Loading...

An R.E. trip to Manchester!

2 minute interview with co-artistic director Julia Samuels.

Q:So Julia, whilst the country basked in a September heatwave last week you were inside a black studio space at the Contact in Manchester – why?

Julia: It was part of the Research and Development process for our new co-production “I told my mum I was going on an R.E. trip…” We brought the cast and creative team together for the first time.

Q:That sounds more scientific than creative, what do you do in R & D?
Julia: Well we were testing the latest draft of the script – seeing which bits work and which bits I need to rewrite. Also it’s a chance to try out ideas for the staging, music and lights.

Q:So you were playing around really!
Julia: In a way, but everyone worked really hard too.

Q:So not much time to enjoy the heatwave?
Julia:No! We didn’t even have windows in the space we were working in – we couldn’t even see the sun!

Q:It’s certainly an unusual title – what’s the play about?
Julia: I have interviewed over fifty young women, health workers and campaigners about unintended pregnancies and abortions. It’s something one in three women in the UK are faced with but no one talks about it. The script is based on all those interviews.

Q:Was it a successful week’s work?
Julia: Definitely! The actors, Aizah, Emma, Dorcas and Jamie-Lee, all bonded which is very important for any show and by the sharing at the end of the week I think everyone felt they had a good feel for how the production will develop.

Q:Is a ‘sharing’ literally where you share what you have done?
Julia: Yes, we ran through the play and invited friends, young people and project partners to watch and give us feedback.

Q:And what did you learn from the feedback?
Julia: It was very positive! The audience found it really powerful and moving, but also enjoyable and even quite funny, which I don’t think they were expecting. Some people talked about their own experiences in the discussion we had at the end, which I think will probably happen when we tour the show in 2017.

Q:When does it open and where?
Julia: Back at Contact in Manchester next February maybe we’ll catch another heatwave then! We’ll then take it on a national tour so people should look out for that unusual title in their local theatre!

Accessibility Tools