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 CJ Smith about their new show Windchimes.
Can you tell me a little about your show and what audiences can expect?
What does life want from you? What is your purpose? What now?
Windchimes is a one-man comedy drama about a young man, Son, who grapples with vulnerability following his suicide attempt. Isolated from his family and surrounded by his friends’ toxic banter, he returns to his family home in an attempt to find his place in the world.
But when he forms an emotional bond with his mother’s wind chimes, Son is forced to navigate his past and confront the fear that it has irrevocably altered him.
Expect fast-paced multirolling and sharp comedic timing with a wide cast of characters. Each brings a unique perspective to Son’s journey, from his well-meaning but painfully awkward work manager who responds to every crisis with an offer of tea or coffee, to his fiery, determined sister who challenges his bravado.
Windchimes is a story of reconnection and a reminder that no one must face their struggles alone. It will leave you crying from laughter then crying some more!
What drew you to this specific story, and why does it belong at the Camden Fringe?
Windchimes is loosely inspired by my own experiences with mental health, and the original version was much darker, exploring questions of purpose and healing without offering clear answers. It resonated with audiences at The University of Plymouth, but I felt there was more to discover.
In the past few years, conversations around mental health have become more visible, yet many men still struggle with isolation and emotional vulnerability. For me, it posed the question, how can we reconnect with loved ones when we don’t know how?
I began the process of separating the story from my experiences to focus on that question and how to make it appeal to an audience. From the show’s first few performances, I learned that while it’s targeted toward young people and men suffering with mental health, the show is also important to parents/families interested in how to support their loved ones. Windchimes has now evolved into a more hopeful and emotionally complex piece, balancing vulnerability with humour.
The show has received support from talented South West creatives, the student-led performance festival Mayfest at The University of Plymouth, The Barbican Theatre Plymouth through their Pathways Programme, and supported using public funding by the National Lottery through Arts Council England.
After performing in the South-West, bringing Windchimes to Camden Fringe felt like a natural next step. The festival encourages new experimental work and emerging artists, which is a perfect opportunity for a piece that continues to evolve. Windchimes is open to conversation with audiences, and any feedback is welcome!
What has been the biggest challenge in bringing this production to life?
My biggest challenge was bringing the cast of characters to life. It has been a rewarding challenge, particularly in learning how to shift between multiple characters seamlessly within a solo performance.
In earlier versions, I experimented with staging that placed characters in specific areas of the space, but I realised this approach was restrictive and made the piece clunky. Therefore, I focus heavily on distinct voices and physicality to differentiate the characters. This clarifies the who, when, and where in the narrative.
The other challenge has been holding the emotional thread of the piece, particularly Son’s journey. I’ve learned to ground everything through him without imposing a specific performance style, and I handle the material with care as to create a space for reflection while remaining playful. In a solo show, you’re effectively responding to yourself, which initially feels strange, but creates a very authentic performance style which is incredibly fun. Collectively, this results in a performance that one of my mentors has described as ‘cohesive, intentional, and emotionally resonant.’
How does the design of your show (set, sound, or lighting) impact the presentation of your story?
I decided to have a minimal set to not complicate the performance while reeling in the audience with intrigue as each component is intentional. Mum’s bed is the focal point, made up of a camping bed with duvet and pillows. The bed is central as it represents Son’s desire to return home and reconnect with his mother – a symbol for safety and emotional grounding.
Additional props, such as Dad’s dressing gown and daffodils – Mum’s favourite flower – compliment specific scenes. The props help build not just the physical, but emotional world of the play. Simple lighting assists the set design, guiding the audience through his memories of his garden, to his manager’s office and house parties.
The main element is the titular wind chime, hanging on a free standing pole made from a repurposed banner stand. Son communicates with them when he feels he has no one else to talk to.
Without spoiling too much, they represent an absence in his life that dates back to when he was a teenager that caused an emotional rupture in his family that had especially affected Mum. Son has this unhealed wound he wants to confront but is unable to in reality.
The sound design of the piece includes soundscapes to settle certain scenes, and the wind chime resonates in the space as it converses with Son. While wind chimes are associated with calm and healing, their contrast between function and effect on Son drives the plot forward. The audience never knows what they truly say to him, which envelops its intentions in mystery.
The set was made possible with the support of my real-life dad who sourced and built it! I’d like to thank him and my real-life mum as she has been incredibly supportive as well.
If you could sum up the show in one word or phrase, what would it be and why?
Windchimes feels like returning home after being lost for years.
Windchimes runs at Canal Cafe Theatre on 20 – 21 August. Tickets are available here: https://camdenfringe.com/events/windchimes/
