Lena and Joey are having a baby. Lena has bought a pinstripe suit. Joey is soaking wet. A show about queer family making and what it takes to make one. Baby in the Mirror is the debut show of Second Adolescence, a new theatre company from Stella Marie Sophie and Sammy J Glover, Director and Co-creator of The Last Show Before We Die ***** (Guardian).
Would you mind giving us a brief insight into what your show/event/performance is?
Lena’s wearing a pinstripe suit. Joey’s soaking wet
Baby in the Mirror is about queer baby making.
It’s basically about all the big questions that we ask or don’t ask but probably should ask… about what it means to have a baby and create a family.
It will surprise you.
Babies tend to do that.
Tell us about the creative team and the process involved?
I think we’ve gone through about a thousand versions of what the show could be. Mostly, we’ve followed the content and from that found the form.
We wanted to create really in-depth characters and our wicked cast, Derek Mitchell and Zoë West, have played a huge part in making this show feel like it’s about real people that you want to keep on watching.
Sound is a big part of our show too. Not as tangential to the piece, but as part of the story and the worlds of the characters, growing alongside them. We’ve been lucky enough to have Roly Botha composing for us and designing all the sound.
And of course we’ve got the incredible David Doyle too, who is legendary in lighting design and will bring all our worlds together.
How does it feel coming to the Fringe?
Arghhhhhhhhh !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
With shows from all over the world at the Fringe, what sets yours apart?
I’ve never seen this story on stage before. Something that goes into the knottiness of babies, and queerness, and community. It’s honest, deeply rooted in real people and experiences, whilst also delving into existing in a world that ultimately isn’t built for you. Or it isn’t ready for you – yet.
Is there anything specific you’re hoping the audience will take away?
After one of our rehearsal days we all went to the pub and had a three-hour conversation about our relationship to family and children. Loads of the things we said hadn’t been shared before, let alone even articulated. I’m hoping audience members do the same. I hope some feel joy and hope. That others feel cathartic. And I hope that some learn a thing or two.
Your Ideal audience is in attendance, who’s watching? Or more importantly – who isn’t…?
Everybody should be watching this.
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?
If we can make it to the sea at least once during the month, I’ll be happy.
Yes – go see Goblin by Derek Mitchell (also at Summerhall). He’s out of this world.
In your ideal world, how can we improve the Fringe, performance, and the industry?
The cost of coming to the Fringe is wild. There are loads of artists with incredible ideas and shows that can’t take their work up to the fringe right now. We’re missing out on a lot of that; we’re missing out on seeing their work, and everybody deserves an opportunity to share their work. I don’t know how to improve that, but it’s a massive problem.
Interested in being featured on our Have a Gander page? With many previews and Q&As lined up, we’re always happy to chat about including your show in future articles. Please do get in touch through the contact page to feature in an upcoming ‘Have A Gander’