where you happened to stumble on the one girl on Earth specifically designed for you?
Suzanne on 17th of September 2013
It is my hope that in four years, you come address my class (and that the rest of the US catches up to your awesomeness in that time!)
Rawnaeris on 17th of September 2013
Congratulations!
Georgia on 17th of September 2013
Uh, as Tim’s publicist or manager or whoever wrote this, you should probably know that he worked with Christ Church Grammar School, not Church Grammar School, which doesn’t exist in WA. Also WAAPA is not ‘at’ ECU, it is an establishment in its own right. They are next to each other in Mt Lawley but WAAPA is not a subdivision of ECU. But hey, congratulations Tim. What an amazing achievement!
Michele on 17th of September 2013
Hi Doc you are one HOT looking Doc
Ric on 17th of September 2013
It WAS a good show all round – any chance you could publish the nine gems of wisdom shared this evening? The speech suffered the anomaly of being both funny and good advice!
[BTW – my daughter was one of the doctorate graduates behind you :) ]
Celia on 17th of September 2013
Congratulations – finally your massive achievements have been recognised and very suitably rewarded. Love the red gown! :)
Naomi on 17th of September 2013
Congratulations! Thoroughly deserved. :)
Angie Hibbitt on 17th of September 2013
Congrats Dr Tim!. I’ve got a nasty rash between my toes…could you take a look.??