EDINBURGH 2016: BWW Q&A - Scorched

BWW speaks to Lisle Turner, writer of Scorched, ahead of its 2016 run at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe.

What can you tell us about Scorched?

It's a beautiful and brutal piece of new writing and physical theatre that will make you laugh, cry and wonder why. It's about a soldier called Jack who in his old age is suffering from dementia. As his mind disintegrates memories of WW2, his childhood and his lost loves weave together in remembrance of a challenging life.

What inspired you to write Scorched?

This play is inspired by stories told to me by my grandfather. He didn't speak about his experiences in the desert during WW2 for 50 years. When he began to suffer from dementia the stories all came pouring out. They were shocking and moving. We've combined them with first-person testimony from other veterans and some family folklore to create this piece.

Why is it important for people to hear this story?

It raises questions about war, love, violence and how the male psyche is shaped by them all. The answers are just as relevant today. Most of the violence in the world is carried out by men. Society plays a role in shaping them. We need to understand how so we can end these cycles of violence.

Who would you recommend comes to see Scorched?

Anyone who wants a challenging and moving theatrical experience. We work hard on the words, the movement and the aesthetic - hopefully the audience will see that! Our primary concern is to make people feel, so they think, so they act. That's how we hope to make a positive change in the world. Also it's a show for people aged 12+ as there are some mature themes.

Are there any other shows you're hoping to see in Edinburgh?

Lots! We'll be seeing children's theatre shows with our six year old daughter but the grown ups should look out for Tipping Point by Ockhams Razor, Bucket List by Theatre Ad Infinitum, The Lounge by Inspector Sands, Imbalance by Joli Vyan, The Toad New by James Thierree and we never miss Daniel Kitson, Mouse: The Persistence of an Unlikely Thought.

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

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