Would you mind giving us an insight into what your show/event/performance is?
Arcana is a one-woman, music-led theatre piece that I’ve written, composed and co-directed. I am also the solo performer in the show. The story is inspired by my lifelong training as a mixed-race classical violinist and my own journey towards finding my artistic voice.
Set in an Afrofuturist and Afrofantasy-inspired world, the show follows young apprentice Arcana, a musician and daughter of the Emperor, who lives in a city where sounds and voices are repressed. We find her at a pivotal moment in her life as she must choose between following her father’s oppressive ways or finding the courage to listen to and express her own voice.
The story unfolds through virtuosic live violin, Western classical music interwoven with African rhythms, movement and striking visual imagery. Together, these elements create an immersive, poetic world where ancestral echoes, dreams and future visions collide.
At its heart, Arcana is a story about freedom, belonging and the courage to be heard. It’s a call to listen – both outwardly and inwardly – and a reminder that even when the world tries to silence us, our voices can still rise.
Tell us about the creative team and the process involved?
The world-building for Arcana has been truly ambitious. I’ve collaborated with creatives across theatre, music, movement, visual art and language, including the wonderful translator Mafo Gomlu’, who helped me write the lyrics of a song in Ghomala’ (Cameroonian language). This multidisciplinary collaboration has been key to transforming a simple story into a rich world of multiple dimensions.
What’s been particularly beautiful is seeing the team push my initial ideas far beyond what I imagined. Our video and visual designer Jamie Wardrop, for example, has brought such an organic approach to the work that really echoes the way I compose music.
And then there was the script… definitely the hardest part for me as a writer! Huge thanks to Jaïrus Obayomi (co-director), Ese Ighorae (dramaturg), Rebecca Mackenzie (writing consultant), and Hannah Venet (movement director), who supported me through sweat, tears and draft N53!
How does it feel coming to (back to) the Fringe?
It feels unreal and so energising. I went to my first Fringe nine years ago (I was living in Paris and visiting Scotland for a month). The experience was like nothing I’d experienced before. The excitement, the buzz, discovering Edinburgh for the first time, all the street performances… It was unbelievable.
I’ve now lived in Edinburgh for five years and have been going to the Fringe every year since, sometimes performing in it. So to now bring my debut show to the Fringe, and to have it presented in one of the city’s most beautiful performance venues, Assembly Roxy Central, makes it incredibly special. It feels full circle.
With shows from all over the world at the Fringe, what sets yours apart?
I believe the show is somehow unique in the way it tells a very simple story. It’s really an experience of feeling and of understanding what it takes to finally rise and be heard. I think that’s why some people who see it find it difficult to describe afterwards.
The world has been imagined and built in great depth, and you can feel the care and work that every member of the creative team has put into it. The story also gives us a strong foundation to explore a cinematic quality, through the alliance between visuals, music and movement.
Ultimately, I think what sets Arcana apart is that it’s not just something I want audiences to watch. I want them to feel it.
Is there anything specific you’re hoping the audience will take away?
I think everyone has experienced, at some point in their life, that feeling of isolation or shame when our voice isn’t respected or heard. For the hour they spend with us, I hope the audience will feel seen and heard. If they can recognise a part of themselves in the story and leave feeling a little more connected to their own voice, that would mean a lot to me.
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?
I love fantasy books! Not that I give myself enough time to read, but that’s definitely on my list. I’d also love to make some time to escape the city and go for walks in nature. I think I’ll need it!
I recently saw Tale of the Firebird by Freestyle Orchestra and absolutely loved it. It was flamboyant, joyful and completely bonkers in the best possible way. I’d totally recommend it!
Arcana will have a preview on 17 August, before opening from 18 – 31 August at 10am at Assembly Roxy as part of the Made in Scotland Showcase.
Runs: 17th – 31st August at 10:00m
Photo credit – Mihaela Bodlovic
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’