“Whilst I am a playwright, I am also a full-time student, and over the past year I have been able to learn and absorb a great deal through my studies, making this show a passion project.”
WHO: Kiera Joyce
WHAT: “After a murder is committed in Jacobean London by a man wearing motley, two playing fools from different productions must prove their innocence with the help of a bard, an innkeeper’s wife, a harlot and the all-knowing judge. Intertwined in guilt and innocence are the torrid affairs of the pleasure and playhouses and the love of an old fool for his actor-king… What motivated the killer? Dubious investments in the fledgling Globe Theatre? Scandalous family secrets? Syphilis? You decide! As the trial reaches its climax, it’s the audience who must play jury and deliver the verdict!”
WHERE: Willow Studio at Greenside @ Riddles Court (Venue 16)
WHEN: 12:50 (50 min)
MORE: Click Here!
Is this your first time to Edinburgh?
It is not my first time in Edinburgh although it is my first time bringing a show to the Fringe. Thankfully I am accompanied by a wonderful Production Team, the majority of whom have, for the past three years running, brought a variety of shows to the festival. I am incredibly excited to be a part of it this year as The Edinburgh Fringe represents to me everything brilliant about theatre: it’s this giant melting pot of new and exciting live ideas being realised all at once. Whilst I cannot personally speak on the differences between being a producer and a punter, my team tells me that the former is far more involved in the scene and I cannot wait for that level of involvement! Although certainly we’ll remain punters of many a new show this year too!
What are the big things you’ve learned since 2024 and have you absorbed any of the lessons yet?
What an interesting question! As this show has taken shape, I have come to truly value the beauty of working with a great Production Team, as well as the benefits that an increased knowledge of the Renaissance period has had on my Postgraduate Degree in Renaissance Studies. Whilst I am a playwright, I am also a full-time student, and over the past year I have been able to learn and absorb a great deal through my studies, making this show a passion project– and whilst I did work to maintain the mass appeal of ‘A Murder in Motley,’ there are a few easter eggs for any historians in the audience. Since moving to Scotland in 2024, I have had the pleasure of being involved in seven productions in this wonderful country. Whilst I did previously work on shows in London, I was often a part of a very small production team and had taken on a very central role in all areas of production. Thus, to sit back and allow experts in their fields to take control of what they do best has been an absolute joy! Learning to let go in this manner has been a real pleasure and not only do I get to absorb this lesson, I am constantly learning from my peers and their expertise. I think that’s a sentiment which really extends into the Edinburgh Fringe – an amazing global platform that facilitates this exchange of learning, ideas and inspiration.
Tell us about your show.
Our show was written by Kiera Joyce (myself, for my sins) and produced by the brilliant Leia Ransley. Both Leia and I have worked on a range of award-winning productions across London, Oxford and Scotland, myself as writer and director and Leia as producer or director. We are also lucky enough to have Heather Tiernan, Amelia Thompson, Elena Bello and Ryan Cunningham completing our crew, all of which have had extensive previous experience in their various positions of Technician, Publicist, Costumier and Wellbeing Coordinator; and together our brilliant cast was selected from a great number of amazing auditionees! Our production team came together through the University of St Andrews’ Theatre Scene, specifically the Mermaids’ Performing Arts Fund. Whilst we are a range of both postgraduate and undergraduate students, and a mix of people both new to the fringe and old-hats, it is the first time we have taken this particular show to the festival.
From comedy and queer farce to historical accuracy and tear-jerking moments, ‘A Murder in Motley’ holds a wide range of appeal to the diverse Fringe Audience. Not only this, but each show is different, as it features two alternate endings that are determined by the audience who act as jury to the trial set before them. This level of involvement, I hope, will be appreciated by our thespian fringe audience.
The play serves to question the fine line between character and actor throughout, reaching its climax during sentencing. When the lights point towards the audience as they give their verdict, leaving the actors merely to observe, as all the people become players, we may wonder – who really is performing?
It would be amiss to only perform this show about performance on a single stage, and whilst we are excited to debut at the Fringe, we are hoping to take the show down to London – to other Arts Festivals, and possibly to off-West End venues. Although it currently stands at 50 minutes (making it the perfect length for a lunch break show), we are interested in pursuing the opportunity to perform an extended version in the future.
What should your audience see at the festivals after they’ve seen your show?
It is difficult to pick just a few as the lineup for this year’s festival looks absolutely stunning and I’m sure we’ll get to know many more brilliant shows on the mile too. All the same we’ve got to begin by recommending other shows from the University of St Andrews’ Mermaids’ Performing Arts Fund; ‘Soul Sucking’ and ‘If You Don’t Laugh,’ after our tales of bawdy houses and bards they will serve well to pull you back into the modern age. And we wouldn’t be Early Modern lovers without recommending a trip to see the classic ‘Shit Faced Shakespeare,’ which with any luck will be much like our actors at the cast party! We’re also very excited to see ‘Lady Macbeth Played Wing Defence,’ and will be having a group trip to watch it!
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