EDINBURGH 2018: BWW Q&A - A Generous Lover

BWW speaks to La JohnJoseph about bringing A Generous Lover to the 2018 Edinburgh Festival Fringe.

Tell us a bit about A Generous Lover

It's a show about queerness and madness, love and loss. It borrows a lot of formal tropes from classical drama, and epic poetry, but also one third of it is delivered in Scouse, so I get to veer from poised to raucous every few minutes which makes it quite a ride - so buckle up, baby.

Why is it important to tell this story?

The central story is autobiographical - I wrote it when I was spending virtually all of my time in a psychiatric institute, with my boyfriend who had been sectioned during a manic episode. It was such an isolating experience, because nobody around us knew what mania was or how to respond to it. Our friends basically said, "Yeah, he's too nuts for me - so I'll see you in about six months, yeah?"

I hope this show will start a bigger conversation and help people to feel less alone in moments of crisis like this. Does that sound worthy enough? (I hope so, because I have to cast myself in the right light if I'm going to achieve my dream of being the first person to be canonised during their lifetime).

What sets it apart from other shows at the festival?

The segment with the fifteen live rattle snakes is really inventive, and the bit where I'm joined onstage by two and a half original members of The Supremes is quite neat. The writing's pretty good too I guess. Oh and I'll be vaping!

Who would you recommend comes to see A Generous Lover?

Naughty nuns, lonely hearts, teeny boppers, pack rats, people with more money than sense, the Pulitzer nomination committee, Whoopi Goldberg, and anyone who has a heart (so I can break it and slip them a script to make up for it).

What do you'd hope audiences will take away from the show?

Me, on a sedan chair, hopefully in the direction of a gin joint where there's Sheryl Crow on the jukebox and lovin' in the air. (Failing that Costa coffee will do but I draw the line at Greggs).

La John Joseph presents A Generous Lover at the Anatomy Lecture Theatre, Summerhall EH9 1PL, 4 - 26 August (not 13 and 20), 16:10 (17:10) | £10 (£8). Previews: 1 and 3 August 16:10 (17:10) | £8. Box office: 0131 560 1581 | www.summerhall.co.uk

Photo credit: Attila Kenyeres

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