Q&A: EDINBURGH 2024: Zena Wood and Cené Hale on JAZZ ON THE RUN

BWW caught up with Zena Wood and Cené Hale about bringing Jazz on the Run to the 2024 Edinburgh Festival Fringe.

How did you each first get started in the world of theatre?

Zena studied musical theatre at Waterfront Theatre College in South Africa, film at New York Film Academy and sketch comedy writing at the PIT in New York. She’s been performing, producing and writing ever since. Her mom is also an actress, so it was a bit of a household profession and a continuous making of plays. 

Cené was part of a free theatre program in Dallas, Texas called Junior Players, where she fell in love with all things silly. It was a free/low-cost acting program for kids in the inner city.  From there she studied acting, comedy, storytelling and writing all over the US and Europe. 

Can you tell us a bit about your show, Jazz on the Run?

Jazz on the Run is a cabaret comedy show which debuted here at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe. It navigates the ups and downs of a fiery female duo act on the run from the law. Bob Fosse’s wallet is unfortunately stolen and the show potentially becomes their last one before the cops come . . . There’s jazz, there’s comedy, there are high kicks. We get audiences on their feet and even on stage during the audience participation sequences. It’s written by Zena Wood and Sam Clarke and produced by Space Weather Girl. Sam and Zena also act as producers on the show, including the wardrobe department. There are three costume changes in the 50-minute show and we would prefer that there were more! 

What inspired the creation of Jazz on the Run?

The writers (Zena Wood and Sam Clarke) played Roxie and Velma together in Chicago the musical. We loved playing the roles and often discussed what we thought happened to the characters after that seedy cabaret venue at the end of Chicago the movie. We liked the idea of a duo of this calibre to continue performing together. The end seemed to be a great place to write a beginning for similar characters. Sam and Zena love shows that display the triple threats of acts (singing, dancing and acting) and wanted this new show to be no different. 

What was the creative process like for Jazz on the Run?

The writing process between Sam and Zena was really smooth and natural. As the name suggests, Jazz on the Run requires running . . . Not really, but the reason I bring this up is because Sam, who was also playing the character, Belma, broke her toe ten days before opening night at Edinburgh Fringe. We successfully ran auditions and that’s where we met the super talented Cené Hale. Zena and Cené went into intense rehearsals and a week later, the show was ready. As a team, we are super empowered that the show could go on and that audiences could enjoy it. Because Zena and Sam were both performing and writing, it also gave us a chance to workshop the script and get it solid as we went along. When Cené was given the script, we loved what she brought to the role. It’s been really great getting to work together and we can safely say another female duo has been born at Fringe. You can never have too many! 

How do you combine cabaret and comedy to make a show like this?

Space Weather Girl likes scripts to keep to a solid structure and then add like 40% more jokes when it’s all said and done. Sam and Zena relied on their knowledge of the Chicago characters to bring these new characters to life. These characters are funny in their flamboyance, flaws and originality. They are talented and fame-hungry but they are also seasoned and old enough to know that the juice is only worth the squeeze when you have friendships. They know the power of their seasoned vulnerabilities. There is also some physical comedy in the show for example in the moment when they handcuff themselves to each other. You’ll have to see the show to know what that’s about! 

There’s something joyful about two women who know each other and themselves well and are playing with the audience on stage. It creates a great environment for comedy and entertainment. 

What is it like bringing Jazz on the Run to the Edinburgh Fringe?

Well, after the photoshoot on the EasyJet tarmac, it was just upwards from there. No, it’s been unlike anything Zena’s experienced before. The sheer scale of this Festival . .  It took her four days to find her direction in the city! 

Cené says that it’s been a whirlwind (she’s busy refreshing her choreography as we speak). She feels that this show has given her the fire she needed to bring her show to Fringe as well. Which would be great! Stay tuned. 

For Zena, Fringe is like a fish bowl where you’re faced with incredibly high-quality work and world-class, hard-working artists. There’s a feeling of “we can do this” similar to how she feels when she works in New York, actually. It’s wonderful and she can’t get enough.

What do you hope audiences take away from Jazz on the Run?

Cené says it’s okay to enjoy the present! And you can be happy where you’re at. Audience reviews have for sure resonated with that feeling of contentment, of feeling that enjoying the process and the way success hits (which isn’t ever perfect), that it’s enough. 

Zena wanted people to laugh. Kidding, but also yes - and thank you for our laughing audiences. For Zena, she also hoped that people would feel empowered by the characters. And would enjoy the fire that they embody. Foxie has for sure empowered her as a performer. She’s just her. And there is a lot of strength and wisdom in being just that. 

How would you describe Jazz on the Run in one word?

Playful!

We are excited to be planning more cabaret venue runs for Jazz on the Run this year. Space Weather Girl is concurrently producing its first immersive show together with the Amsterdam Magic Show. The run begins at the end of August. The show is called A Technology Demonstration and is hidden in the Generator Hotel. Tickets are available via the Amsterdam Magic Show website. The show takes audiences back to the 1920s with a dark sci-fi twist.

Jazz on the Run runs from 14 to 20 August (no performance on 18 August) at theSpace @ Symposium Hall - Amphitheatre at the 2024 Edinburgh Festival Fringe.

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