EDINBURGH 2017: BWW Q&A- Beadledom

Tell us a bit about BEADLEDOM.

The Beadledoms are two new shows set in the headquarters of the universe. An infinite office block where the administration of the cosmos is handled by a countless army of bureaucrats. Imagine an endless version of the DVLA.

We focus on two workers in Beadledom who share an office, Max and Deborah. Max works on Alpha shift. It's his job to populate the universe with life, mixing the ingredients, inputting them into his life launching machine and firing them into the world. Deborah works on Omega shift. It's her job to remove life from the universe, isolating it using her extraction contraption and filing it carefully in her infinite outbox.

The two shows look at different aspects of life, death and human potential. Our beliefs and attitudes to them and what might make the difference between a brilliant flash of life and a dull flicker.

What are the differences between the two shows?

The shows are twins but they are not identical. They're designed to be viewed separately but they also jigsaw together to make one big circular story. They are very much driven by the characters of Deborah and Max.

Beadledom Alpha features Max, played by Edward Cartwright. Max is very much a perfectionist, the most efficient man in Beadledom and the poster boy of Alpha shift. But he is so precise and obsessed with accuracy that he has lost touch with the world and the extraordinary job that he is charged with. On the day we visit alpha shift everything is running smoothly until the unthinkable happens - Max makes a mistake and unwittingly deletes the universe and is faced with the biggest system reset of all time.

Beadledom Omega features Deborah, played by Dott Cotton. Deborah is constantly under review. She tries her best but for some reason it never quite works out for her. Her job is to process death but she dreams of making life. On the day we visit Omega shift she finally gets her chance. But how can someone so used to seeing the end of life start at the beginning?

Why bring them to Edinburgh?

This will be our 5th Edinburgh and we love it. For us it's the best way to introduce people to our new work. It a chance to be part of an extraordinary explosion of creativity and to meet the people who are watching our shows and see what they think.

What sets them apart from other shows at the Fringe?

These shows have a unique mixture of elements which set them apart. Both shows have no words. We tell our stories though clowning, music, shadow puppetry and projection. We want the audience to come out of the Beadledoms and to have experienced a full emotional journey with our characters - and then 10 minutes later go "oh, no one spoke".

Who would you recommend comes to see you?

Anyone who loves an adventure, quirky storytelling and getting to see inside someones head. Also anyone who wants to laugh. Out loud. Lots.

Timings and ticket information for Beadledom Alpha and Omega are available on the edfringe website.

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