Edinburgh 2022: SOMETHING IN THE WATER Q&A

BWW catches up with Grumms to chat about bringing Something In The Water to the 2022 Edinburgh Festival Fringe.

Tell us a bit about Something In The Water.

In Something in the Water, I turn into a giant squid monster as a metaphor for my experience coming out as transgender. Then "Squidie" has to disguise themself as a normal human woman to hide from an angry mob with tiny pitchforks. A queering of a monster transformation story, the show explores gender, comic books and growing up normal.

Through what mediums is the story told?

The show combines live feed video projection, puppetry, comedy and audience interaction. It's kinda like a comic book come to life. Multi-media performance, like Something in the Water, tests you as a theatre maker: one minute I'm designing video edits, the next I'm sewing miniature squid tentacles. But I love it and it's why I make my own work.

Why did you think this was an important story to share?

I wanted to explore my gender journey is a really absurd and silly way. Something in the Water examines how I felt like a monster when I was first transitioning. And how the world often portrays us trans folks as monsters. When I was first coming out, I thought "does this make me a monster? does this make me evil?"

I also wanted to make something uplifting for queerdo-weirdos in my audience. I think it's so important right now for us to see empowering queer stories, ones that can make us laugh and help us feel seen.

Who do you hope comes to see Something In The Water?

I hope the show can reach queer, trans and questioning folks. That's really who I made it for - so they can feel seen. But I also think even the most cisgender, conservative audience member can enjoy this show. We can all laugh at how ridiculous it is that my squid monster has to put on a dress and high heels to disguise themself while on the run from an angry mob with tiny pitchforks.

What would you like audiences to take away from the piece?

I hope audiences leave feeling seen and empowered, and with a little better understanding of the trans experience. And that it's only by being your true self, can you ever be the hero of your story.

Photo credit: Jaz Anderson Photography

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