The Camden Fringe is almost upon us, providing one of the best times in the capital to get into Fringe theatre, and the stories it can tell. To get prepared for the festival, Read About Stuff is running a ‘Five From The Fringe’ interview series, where creative teams answer five questions about their upcoming Festival shows.
In this interview, I chat to Brittany Rex, artistic director for Cellar Door Theatre Company, about their new show Tape.
Can you tell me a little about your show and what audiences can expect?
Tape is a three-hander set in real-time, in a motel room. Jon and Vince, friends since high school, meet for dinner, but questions and secrets from their past get in the way of reminiscing. When their reunion is complicated by the arrival of Amy, Vince’s high-school girlfriend, the reunion spirals into a tense dissection of friendships and relationships, as old grudges are uncovered. The central themes are heavy, but Belber’s script handles them deftly and with a lot of humour.
What drew you to this specific story, and why does it belong at the Camden Fringe?
Tape brilliantly weaponises nostalgia. It asks the question: Can two people experience the same event and hold two entirely different truths?It belongs at the Camden Fringe because this festival thrives on raw, intimate theatre that isn’t afraid to take risks. Tape doesn’t give the audience an easy out but forces them to sit three feet away from the discomfort and act as the jury. It’s the kind of gritty, conversation-starting piece that Fringe audiences love to debate over a pint afterward.
What has been the biggest challenge in bringing this production to life?
The biggest challenge has been balancing the tightrope of empathy in the storytelling. The line between who is right and who is wrong shifts constantly. Vince is volatile but seeking a strange kind of justice, Jon is polished but deeply defensive, then Amy enters and turns both of their narratives upside down.As a company, we’ve had to dig deep into the messy, uncomfortable gray areas of human behavior. Keeping the tension high for the entire show without letting the characters lose their humanity has been a challenge, but incredibly rewarding.
How does the design of your show (set, sound, or lighting) impact the presentation of your story?
Tape takes place in a dingy motel room in Lansing, Michigan, so our design philosophy is functional claustrophobia. The Lion & Unicorn provides that intimate space so we are FULLY leaning into it.The set is deliberately sparse with just the absolute essentials, which forces the audience to feel like they are in the motel room with us. For lighting, we are using an unflattering motel-style wash with a flicker of a bulb or two, which reflects that the characters have nowhere to hide. Sound-wise, the most critical design element you’ll have to experience at the show itself! The lighting and sound design makes the audience feel like they are eavesdropping on something they shouldn’t be.
If you could sum up the show in one word or phrase, what would it be and why?
It would have to be one of our favourite lines from early on in the play. “Everyone’s a dick in high school…The trick is to evolve into something else once you’re out.”
Tape runs at Lion & Unicorn Theatre from August 11th – 15th. Tickets can be purchased here: https://camdenfringe.com/events/tape/
