Serena Basra talks to Artistic Director Brigid Larmour about Neil D’Souza’s new production Coming Up at Watford Palace Theatre from 10 Oct – 24 Oct
Coming Up is billed as an “evocative, playful and magical drama about broken family ties, and the need for connection” and is certainly one to keep an eye out for. After more than 30 years Alan returns to Mumbai on business and is forced to come to terms with a way of life he turned his back on, as he makes an unexpected discovery about his late Father.
Chorleywood Magazine: How does Coming Up differ from other pieces you have directed at Watford Palace?
Brigid Larmour : This piece is a new territory. It is about one man’s story of trying to connect to and relate to his father, and what made his father the man he is and was. It is also a subjective look at India and about the British perspective on India and the transformation in how the child thinks of India. So it is very much a play about family, and it is quite magical too.
CM: So this piece is perhaps more theatrical than previous productions?
BL: Every piece at Watford Palace is different. This is perhaps the most storytelling piece, we have five actors playing dozens of different people. It is part of a developing journey. A thing we are trying to do is bring a marriage between physical movement and text. This development in theatrical storytelling is something people may have already been seeing at Watford Palace. If people saw the production of Love Me Do or Jefferson’s Garden they’ll see that there’s a real theatricality and truthfulness in the words that is common to all three in the productions.
CM: Do you feel the shifting nature of family is the key element in this play or does Coming Up explore a myriad of different themes?
BL: It is difficult to attribute just one theme to a play as the great thing about a play is what you feel about it when you’ve seen it. This play concerns a son coming to terms with the loss of his father and the boy making a different relationship with India. The story is about the son discovering more about his father. Coming to see a play is an emotional journey, and we can all relate to this piece in different ways. It is a very theatrical journey. Neil, who wrote the piece, was keen to make it so and it is very entertaining.
CM: I understand that this is a physical theatre piece (movement direction from Shona Morris) how do you feel that adds to the production as a whole?
BL: It is funny you have to describe it as physical as all theatre is physical, although in the last century there became a separation between straight plays and physical theatre. At Watford Palace we are playing with the whole scale and range in the play. It is about being more expressive and theatrical. Both the film and television industries are so successful and it is great when the stage can do something different. For example Shakespeare didn’t have much scenery but you had to imagine it which is why the Globe is so successful. The kind of work Shona Morris (Movement Director/Associate Director) does is about releasing the scale and ’epicness’ of the story. That is the wonderful bit about theatre as it is a game, and there is pleasure in that!
CM: Has this physical element affected the design of the set in any way? Is it quite bare and left to the imagination or a more rich tapestry of sorts?
BL: The important thing about the set is that it has its own beauty. Neil wanted the red earth floor to represent that of Mangalore. The play is quite fast-moving so the set is simple, but we have a rather magical forest. It is not austere or minimalist but playful and theatrical.
CM: How have workshops been going for this piece?
BL: The workshops have been brilliant. We have been able to get into rooms with the actors and test out the script so Neil could rewrite it to make it even better ahead of rehearsals. Some of the actors already knew each other and 4 out of the 5 members of the cast had worked for Watford Palace previously. To have an ongoing relationship with these actors is brilliant as it is a place where people feel more at home. It is a fantastic cast playing fantastic parts, some of whom have never really been asked to do this sort of physical theatre before.
CM: Who would you say this piece appeals to particularly?
BL: The piece is slightly dark for very young children in places, but fundamentally it is a world of warmth and celebration.
CM: Finally, what advice would you have for young people looking to get more involved in the arts?
BL: There are all sorts of ways to get involved at Watford Palace. For example we have the Young Producers and the Youth Theatre for all ages and interests, whether they are interesting in acting or the more technical side of theatre. It is important to go and see theatre and to read plays but do get involved as that is what we are here for!
Coming Up runs from the 10 –24 October. For tickets, visit: www.watfordpalacetheatre.co.uk