“I’ve been lots of times as a punter and seen some lifechanging pieces of storytelling, as well as totally bizarre expressions of art.”
WHO: Suzy Crothers
WHAT: “1993, Mum won’t let Alice go to Funderland because Belfast is burning. ‘How about Robin Hood, Prince of Thieves and Chinese chicken balls instead?’ 2018, Alice falls for Tim, but can she escape the legacy of a childhood shaped by conflict or will everything blow-up in her face? A tale of love, death and division – told with tea and biscuits. Troubled blends story, projection and humour, reckoning with the past and offering hope for the future. ‘An excitingly honest depiction of the power of human connection, told with daring vulnerability’ (Haley McGee, Olivier Nominee, Fringe First Winner 2022).”
WHERE: Anatomy Lecture Theatre at Summerhall (Venue 26)
WHEN: 11:45 (60 min)
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Is this your first time to Edinburgh?
This is my Edinburgh debut and i’m simultaneously nervous and excited – are they both two sides of the same coin? I’ve been lots of times as a punter and seen some lifechanging pieces of storytelling, as well as totally bizarre expressions of art. I love the vibrancy of the festival and that you can see whatever you want, pretty much 24hrs a day. Taking my work here has been a deeply held desire for the last 12 years and i’m so pleased that this year i can be a part of this big magic thing. i get to do the thing for 24 whole shows! It will be exciting to see how ‘Troubled’ meets audiences at this time, plus i’m looking forward to meeting audiences. I love the unpredictability of it all.
What are the big things you’ve learned since 2024 and have you absorbed any of the lessons yet?
Hmmm. Just keep on keeping on. Like i said, i’ve wanted to do Edinburgh for a really long time, and getting everything together, plus the show has been a massive learning curve. I nearly chucked in the towel in 2023 because the challenges to getting this work out there felt almost insurmountable. But i’m lucky to have an amazing team and development funding came through for us. Also, the test audiences we’ve had have kept me going, their words of encouragement and their reactions. Huge shout out to Maria and the wonderful community cafe cohort at London Irish Centre who were a vital part of the development process. I guess i’ve learnt that it takes a village to make a solo show!
Tell us about your show.
Troubled is a story of love, loss and the extraordinary power of human connection – told with tea and biscuits. Set in a divided city (Belfast), in a divided country, at a divided time, Troubled follows Alice as she grows up and attempts to negotiate love and life and relationships, but the past keeps getting in her way. This is a story about growing up in conflict during the ‘Troubles’ and the impact of that on a human. It’s about reckoning with your past so you can live in the present. The show goes to some dark places but ultimately leaves us with renewed hope for the future.
Designer Rachel Sampley has done some fantastic video work for us and there’s a lovely combo of found footage and movement and story which offers the audience a real experience of what back in Troubles Belfast might have been like.
Troubled is written by me, Suzy Crothers, Produced by Rachael Halliwell and directed by Amie Burns Walker. Executive producers are Roisin Gallagher (BAFTA nominated star of The Lovers/ The Dry) and Patrick Handley. Amie and I have known each other for years and years and in fact used to live together in a London flatshare. Amie and Rachael run all Points North Productions together so it felt like a real synergy for us all to come together and make this show.
The show has been developed over the past few years with the support of the arts council, plus organisations like Camden People’s Theatre, 1 Degree East, Power of Women and London Irish Centre.
Before coming to Edinburgh Fringe, we are excited to be doing two shows through the Red Ladder Network in Leeds, plus two shows at London Irish Centre. After Edinburgh we’ll be heading to The Belgrade in Coventry and Sheffield Theatres, which are great venues that we are thrilled about. We’d love to take the show the show farther afield post Edinburgh and are looking at America and Australia too. With the show focusing on the impact of conflict, we’d love to share the work with places that have experienced conflict too, like South Africa for example. There’s a connect there.
What should your audience see at the festivals after they’ve seen your show?
There’s a lot of exciting stuff to see, i’ve started booking already. Last year i did 19 shows in something like three days, so my bank balance is dreading the fact that i’ll be there for a month this time!
I’m looking forward to seeing:
The Queen is Mad – a new musical by McGrath and Tasker, in the mode of Six.
Anthem for Dissatisfaction – by fab Northern Irish company Skelpie Limmer whose work always has a fantastic liveliness and punch, they’ve got a second show at the fringe, Shame show, which i’m also looking forward to catching.
Consumed produced by Paines Plough- Playwright Karis Kelly was the winner of the Women’s Prize for Playwriting for this show about 4 generations of Northern Irish women.
How to Win Against History – produced by Francesca Moody. I love Matthew Blake’s work as a performer and they are great alongside Seiriol and the team.
Last Rites – produced by Theatre Ad Infinitum – I’m fascinated by anything that deals with death and loss.
Rose + Bud – Winner of the Pleasance National Partnerships award, alongside the Lyric Belfast.
Shedinburgh, run by Francesca Moody production is full of some favourite artists and classic pieces of work – i’ve booked for Tim Crouch – My Arm, whose work never fails to delight and surprise.
Haley McGee – Age is a Feeling – this show is beautiful and Haley is a gorgeous performer – this will be my third time seeing it.
Songs of the Heart Trilogy by James Rowland – James is a lovely and highly skilled storyteller, his work is classic Edinburgh joy and he will be doing his trilogy of shows all at once, it will be a feat!
This Shit Happens all the time by Amanda Verlaque, which is a true story about queer love, homophobia and coercive control.
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