EDINBURGH 2016: BWW Q&A - Lemons Lemons Lemons Lemons Lemons

BWW speaks to the people behind Lemons Lemons Lemons Lemons Lemons ahead of its run at the 2016 Edinburgh Festival Fringe.

Tell us a bit about the show

Lemons is about a world in which there is a government-imposed limit on the number of words people are allowed to say per day. By looking at this world through the lens of one couple's relationship, the play becomes about the ways we communicate with each other both personally and politically, and about love, and politics, and freedom of speech.

What inspired it?

The show was inspired by a poem, which introduced us to the central conceit of a daily word limit. From there, we talked a lot about what kind of play that idea could find a home in, and how the idea of word limit could work effectively on stage.

Why bring it back to Edinburgh?

At the end of our Edinburgh run last year, we did a one-off show at Roundabout, Paines Plough's pop-up theatre. It's a gorgeous, intimate venue with an incredible energy, and the performance there was one of the most special that Lemons has ever had. When coming back this summer for a full run became a possibility, we would have been mad to say no.

It's also a show which we hope responds well to whatever's happening in the world. A big part of the play is the way it deals with the idea of political frustration and powerlessness, and so we hope it's going to speak to audiences in a whole new way in light of the profound sea changes we've seen in British politics in recent months.

How has audience response been so far?

Since we premiered Lemons in January 2015, audiences have been incredibly generous in their responses. You only really learn what kind of show you've made when you put it in front of people, and what we've found is that this is a play which different people come away from with very different things. There's something in it for everyone.

Who would you recommend comes to see Lemons Lemons Lemons Lemons Lemons?

Lemons is a romantic comedy, and a political drama. It's got a dystopian sci-fi idea at its heart, but it's also funny and tender. If you like plays which put big ideas on a human scale, and which make you laugh but also make you think about the world, then Lemons is for you.

Timings and ticket information for Lemons Lemons Lemons Lemons Lemons are available on the edfringe website.

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