EDINBURGH 2017: BWW Q&A- Translunar Paradise

Tell us a bit about Translunar Paradise.

Translunar Paradise is a show about A VERY OLD man called William who has just lost his wife, Rose, to cancer. When she dies William refuses to let her go - so she stays as a ghost and she goes on a journey with him through the memories of their 60-year marriage - and gradually Rose encourages William to say a final goodbye. It's told without words using hand-held masks, mime with live accordion music and song. It's Theatre Ad Infinitum's fourth production, it's been touring since 2011, picked up nine awards to date, and returns to Edinburgh this August.

Why bring it to Edinburgh?

This year is Theatre Ad Infinitum's ten-year anniversary and we've been making sure we celebrate! We've toured last year's Edinburgh hit, Bucket List, all over the UK for 3 months; our dystopian sci-fi thriller, Light, enjoyed its fourth London run for three weeks in May-June; and this summer wouldn't be complete without a visit to the Edinburgh Festival - so we're bringing back two of our most Popular Productions: the multi-award winning Translunar Paradise, and our one-man 'tour de force' and Stage Award winning Odyssey.

This summer also marks our tenth visit to Edinburgh and Pleasance Theatres - so we're really excited: it's where we started, it's where we built our wonderful audience, and it's how we have been able to tour all over the UK and the world.

What sets it apart from other shows at the Fringe?

I think that theatre without words, mask work, and mime are a rare combination - but it's also the shows profound and human themes, explored in an unexpected way, which set it apart. We couldn't have anticipated the effect it would have on audiences - creating as it does, a communal space for grief, enduring love and laughter. The post show impact is unlike no other show I have known - people we don't know approach us and spontaneously share their own stories of love and loss -it's incredibly touching and I feel so lucky that Translunar Paradise continues to tour and move people to this day, I can't wait to bring it back to Edinburgh.

Who would you recommend comes to see your show?

Because the show is without words, it can cross all language and cultural barriers, it's accessible to D/deaf and hard of hearing audiences, and just about anyone over the age of 10 can come and enjoy this play.

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

We're really hoping to catch Kneehigh's Flying Lovers of Vitebsk, Rhum and Clay's TESTOSTERONE, Paper Cinema's Macbeth, and we're really excited about our close collaborator Amy Nostbakken's debut from her new company Quote Unquote, it's an award winning play from Canada called Mouthpiece.

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

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