Where in the world am I today?: North Vancouver, BC, Canada
Prologue: The Dung Beetle… That’s how John Ullyatt was billed at the 2000 Edmonton International Street Performer’s Festival. He was dressed up in a odd looking get-up which semi-looked like he was a giant cockroach and was pushing around a huge ball covered in little bits of tape… The concept was that people could right down their shit on some tape or paper and he’d add it to his ball of ‘dung.’ I believe it was his first venture into the world of Street Theatre. At the time he had already established himself as one of the leading stage actors in Edmonton, and this was just a fun little jaunt off the beaten track it seemed. We hit it off right away and when the opportunity came to join forces in 2002 with another friend from Japan, Iori Mikumo, and formed ‘The Executives.’ Flash forward to 2007 John brings his Human Fountain out to the PNE Street Stars Program and becomes “Johnny Rains” a nicknamed coined by Glenn Singer. I have an enormous respect for John’s work and a deep appreciation for his friendship. He never lets me take myself too seriously and is enormously encouraging and generous with is support for my crazy ideas.
Stats:
Name: John Ullyatt
Birthday: May 10, 1966
Place of Birth: Montreal, QC, Canada
Started Performing/Working in the Industry: Singing in several rock bands in high school. And a couple of dares. That was smart.
Discipline: Human Fountain/Actor/Inventor
Websites: www.johnnyrains.com, www.fireflytheatre.com, www.johnullyatt.com
Video Link: http://www.johnnyrains.com
Venues Worked: Edmonton International Streetfest, Street Performance World Championships, Banff, PNE, Waterloo Arts Festival, Fringe
Hot 10 Questions:
- What’s your favorite flavor of ice cream and why? • Chocolate. Because it’s freakin’ chocolate AND it’s ice cream.
- Name one movie that would make it to your Top 10 all-time great films • Blazing Saddles, Gates of Hell
- What was your favorite toy from childhood? • Tonka!!!
- Who were your biggest inspirations when you got started? • Steve Martin, Peter O’Toole
- From the world of animation what one character do you most identify with or see yourself in? • A cross between Bugs Bunny, Droopy Dog, and The Tasmanian Devil
- Name something that scares you. • Dying alone in a puddle of my own urine.
- Apart from the entertainment industry, name one other job you’ve had. • The Post Office
- What’s something you haven’t done yet that you’d like to try? • Eating fire.
- What’s your least favourite thing about being a performer? • Bad pay.
- If heaven exists, what would you like to hear God say when you arrive at the Pearly Gates? • “Well, you fucked that up didn’t you? Go back. Try again. Here – be a doctor. A really good, absurdly wealthy, profoundly happy and wise doctor.”
The Nugget:
Pick one nugget of wisdom you’ve picked up from your career in Show Business to share with the World.
“Be nice to people.”
–John Ullyatt
