“No matter how challenging it may get, collaborating and all banding together will always create something beautiful.”
WHO: Ianthe Bathurst, Thea Mayeux and Danielle James
WHAT: “Iris and Thalia. Thalia and Iris. A flatshare. A secret. A friendship dancing on the edge of time. Everything moves different when you know it’s all coming apart. From the company that brought you Bluewater (‘a true original’ ***** (BingeFringe.com)), this electric ode to female friendship by Danielle James confronts us with a searing question: how do you grieve something you haven’t yet lost?”
WHERE: Gilded Balloon Patter House – Nip (Venue 24)
WHEN: 15:00 (60 min)
MORE: Click Here!
Is this your first time to Edinburgh?
This will be our fourth time at Fringe (just can’t get enough) and the second fringe show with Band of Sisters Theatre which is made up of myself and Thea Mayeux. After the success of our 2022 show Bluewater (Gilded Balloon ‘a true original’ ***** BingeFringe.com) we just had to come back. Fringe is such a magical place – from the incredible array of performances to the madness of flyering there are always challenges, surprises and hidden gems to discover. We are so excited to bring Knives and Forks by Danielle James to Gilded Balloon this summer!
What are the big things you’ve learned since 2023 and have you absorbed any of the lessons yet?
So much! From trying to have more fun to getting those painfully dull emails done early to avoid the last minute panic that inevitably happens every year. We’ve also learnt that no matter how challenging it may get, collaborating and all banding together will always create something beautiful. Welcoming new voices, inspirations and energies can get you through the those ‘what the fuck are we doing!?!’ moments.
However, the biggest lesson learnt was from our fabulous writer Danielle James who shared “I have learned so many lessons about the kinds of theatre I want to make, the kinds of theatre that I think are needed and the kinds of words I want to impact people. I’ve been so lucky to participate in the Royal Court Writers Group which has taught me invaluable lessons about my practice.”
Tell us about your show.
Iris and Thalia. Thalia and Iris. A flatshare. A secret. A friendship dancing on the edge of time. Everything moves different when you know it’s all coming apart.
Band of Sisters Theatre started in our little flat in London in 2022 when we got the opportunity to co-direct Bluewater written by Grace Quigley (Gilded Balloon, Kings Head Theatre). Whilst working on this project we started discussing the possibility of creating our own show that would challenge us as actors whilst shining a relatable light on the realities of female friendship.
Everybody knows what its like to love someone, to love a friend. And everyone knows how different their lives would be without those people. Therefore, It was important for us to create a nuanced and complex piece around these themes of friendship and so we approached Danielle, after hearing a bombardment of praise about her talent, and asked if she would collaborate with us. She thankfully said yes and has since written us this stunning electric ode to female friendship.
This show will be previewing at Riverside Studios in Hammersmith, 15th – 21st July before we take it to Gilded Balloon, Nip at 3pm. It will 100% have a life beyond the Fringe!
What should your audience see at the festivals after they’ve seen your show?
Shameless plugging! So many of our incredible friends and peers are bringing amazing work to Fringe this year. Our sisters “piss/carnation” are returning to Fringe kicking and screaming as the winners of the Untapped award with their new piece Ugly Sisters, which we’re sure is going to be amazing having seen inside the rehearsal rooms! Our forever inspiration and movement extraordinaire, Wet Mess, makes their Fringe Debut at the Zoo Southside from August 11th which we are literally peeing ourselves in excitement for. The incredible James Farley brings their play Good Boy to Sturgeon’s Hall, directed by the sublime Sophia Vi, which we truly cannot wait for and the amazing Gaby Foley brings her self written masterpiece, Flicker to the Pleasance. Ugh! It’s going to be an exceptional year!
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