Nat Jobe in Horrible Harriet.
Camera IconNat Jobe in Horrible Harriet. Credit: Supplied/Supplied

Horrible Harriet a surprising reward for WAAPA grad Nat Jobe

Tanya MacNaughtonEastern Reporter

WAAPA 2008 music theatre graduate Nat Jobe never predicted he would add playing the role of an eight-year-old girl to his biography.

And yet he has and said playing the title role in children’s show Horrible Harriet was the most rewarding part he had ever played.

“She’s very far removed from me because I’m gentle and non-confrontational and very placid, and she’s quite the opposite,” he said.

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“It’s really been a good lesson for me and liberating to play this bold, strong character. It’s the weirdest and wackiest show I’ve ever done and probably the one I’m most proud of.”

Based in Sydney, Jobe has returned to Perth several times since his training days with The Lion King, Pete the Sheep, Irene starring Debbie Reynolds, and other CDP productions The Gruffalo and Room on the Broom.

Horrible Harriet premiered in April at the Sydney Opera House before a national tour, including Heath Ledger Theatre from October 14 to 19.Jobe said Maryam Master had used several of Leigh Hobbs’s books for the stage adaptation and formed her own story.

“It’s a very simple idea where Harriet is trying to put on her own stage show for her audience,” Jobe said.

“It’s as simple as that, but while she’s trying to do that there are constant interruptions and things going wrong. It’s complete mayhem and chaos the whole time which is very frustrating for Harriet.

“I think she’s very misunderstood; she has good intentions but gets very frustrated when people let her down and unfortunately people are constantly letting her down.”

Jobe said the production, that had a beautiful heart and was full of slapstick comedy, was relatable to audiences with its misfit and underdog characters.

“Every child and every adult can relate to them because they’ve either been that character or met that character,” he said.

“Harriet is rough, strong and confident and there’s something inspiring in that for young people to see; you can be anything and anyone you want to be and you’ll be accepted and loved.”

THE ESSENTIALS

What: Horrible Harriet

Where: Heath Ledger Theatre

When: October 14 to 19

Tickets: www.ticketek.com.au