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 Mafalda Quintas about their new show This Bloody Wedding.
Can you tell me a little about your show and what audiences can expect?
This Bloody Wedding is an immersive comedy by TIA Theatre Company. Inspired by Telenovela style, This Bloody Wedding brings to life the dream of crashing a wedding and living the drama as your own. The audience will follow seven characters, each of whom is hiding secrets. Some known, some for you to find. Through each character´s journey, the audience will have the chance to either save the wedding… or cause more chaos.
No two performances are the same. Each night offers a different perspective by a different character and timeline. Revealing new layers of the story with every visit. Expect love, notice the lies, and make sure you count the heads. After all, this is not just a wedding… It´s a Telenovela.
From the creator of Not in the Genes, this new production invites audiences to laugh, question everything, and choose sides: Who will you be attending for? After all, you are invited to the wedding of the beautiful, gorgeous, and shiny young Camila… and Antonio. Do you think you’re ready for This Bloody Wedding? I hope so, because they are not.
What drew you to this specific story, and why does it belong at the Edinburgh Fringe?
TIA Theatre Company explores the combination of the dramatic telenovelas with the closeness of interactive or immersive theatre. And what is a more appropriate place for a dramatic event than a wedding?… However, telenovelas are more than exaggerated drama. They exaggeratedly expose real-life human characteristics to create comedy. Some of the characteristics present in This Bloody Wedding are insecurity, manipulation, lies, affairs, overconfidence, desperation, jealousy, and selfishness.
Through humour, we invite audiences to recognise that these exaggerated situations often reflect real-life experiences. We believe theatre can entertain and provoke thought at the same time. Our goal is for audiences to leave having enjoyed a joyful and very chaotic evening while also reflecting on the relationships and personal choices.
What has been the biggest challenge in bringing this production to life?
TIA Theatre Company is an emerging theatre company, so there are always new challenges to face. But luckily, we have a hardworking and motivated cast, ready to make each penny of the ticket sales worth it.
How does the design of your show (set, sound, or lighting) impact the presentation of your story?
Design and set are something we invested a lot in. As an immersive play, we wanted the audience to not only feel the story but also be in the space where the story takes place.
The show will take place at Camden People’s Theatre, a venue with the right number of rooms for the play, and the right environment. There will be wedding decorations, a wedding dress, and, without giving too much of a spoiler, as the story develops, we set the space to be less ‘fairy tale’ and more This Bloody Wedding. You will see a lot of weird things.
If you could sum up the show in one word or phrase, what would it be and why?
I would say unhinged. This Bloody Wedding is a comedy full of madness. By joining the characters throughout their days, you won´t be able to hold your laughter for long. But be aware: once you step into the wedding, things will escalate before you notice.
This Bloody Wedding runs at Camden People’s Theatre on 6 – 8 August. Tickets are available here: https://camdenfringe.com/events/this-bloody-wedding/
