A middle-aged dad dispenses parenting tips through the medium of Harrison Ford films in a new stage show. More below.
The Martin Decker Show, the lo-fi indie made for £500 in the throes of lockdown, debuted on the festival circuit last year. The film (which we featured in our ‘Never mind the blockbusters’ issue, available here) tells the slightly melancholic tale of a wannabe content creator going through a midlife crisis in his bathroom, featuring BMX stunts in a bathtub, a hand-painted backdrop and a bearded dragon called Spikey.
Now, creators Keiron Self and Kevin Jones are taking the character on tour. Still separated from his wife and navigating a relationship with his son, Martin has been hired for a series of TED talk-style multimedia presentations to distribute parenting tips to the good people of Wales – themed around the films of Harrison Ford, obviously. From indie to Indy, if you will.
“After the film, we still couldn’t leave the character alone,” Self tells Film Stories. “So we thought it might be a good thing to [do] a TED talk. Having shown that he’s a shit husband with some issues, we’ve moved on to him being a terrible father.
“Because I’m slightly obsessed with Harrison Ford, he’s going to present his thoughts on fatherhood through the specific lens of Harrison Ford films and Harrison Ford characters. We’ve got a small screen and a few props for some reenactments, from Indiana Jones And The Last Crusade to Star Wars and The Force Awakens.”
The show is set to maintain the homemade feel of the original film and accompanying YouTube channel while telling a completely standalone story, blending comedy with a slightly more serious look at men’s mental health.
“When we toured the film, we had a lot of men coming up to us of a certain age saying that they really identified with Martin,” Self says. “[Now] we’ve got some men’s mental health charities involved – Lads & Dads, who’re based in Wales, have been very supportive.”
Ticket-holders for the stage show (titled Martin Decker: Dad) will be given a link to watch the original film – previously only available at festivals or on its own in-person tour in 2024 – at home.
Check out the full list of tour dates below:
Sherman Theatre, Cardiff 2 – 5th June
The Torch Theatre, Milford Haven 25th June
Maesteg Town Hall 26th June
The Wellfare, Ystradgynlais 27th June
Theatr Mwldan, Cardigan 7th October
Aberystwyth Arts Centre 8th October
Wyeside, Builth Wells, 10th October
Neath Little Theatre 16th October
Horton Village Hall 18th October
Tickets for the Sherman Theatre show are available here.
