EDINBURGH 2017: BWW Q&A- A Thousand Doorways

Tell us a bit about your show.

This is the passionate true account of my journey among the Kurds of Turkey. It tells the story of our meeting and of the impossible decision to try to help preserve one of their most endangered traditions - their ancient folktales and legends never written down.

At the beginning of the performance I say to the audience that the journey we are about to embark on is a "modern fairytale quest" because like a fairytale it has elements of danger, unnamed treasure, unforgettable meetings and surprise. When I met Kurdish refugees from Turkey back in 2000 and got this wild idea that I should travel to their mountain villages to try to gather and preserve their folktales I never could have imagined the fantastic and improbable journey I was about to embark on.

During the performance I bring to life the events and people I encountered, playing over 16 characters. I have always admired the work of Anna Deavere Smith, how she lets the real words of those she has encountered and interviewed ring and how, through those words, we see deeply into another person's world and understand in a very powerful way. I try to let the voices of the Kurds, a people who have been silenced for so long, shine through with all of their wisdom, humor and heart. This is my chance to honour the unforgettable people that I met.

My solo performance has evolved over time as the story itself has continued to unfold, already spanning 15 years and two continents until now it has finally arrived. In the arc of the performance, I try to hold in balance both darkness and light, a fairytale journey through a mysterious world full of synchronicity, wonder, and beauty juxtaposed with the brutal reality of daily life under an oppressive regime. Through it all is the incredible resilience, courage and humor of the people I encountered. It is an uplifting story of how the human spirit triumphs in the face of all odds.

The Kurds are famous weavers of carpets and I have tried to do them justice, carefully weaving the threads of these true events into a narrative that compels us into the heart of this little known culture. The title of my piece comes from one of my favorite Kurdish sayings: "Dinya yek e dergeh hezar" "There is one world; but a thousand doorways." To me that speaks of the great possibility we have of meeting each other despite differences of culture, ethnicity or any other persuasion. There are one thousand doorways.

Why bring it to Edinburgh?

Knowing now how incredible the Edinburgh Fringe is, I wish I could say it was forethought on my part but it was actually - like most things related to the Kurdish Storytelling project - a happy coincidence. After a performance of the show last March someone said, "Hey, why not bring this to Edinburgh!" So I looked into bringing the show to Edinburgh. The fact that I had help navigating the intricacies of the submission process from my good friend Richard McElvain (He'll be performing his new play, The Chess Player, back to back with A Thousand Doorways at C Primo!) is also just as important. We all need a little help from our friends.

What sets it apart from other shows at the Fringe?

There seems to be an emphasis on lighter fare at the Fringe and I am hoping that this story will bring another voice to the table. With its relevance to all that we are living through in these times, the homogenisation of cultures, the silencing of those who would be in the way of "progress," whether that be a people or an entire species that is inconvenient, my hope is that the performance will resound like an ancient myth not only on the surface but in the depths. The unusual world of the show, the topic of the Kurds, the international breadth of the canvas - the story itself set it apart. I am in my own kind of "personal training" to make sure that I do it justice!

Who would you recommend comes to see you?

Bring me the curious, the compassionate, those who wish to be surprised by the depth of their emotions! This performance is for all those who are looking for real life experiences that challenge and inspire, adventurers of heart who are open to a journey to an unforgettable world.

Are there any other shows you're hoping to catch at the festival?

I can't wait to dive into some of the solo shows. Whether they're original stories or based on true experiences I love to see how creative people are when they are faced with creating a whole world on their own. I'll also be strongly checking out the new musicals as well because my husband, Tom Megan (www.TomMegan.com) writes for the musical stage, so he/we will want to see as much new work as possible in that genre. On our short list already are some sassy UK musicals the political satires: Trump'd and Brexit!

Timings and ticket information for A Thousand Doorways are available on the edfringe website.

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