In Conversation with Warren Ellis: Infectious Energy & Standing Ovations

Ballarat-born, Paris-based Warren Ellis makes his return to Sydney after Dirty Three’s Australian tour last June. This time, it’s as part of Vivid Sydney and the Sydney Film Festival, as he promotes new documentary Ellis Park.

Ellis Park, directed by Justin Kurtzel (Snowtown, True History of the Kelly Gang), is about Ellis’ life to date as well as the Sumatra wildlife sanctuary that Ellis co-founded in 2021.

The film is centrally themed on finding purpose in life, as well as the importance of community and compassion.

The long-time Nick Cave collaborator and film composer is being interviewed in the City Recital Hall about the film, as well as his life and musical career.

The stage is set up with two chairs a metre or so apart, separated by a large bouquet of flowers. Double J presenter Zan Rowe is our interviewer for the night.

Introduced to the stage by Rowe, Ellis animatedly greets the crowd, a windmill of flailing limbs. He’s draped in a brown suit over a tucked-in AC/DC t-shirt with deep red shiny shoes. “Fucken Sydney, hey?” draws cheers. Despite the suit and venue choice, decorum’s out the window.

Before Rowe can ask a question Ellis breaks into a powerful 6-minute violin solo. He wails into the microphone with both his violin bow and his voice. His screams are blood-curdling yet beautiful.

Putting away the violin he settles into his chair and the questions begin. Rowe’s early comment of “Interviewing Warren is the easiest job ever” isn’t far off the mark as it feels like he averages 15-20 minutes per response.

It does feel like less of an interview and more of a monologue at the whim of the interviewee. “This isn’t an answer to the question you asked” Ellis concedes to Rowe after a 10 minute far-ranging tangent. “No”, she replies to laughter from the audience.

His anecdotes truly roll through as those of a 90s rockstar. From getting off alcohol and ‘smack’ in 1999 (“everything but psychedelics”), to getting his dogs into a posh London restaurant because he was mates with Flea.

Throughout the interview it’s clear that his main piece of advice to listeners is to ‘give it a go’, whatever it is they want to be doing. He also highlights the importance of ‘finding your own way’ to do things.

Warren Ellis is a compelling interviewee to watch. His bodily mannerisms, physical appearance and speaking cadence are all very engaging. He’s shifting from the edge of his seat to sinking into it regularly, back and forth, as his energy levels rise and fall throughout.

After an hour of speaking he breaks out the violin once more and wields it masterfully for a solid 10-15 minutes. Again he’s using his body as some kind of shadow-combat tool, kicking out at the air and lunging around the stage. He contorts his body in captivating ways.

After a standing ovation, Ellis starts telling another anecdote which causes the audience to laugh and sit down again. The man can seemingly talk forever.

An opportunity to see Warren Ellis speak is a special experience for any fan of the Dirty Three, Bad Seeds, or of music in general. His passion and energy is infectious and inspiring.

Ellis Park will be screened across select Australian cinemas from June 12.