The Edinburgh Fringe is almost upon us and to get prepared for another Scottish summer 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 Hannah Ponturo about their new show 1518: The Dancing Plague.
Can you tell me a little about your show and what audiences can expect?
1518: The Dancing Plague is a riotous satire inspired by one of history’s most delightfully absurd true stories. It’s got nonstop dancing, religious panic, government incompetence, and enough existential dread to make it historically accurate. But beneath all the chaos is a heartfelt love story between two peasant women whose romance grows as the world around them completely loses its mind.
What drew you to this specific story, and why does it belong at the Edinburgh Fringe?
When I learned about this historical event it felt like it was made for the stage due to its inherent campiness and natural blend with dance, music, and art. This story belongs at the Fringe because it embraces the festival’s spirit by celebrating art in its many forms, drag, comedy, dance, paintings, and live performance.
What has been the biggest challenge in bringing this production to life?
Though 1518: The Dancing Plague was originally imagined on a much larger scale, stripping it down has revealed the heart of the piece. Our ensemble of eight actors embodies multiple characters, relying on inventive staging, movement, and theatrical storytelling to create an immersive world. It’s a production that embraces the resourcefulness and imagination at the core of Fringe theatre.
How does the design of your show (set, sound, or lighting) impact the presentation of your story?
Our brilliant set designer, Cameron Radenberg, whose background is in sign graphics, has created a series of hand-crafted medieval scrolls that seamlessly transport the audience from one location to the next without the need for a traditional set. Complementing the world of the play is an original song by Antihana, whose contemporary sound beautifully bridges the gap between the 16th century and today.
If you could sum up the show in one word or phrase, what would it be and why?
Silly. The show is silly, love is silly, life is silly, and even tragedy can be silly.
1518: The Dancing Plague runs at Studio at theSpaceTriplex (Venue 38) from August 24th – 29th. Tickets can be purchased here: https://www.edfringe.com/tickets/whats-on/1518-the-dancing-plague
