Would you mind giving us an insight into what your show/event/performance is?
Don Quixote (is a very big book) is a retelling of ‘the first ever modern novel’, written by Miquel Cervantes in 1605 (part two in 1615). A book of misguided idealisms, epic follies and ridiculous quests which we have condensed into 55 minutes of clowning and puppetry, intercut with insights into my life as a performer and concerns about mortality. Like Cervantes’ tale, the show is funny, poignant, thrilling, deep, ludicrous and may contain giants.
Tell us about the creative team and the process involved?
The show was co-written and devised by my director, Emma Williams, creative technician Chris Collier and me, with music by Simon Preston. We spent 10 days over a few months in Bristol, breaking the book down into workable scenes whilst I made all the puppets (apart from my decrepit horse Rocinante, who was sculpted by Izzy Bristow). Then we went to Nordland Visual Theatre on the Lofoten Islands, up in the Norwegian Arctic Circle. It is a fantastic creation house nestled between craggy mountains and freezing arctic fiords. We had perpetual daylight and some of that sleep deprivation added to the craziness of the show.
How does it feel coming to (back to) the Fringe?
Even though I’ve got a senior railcard, this will be the first time I have ever done Edinburgh! I had always thought of it as a young person’s game and was quite happy travelling to ttinternational festivals, but something about the subject of the show made me decide that now would be the perfect time to make my Fringe debut. That, and the fact that the show fits into three suitcases, rather than the four massive flight-cases my other shows require.
With shows from all over the world at the Fringe, what sets yours apart?
It’s the end product of 45 years of performing as a clown and puppeteer. In all that time, I have only ever been a performer and puppet maker. I’ve never had to work in a bar, coffee shop, call centre or office, served dried-up sandwiches at a wedding, painted houses or been a human statue. Although there’s nothing wrong with any of those jobs, I have been fortunate to have had all these years honing my skills and have thrown them all into this one hurrah of a show.
The idea of making a living from theatre in this day and age is delusional to say the least, but like Don Quixote, I am ignoring all the flags and ploughing on regardless. Also, am I crazy to be performing 24 shows in a 17kg suit of armour at 63?
On that, is there anything in the production or production team’s backgrounds which influences the way the show is performed or told?
The book, Don Quixote covers many topics, such as illusion vs. reality, friendship and love, class and social hierarchy, justice and morality. These are all things that we could relate to. Emma Williams is a bit of a history buff and has a knack of diving deep into the socio-political context and then weaving it into the narrative, and Chris Collier (who co-runs the Wardrobe Theatre, Bristol) quietly watches the rehearsals and then drops in the best gags to save the day. He also makes it look exactly like the dusty plains of La Mancha. Simon Preston just writes the best tunes! Each of them went the extra mile to make Don Quixote (is a very big book) a really beautiful show.
Is there anything specific you’re hoping the audience will take away?
What I would like is for everyone to have had a thunderously good time, laughed a lot and come away happy. Then later to reflect on their own lives and ask, “Is better to see the world exactly as it is, or to fiercely chase a vision of how it could be?”
Your Ideal audience is in attendance, who’s watching? Or more importantly – who isn’t…?
All and sundry, but preferably over the age of 12 and with a smattering of people who have actually read Don Quixote, so they can marvel at the exceedingly clever way we’ve adapted the material and snigger at how we’ve permeated the original subtle humour with our own stupid jokes.
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?
It’ll be impossible to relax, there’s 4000 shows to see!
There is a few shows I definitely want to catch, starting with ‘Dracula: Lucy’s Dream’ by Plexus Polaire. Bram Stoker’s story told from Lucy’s perspective with a cast of life-sized puppets. It too was created at NVT in Norway.
Max Fulham is an amazing ventriloquist who will be on at the Pleasance, the ludicrous ‘Jill & Jill’s Tupperware Party’ at the Underbelly and I’d be a fool to miss Paul Currie performing ‘Remove Your Skin Please’ at the Laughing Horse @ The Counting House. Then, maybe I’ll find a good sports masseuse to unwind all my knots
Don Quixote (Is a Very Big Book) runs at Venue 23, King Dome at Pleasance Dome
Runs: 5th – 31st August at 15:25pm
Photo credit – Josie Morrison Young Photography
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