EdFringe Talk: J.E.N.

Posted in EdFestivals 2023, Written Interviews by

“You can have next to no audience for a full three week run, and then happen to be seen by the one right person who ends up launching your career to the next level on your last day.”

WHO: Jennifer Kehl

WHAT: “Jen’s Evolution is Nigh: One woman. One TikTok challenge. Seen through the millennia. Popularised by TikTok, “get ready with me” morning videos showcase people’s daily morning rituals through a quick-cut social media lens. But how would these routines differ for a medieval peasant, a Fifties housewife, or a CEO of the future? This commentary on the hilarity of the human race shows the evolution of one woman’s morning routine as seen throughout history – from the Stone Age to the apocalypse.”

WHERE: Paradise in The Vault – The Annexe (Venue 29) 

WHEN: 16:15 (45 min)

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Is this your first time to Edinburgh?

Though I have performed at the Edinburgh Fringe before, this is my first time bringing a self-produced solo show. The Ed Fringe is truly unique if you are a performing artist. You can have next to no audience for a full three week run, and then happen to be seen by the one right person who ends up launching your career to the next level on your last day. Or you can luck out and get a five-star review in your first week and have sold-out crowds for your entire run. Or you can absolutely crash and burn and have to cancel all your shows because a million people take your flyers but nobody shows up at show time. The Ed Fringe is a gamble and a hustle and the most terrifying, exhausting, and wonderful experience in the entire world.

What are the big things you’ve learned since 2022 and have you absorbed any of the lessons yet?

For the 2022 Fringe, I had the cushy job of simply being “actor.” Of course, I was out flyering and advertising for the show I was with, but I did not have to do any of the intense marketing. This year presented a truly steep learning curve in terms of the producing and advertising side of things. I completely underestimated how active you have to be on social media and how difficult it is to get reviewers in to come see your show if you haven’t lucked out in the first week with a notable media outlet. We still haven’t received any professional reviews despite some rave audience reviews and non-stop TikTok videos, and I have to be honest – if my boyfriend didn’t have a Twitter account, our show would really be struggling at this point. It’s all about the social media folks! I have definitely learned how to be more confident in terms of flyering, starting conversations, and sending non-stop emails to press. Most importantly, I have learned that it is truly exhausting and distracting to have to do all of this other stuff and THEN have to go on and perform every day with 100% energy. It’s a feat, and I highly recommend coming with a team if possible.

Tell us about your show.

I’m a third year MFA student studying theatre at Rose Bruford college just outside of London. Part of my education involved spending time at the National Theatre Institute in Waterford, Connecticut, where I met the brilliant writer and director Rachel Ropella. We definitely sparked working together at school and so when I approached Rachel asking if she’d like to work on a climate change-themed play to take to the Ed Fringe, I was delighted when she accepted. Rachel and I spent a few months over Zoom doing historical research and writing the play together, and through Rachel’s Minnesota-based company Melancholics Anonymous, J.E.N. was born. We bounced quite a few ideas around in the early days, but the one that stuck was the concept of ridiculous social media trends like the popular “get ready with me” morning routine and what that would have looked like throughout history. Our show uses this concept to explore (in a light-hearted way) how “trending” practices throughout history have led us to where we are today in terms of climate change. The Edinburgh Fringe marks the premiere of J.E.N. and we hope to have a future with the show – though we are currently trying to just survive Edinburgh before determining what happens next.

What should your audience see at the festivals after they’ve seen your show?

Oh gosh, I’ve seen SO much good theatre this year… here are some of my favourites. For sketch comedy / circus weirdness, “Laser Kiwi – Rise of the Olive” had me in stiches, awe, and wonder, and the performers are super nice to boot. I saw and participated in the most incredible small venue magic / theatre show called “It’s Magic, But Is It Art?” Which was part monologue, part art history lesson, and part intimate magic incredibleness (is that a word?) “Adaptation: Enough Already” REALLY spoke to me as a woman who often feels herself overwhelmed with the people pleasing. It was beautiful and heart-felt and had great, live music. “Klanghaus: InHaus” was just a really cool immersive room with some rockin’ live music and insane projections which I loved (they provide ear coverings for the audience if it’s too loud!)”Chicken” was a bizarre and truly delightful solo show that was just so different from all the other solo shows out there – it’s highly recommended. If you want something slightly funny but also sobering and beautiful, go see “Afghanistan is Not Funny.” Finally, I’ll say that I did the little outdoor escape game through Agent November called “Major X Ploe-Shun” which was actually super fun even though we didn’t solve it in time and all got a button that said “I exploded.” I could go on forever – get out there and see some shows!

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