“Alberta Jones has an amazing way of designing a set which sets amazing challenges and limitations – so it is really a part of the dramaturgy in it’s own right.”
WHO: Kit Redstone: Writer
WHAT: “A dark comedy about the epic battles and alliances within the psyche and the beautiful power of the mind to protect itself from pain. Max wants to tell you a story, he’s not sure why or even who he is; savage, peacekeeper or critic. But he’s hoping you’ll be able to help. From award-winning writer Kit Redstone, writer of Testosterone: ‘A refreshing, genuinely smart piece of work full of undercutting humour’ (Lyn Gardner). Passengers uses ensemble theatre to charter the labyrinth of the mind and invites you to see the self in a whole new way. British Council Showcase.”
WHERE: Summerhall – Red Lecture Theatre (Venue 26)
WHEN: 14:30 (60 min)
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Is this your first time to Edinburgh?
I’ve been to Edinburgh a fair few times. The last time I was there my collaboration with Rhum and Clay Theatre Company, ‘Testosterone’ was part of the British Council Showcase. It was a tremendous experience, and we got to meet and talk to delegates from all over the world and plan some international touring. I’ve always found the fringe a really intense experience, kind of like none other. But the thing I love most of all is the incredible depths of energy, strength and enthusiasm that we all manage to muster for an entire month.
What’s the biggest thing to have happened to you since Festivals ’18?
Probably the opportunity to tour Internationally with Testosterone. It was such a rich experience. We were in Brazil at the same time that Bolsonaro came into power, working with a group of trans performers to help them build a show. It was the most humbling experience. They were such an incredible bunch of people. We had to have a translator during rehearsals, but the joy of seeing them perform a show that they crafted from their own experiences, fantasies, imaginations was a pleasure to behold. I can’t express how much I gained from those touring experiences.
Tell us about your show.
So, the show came from my own experiences with a mild form of Dissociative Identity Disorder as well as a groundbreaking approach to psychotherapy, that all of us are made up of different personalities. The show is set entirely in the mind of Max, the protagonist, dramatising his alter personalities and the epic battles and alliances between them.
After writing a draft of the show, I invited director and dramaturg Jessica Edwards, whose previous work I’ve loved, to work with me as well as Set Designer Alberta Jones and Producer Jolie Booth. We were then lucky enough to add the brilliant Neil Chinneck and Jessica Clark to the cast, the script has been further developed with the ensemble – so everyone has had a hand in making this work. It is truly a collaborative effort. Alberta Jones has an amazing way of designing a set which sets amazing challenges and limitations – so it is really a part of the dramaturgy in it’s own right.
Despite the serious subject matter, the show is playful, wild, bombastic and surreal. And Jess has really teased out such interesting, creative ways of telling this strange story.
We’ll be doing three previews at Clapham Omnibus 25th to 27th July before heading to the fringe.
What should your audience see at the festivals after they’ve seen your show?
I’m so looking forward to Ridiculusmus ‘Die Die Old People Die’. I absolutely love their work, they teeter so masterfully on the edge of comedy and tragedy.
I’ll also be going to see Rhum and Clay’s War of The Worlds written by Isley Lynn for the second time. I just love their physical storytelling which is always so impressive.
I’m looking forward to seeing lots of Queer Theatre – Teddy Lamb’s ‘SinceU Been Gone’ looks great and reallly fun.
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