FESTIVAL THEATRE | Previews
THE SOAKING OF VERA SHRIMP Playwright explores magical powers as a coping mechanism
THE OUTSIDER Magical theatre performance from a new perspective Finnish performer Janne Raudaskoski’s new show The Outsider fuses traditional clowning technique with magic and modern multimedia to examine one man’s attempt to make sense of a peculiar new environment.
Following a critically and commercially successful run of Fat Alice at the Traverse, Alison Carr is introducing her latest creation to Edinburgh audiences this August in The Soaking of Vera Shrimp. Fourteen-year-old Vera’s preternatural ability to read the emotional content of raindrops, soaked up from the water’s contact with others, provides the basis for a show that explores universal themes in an intimate setting. ‘At its heart, the show is about grief and hope,’ says Carr. ‘I wanted to explore a character who is feeling lost and lonely, something we have all, to varying degrees, felt in our lives.’ After the death of her mother, Vera’s discovery of her power gives her a way to cope with the tragedy. ‘Her conviction and determination keep her going, actively researching and learning about her amazing ability,’ says Carr. ‘It gives her focus while all around her things are changing.’
Raudaskoski introduces his alter-ego : ‘A naive Beginning life as a narrated storytelling show that won the 2013 Live Theatre / The Empty Space
character, not of this world, emerges onto the stage and sees people for the first time. His alien eye experiences the extraordinary nature of the human world and searches for good and bad examples of humanity. The show uses humour to help communicate serious issues, and it’s also touching. I am in the solo lead role and also perform all the walk-ons, so altogether I am performing 40 roles – some of these at the same time, which is definitely magic.’ He believes there is a different rhythm in
European work than British or American. ‘It is slower,’ says Raudaskoski. ‘But this is not as traditional as other European pieces. My work moves between art and entertainment: I try to break the boundaries between the two forms. The performance asks audiences to consider questions around humanity and think about their challenges and passions, no matter what their cultural roots and backgrounds are.’ Raudaskoski is heavily informed by 1930s movie stars, who played with the pathos of the underdog. ‘Charlie Chaplin made people laugh and cry, though here the character is more influenced by Buster Keaton,’ he says. ‘A stony face fits better with the technological tricks. My aim is to take the silent film imagery and present it in the modern day, in full frosted colour with different special effects’.
But, he admits, there is something of his own personality reflected here. ‘I recognise in myself the feeling of being an outsider in society,’ he says. ‘I also look at the events in the world with wonder, but with my eyes very much open, as my character does.’ (Lorna Irvine) ■ New Town Theatre, 220 0143, 8–30 Aug (not 18), 5.30pm, £12 (£10). Previews 6 & 7 Aug, £8.
92 THE LIST FESTIVAL 6–13 Aug 2015
Bursary Award, The Soaking of Vera Shrimp evolved through a collaborative process into a solo performance that places its ‘funny, brave, bolshy and vulnerable’ protagonist – played by Tessa Parr – centre stage. ‘It’s all told directly to the audience,’ says Carr, ‘and that brings a real connection to what we’re talking about and exploring.’
Helmed by 2007 Arches Award-winning director Rosie Kellagher, this unique solo show-cum-science lesson promises a moving yet funny look at a young girl’s recovery from heartbreak. (Jordan Shaw) ■ Pleasance Courtyard, 556 6550, 8–31 Aug (not 18), 12.45pm, £7.50–£9.50 (£6.50–£8.50). Previews 5–7 Aug, £6.
RECLAIMING VIETNAM Autobiographical journey unearths past secrets
Kim Chinh’s autobiographical story is a reminder that identity is not simply a matter of birth or location: the American writer and actor discovered that there was a part of her that she had not always acknowledged.
‘I started with a rant just after a trip to Vietnam with my father,’ she says. ‘It was my dad’s first time to see his country again after 40 years, but I came back to the US feeling cheated.’ Not having learned Vietnamese and feeling that ‘my knowledge of the culture had been so limited,’ she created Reclaiming Vietnam as a way of exploring her relationship with her heritage.
Despite being a personal solo show, Chinh promises plenty of action. ‘It’s a play where once it starts, you lose track of reality because you’re so drawn into the world of the play. You’re on a motorbike in Vietnam, with balmy breezes and the ghost-filled nights. You’re on a rollercoaster ride with the extreme ups and downs.’
Chinh says she's excited about presenting her work to Edinburgh audiences. ‘The audience are there to hear a secret and take part in the healing process. They are judge and jury.’ (Gareth K Vile) ■ Greenside @ Infirmary Street, 618 6967, 17–29 Aug (not 23), 12.35pm, £8 (£6).