EDINBURGH 2018: BWW Q&A- Valerie

BWW catches up with Robin Kelly to chat about bringing Valerie to the 2018 Edinburgh Festival Fringe.

Tell us a bit about Valerie.

'Valerie' is a story about family mythology - what is passed down to us through stories and through genetics. It's an investigation of performer Robin Kelly's family history as a way of questioning what lies ahead for his own mental health. It asks the question of nature verses nurture - does nature load the gun and nurture pull the trigger? Is it inevitable that you will become mentally ill if your grandfather was, or is it possible to claim an inheritance of resilience from your grandmother? It's part theatre, part gig, part science lecture.

What was the inspiration for the show?

My grandfather was never well. He had bipolar disorder and paranoid schizophrenia, he and my grandmother Valerie were divorced when my mother was a teenager, and he was in a home for most of my life, but we all grew up with the stories of he and Valerie in their earlier days. It always sounded so glamorous. Two years ago, Valerie gave me a 12-page letter she'd written to her lawyer justifying grounds for her divorce. In order to show that divorce was warranted she needed to lay out all the facts of the relationship. It even had a title: 21 Years of Married Bliss. She was so dry. And it spread their whole history out on paper. I learnt a lot from that letter - it didn't seem glamorous anymore. And it also triggered a realisation that I wasn't looking at these stories just because they were interesting. I was looking at them to try and figure out what's been passed down the genetic line. What I've inherited.

There's a strong current of depression (and more) in our family, and more suicides and breakdowns on my mother's side than is comfortable to think about. It's particularly uncomfortable since my own depression and anxiety seem to be worsening as I head towards my thirties. As I unpacked Valerie's story the fear kept growing and I needed to know more about what I've inherited. How bad it could get for me.

The show goes to some dark places. I've written some pretty brutal truths. I've written science lectures. But ultimately I think the show is about love. As cheesy as that sounds. It's a love letter to my grandmother. It's a way of me saying thank you to her, and to relieve the burden maybe."

How has Valerie been received so far?

Audiences have been overwhelmingly positive, it's been a bit of a shock. Of course we love the show ourselves, but it's gratifying that other people are responding so passionately to the story as well. 'Valerie' is such a personal story, yet its relevance is proving to be universal. That's why we're so excited to bring the work to Edinburgh, and see how far the reach of this story extends.

Who has been cast?

'Valerie' features a cast of three performers: vocalist/guitarist Cherie Moore; pianist (and writer/creator) Robin Kelly; and drummer Tom Broome (Aaradhna, Anika Moa, Home Brew).

Who would you recommend comes to see Valerie?

'Valerie' is for anyone who's ever wondered about, known or investigated their heritage. It's for people who value their families and also for those who've ever experienced a family fracturing. This show is a unique offering in the festival - the content and the way that content is presented makes it an exciting show to be at. Even though it's a story that's personal to Robin, it's amazingly universally relevant - wherever we've toured there's always been a crowd of people waiting around after the show to talk to us about their experiences, about what they saw on stage that mirrored their own family, their grandmothers, their parents. It's a unique blend of family anecdotes, music and scientific exploration. It will delight and surprise, and, most importantly, start a conversation.

https://tickets.edfringe.com/whats-on/valerie

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