General News
4 October, 2024
Liam Robertson talks performing with Katy Perry at AFL Grand Final
Horsham's Liam Robertsons roaring journey from HAC teen to MCG .
Hey Matt, there's a Katy Perry picture at the bottom of the story that we can run in print.
A Wimmera performer has shared his excitement after performing alongside a global pop icon during the AFL Grand Final.
Horsham's Liam Robertson shared the stage with Katy Perry during the pre-game performance on Saturday, September 28.
"It was incredible, I've had the week to kind of think about it and try and put it into words," he told The Wimmera Mail-Times.
"How do you describe the feeling of standing in front of 100,000 people in the middle of the MCG ... having Katy Perry playing in your ears?
"It was brilliant. I loved it. She was so close to us, so we could watch her do her thing, which was pretty special."
Robertson was part of a 160-strong contingent of performers from various talent agencies in Melbourne, including his university, the Patrick School of the Arts.
He said the lead-up to the grand final performance showed him why Perry is a world-class performer.
"Working with an artist of this caliber, like Katy Perry, you realize very quickly that everything in her life is very structured and very organized," he said.
"We worked a lot with her team. It was very interesting to see the way that all the little parts behind the scene. Whether it was costuming and wardrobe people to sound or her choreographers, every idea came from Katy."
Robertson sported a futuristic pink champagne boiler suit and carried an inflatable disc.
"They were 1.5 meters long. We all had them on our backs, running around," he said.
"We had no idea what that looked like until we were on the field. It was pretty cool seeing the aerial shots and actually seeing worked out in the end."
While the uni student had no plans to follow in Kevin Federline's or Cris Judd's footsteps, he said he would jump at the opportunity to perform with Perry again.
"My personal ambitions are more geared towards musical theater, rather than back up dancing, but it's definitely one for the books that like," he said.
"I would definitely do again if the opportunity came."
At home treading the boards
Robertson is in his final year of studies at the Patrick School of the Arts.
He first left Horsham for Melbourne in 2020, leading him to reflect on the next chapter in his career.
"I'm currently in my third year of musical theater training, so I'll graduate at the end of this year," he said.
"It wraps up a five-year journey that I've been on.
"There's just a lot of auditioning at the moment for musical theatre; the calibre of what is required is very high, which is very exciting.
"It keeps me on my toes and keeps me working on my skills and building contacts throughout Melbourne."
In 2024, he starred in the university's production of The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee, several corporate jobs, before preparing for the final show of his course.
"We're going into our production of Sweet Charity for the end of the year," Robertson said.
"It's very exciting as well because it's our graduating show.
"Outside of the stage shows, we did many corporate gigs through the agency.
"We did some live TV crosses for Coles, a few jobs for Crown... little things that we can do on the side while we study."
"You have to run yourself like a business. It's very much about networking and connections and making sure that you present yourself in the best possible light at all times.
"It's kind of like a full time job, when you think about it, because everything could lead to something else."
In Horsham for a mini break, Robertson said he looked forward to seeing the Horsham Arts Council's performance of 'The Pirates of Penzance' at the Horsham Town Hall.
He said he looked forward to reconnecting with many of his mentors and former castmates.
"HAC pretty much gave me everything I had before I left Horsham," Robertson said.
"I started when I was 13 or 14 and would have done most of both shows each year until 2020.
"HAC has been huge in giving me the passion and the drive and all that for musical theater."
