Cheap Date brings a crash landing of music, dance, theatre, film and comedy without holding back, in this visual duologue. A debate of self-expression, communication, humour, action and reaction through open and honest storytelling. Exploring the filth, fun and aftertaste of our everyday interactions.
Would you mind giving us a brief insight into what your show is?
We are Cheap Date, and our show is Dirty Words. A look through film, stand up, physical theatre and speech what does and doesn’t make a Dirty Word. We are a cross disciplinary company based in Cornwall, who work with real stories exploring the filth, fun and aftertaste of our everyday interactions.
Tell us about the creative team and process involved?
Dirty Words was actually initially conceived in 2019 with Cheap Date’s Director Grace Murdoch, Seamas Carey, who is at Fringe with his own show and Kyla Goodey (Kneehigh, Wildworks). But the evolution at Fringe this year has been redevised with Grace and performer Josh Penrose and we have a wonderful technician Demelza Monk. Grace is an associate artist with Hall for Cornwall and so the show has been supported by them and Falmouth University – AMATA.
How does it feel coming to the Fringe?
Cheap Date were at Fringe last in 2016 which feels like an age ago, with our first full-length work – How We Lost it, a look at losing your virginity and the awkwardness and strangeness of intimate relationships. We did a 10-day run and had the best time, this time feels very different. Different team, show, and evolution of the company, but so far we have a ball. Grace also comes to Fringe this time with her husband and 2-year-old so a very different kind of challenge.
There are over 3,000 shows at the Fringe. So, what sets your show apart?
Well Cheap Date is an experience, we use more than one form of performance so you get a mashup of disciplines. Physical theatre, speech, film, comedy, it’s a real melding of forms. We always try and make you laugh but also leave you with something to think about, in this instance we question what we say and how we say it, whilst never losing our Cheap Date cheekiness.
Is there anything specific you’re hoping the audience will take away?
That communication and language are so varied and creative. We have so much scope in the ways we communicate and yet we tend to make a lot of quick judgements, we hope an audience can come along for the ride with us and remember to laugh at themselves as well as us on stage.
Your ideal audience is in attendance, who’s watching? Or more importantly – who isn’t there…
Ooh, good one. Last time our show told stories of all our ex’s so this question was pretty easy. But now I hope for an audience who gives themselves permission to laugh. We tend to think we’d prefer to leave you with a strong feeling/opinion rather than thinking it was fine, or nice, so everyone’s welcome as long as you’re up for it.
It’s an intense month, so where you’re able, how do you plan to relax, and are there any other shows you intend to see or want to recommend?
My down time will be spent with my partner and toddler, so not sure how much relaxing I’ll be getting in. But shows wise we have seen Monet Xchange who was wicked, some stand up – Chloe Radcliffe was great, we’ve got tickets for Tamsyn Kelly, Josh is super keen to see Police Cops, oh and a show called Them looks really interesting to me personally, but generally as much as we can fit in!
In your ideal world, how can we improve the world of the Fringe, of performance, and the industry?
Practically keep challenging how it can be made more realistic for performers, it’s an incredibly expensive thing to do, improve diversity and accessibility for sure. Performance wise I think workshops by other companies would be cool and Q&A’s, for me I’m always super interested in how other people make work just as much as what work they make.
