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 Aissa Martell about their new show If By Starlight…
Can you tell me a little about your show and what audiences can expect?
The show explores two characters who are hung up on love and, after dating experiences, rely on strategy to find the right companionship. Audiences may get the impression that they’re listening to their best friend’s antics, who overshares, complete with the anticipation of an impending train wreck. And, hopefully, they laugh a bit.
What drew you to this specific story, and why does it belong at the Camden Fringe?
I sat down to write the story shortly after the Camden Fringe in 2024. I returned to the United States after what was basically 2 years of travelling Europe, and it’s the first play I penned after producing 2 shows in London. I thought about the best way to write about the change I was feeling, and challenged myself to articulate it through character and scenes. The result was If By Starlight…, and it belongs at the Camden Fringe for that reason.
What has been the biggest challenge in bringing this production to life?
As an independent theatre producer, there are always challenges; sometimes it can feel like pushing a boulder up the side of a mountain. But, I’d say for the UK run, the biggest challenge is coordinating remote rehearsals and auditions with very different time zones. By 6 pm BST on Monday night, New York City is in full swing in the afternoon, with traffic horns and construction, while Londoners are beginning to settle in from their day; it can be distracting, and as individuals, our energy is different. In previous years, I cast and held rehearsals while in the UK, and this time around, I won’t be arriving until August. That is the biggest challenge for me and probably the cast as well.
How does the design of your show (set, sound, or lighting) impact the presentation of your story?
One of the things I like best about playwriting as a medium is that you get to rely heavily on text and dialogue to tell the story. The set is minimal, and I hope that audiences feel they are getting to know the heroes on a personal level, as they use them as a trauma dumpster for their emotional hang-ups. The sound and lighting aim to encourage a feeling of familiarity.
If you could sum up the show in one word or phrase, what would it be and why?
“You can pick your friends, you can pick your nose, but you can’t pick your friend’s nose.” There are standards of engagement that almost everyone learns from a young age, then, through experience, visions change, and old adages have new meaning.
If By Starlight runs at Barons Court Theatre 7 – 9 August and the Museum of Comedy 20 – 21 August. Tickets are available here: https://camdenfringe.com/events/if-by-starlight/
