EDINBURGH 2017: BWW Q&A- Speaking in Tongues

Tell us a bit about Speaking in Tongues.

Speaking in Tongues is an Australian play by Andrew Bovell. It is a play of two distinct halves. The first act is about the fragility of the monogamous relationship. How following your heart can lead to healing or hurting. The second act is much darker. There is a missing woman, a found shoe, long lost lovers and losers and twisted therapy. Ultimately the 2 halves form together to make a whole and you can piece the links from each part together like a jigsaw but if you only came to one half you would see a stand alone story.

How critical is the staging to this piece?

The piece has lots of multilayered and synchronised dialogue so our swivel seat theatre allows people to move at their own pace and pick and choose what they watch. They can follow one persons journey or take it in as a whole or switch between characters depending on who they connect with more. The audience often are found in the bar talking about what they think the piece means as they have watched it from a different angle which makes it joyously unique.

What sets it apart from other shows at the Fringe?

As far as we are aware there are no other swivel seat theatre companies in existence (or at least in Edinburgh and London). Our theatre concept allows the audience to be in control of their own viewing and move freely in their own seat. This brings another level to our performance, plus the actors are so close to the audience, inviting them into their lives but never asking anything of them, so it is a non intrusive yet intimate experience.

Who would you recommend comes to see you?

Our show is open to a wide variety of audiences, we are proud to say that we get a lot of "non theatre goers" in our crowd as it's so different. I wouldn't recommend anyone under the age of 12 as there is swearing and talk of a sexual nature.

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

We are hoping to catch a play called "The Staff Room" by up and coming writer Michelle Payne from Essex. She write for the here and now and her plays are always very topical, poignant and darkly comical. You can see her at Surgeons Hall space 53. Also we are big fans of Abandoman so we are really excited to see "Abandoman's Rob Broderick - The Musical in My Mind" at Assembly George Square Gardens.

Timings and ticket information for Speaking In Tongues are available on the edfringe website.

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