Hi. I'm Michael. And I work for the JBI - the Jerusalem Bureau of Investigations. We're a bit like the police... we're on a mission to find the truth! To solve mysteries!
And so starts the way I like to spend an average day.
I am Michael, but I don't actually work for the JBI. What I do (amongst other things) is travel around the country with a rather grouchy puppet called Inspector Smart (who insists on calling me Mikey) and tell kids about Jesus... through song... and silly hats.
It all started 15 years ago when I gave my first public talk. It was Easter Sunday. The overhead projector had been warmed up, the acetates coloured in. Inspector Smart and the Case of the Empty Tomb was born. Over the following years I developed the idea, filmed and performed Christmas versions until eventually in 2013 the Good Book Company got involved. We published 2 books of the same name (one by myself and the other by Tim Chester) and also released an album of songs.
The premise is that Inspector Smart and Mikey...ahem, Michael, work for the JBI and are given cases to solve by the rather eccentric Section Chief Lord Bernard (think 'M', Boris Johnson and pink bunny rabbit slippers mixed together).
We currently tour two shows. The first is the Case of the Empty Tomb for 6-10 year olds. This show is a mixture of drama, song and silliness as we investigate the evidence for the resurrection.
The second show is 'The Rock Went a Rolling Family Show' for pre-school to 9 year olds (and beyond if they're willing to have fun!). For this one we're on a down day at the JBI offices, but that just gives us an opportunity to go through the archives. Much hilarity and bible learning ensue! We meet Dr. Von Pomplenickel as he tries to discover what love really is; Michel the Frenchman (Michael's cousin) who asks 'can anything separate us from God's love? Non?! Tres bon!; a mysterious rapper who informs us that the end of the world is not necessarily the end of the world (BOOM!) and Igor who needs his eyes seeing to, but gets more than he had bargained for when he discovers Jesus.
On Wednesday 25th March 2015 we head off on our 2nd national tour. We're going to the North East, London, Norfolk, Bristol, the Midlands, Lancashire and beyond.
If you would like to book the show please head to www.michaeljtinker.com/inspectorsmart to find out more. We also have a Facebook page where you'll find lots of videos, photos and info on upcoming events - www.facebook.com/inspectorsmart
So, from Inspector Smart and myself, it's goodbye for now!
Michael J Tinker is a professional folk musician, author and creator of the Inspector Smart series. He also loves a bit of gardening, but isn't so keen on clearing up after his children...
