"You must have a passion for what you want to say, you must know why it needs to be said and to be heard. " DEBBIE BIRD
Ahead of a twelve day run at this years Edinburgh Fringe Festival, The Actors Pad caught up with the wonderful DEBBIE BIRD to learn more about the creation of her new one woman play 'BUZZING' which has an early test run this Saturday 13th July at The Old Red Lion Theatre in London.
BUZZING - 'After hosting an Erotica Party at home, newly divorced Julie, resolutely decides to enjoy her unspent youth and find some men to rekindle her sexuality and feel like a woman again. But before she can do that, she has 10% commission to spend and she’s not sure of what battery bed pal she should go for. Over the 50 minutes of the show Julie introduces us to a range of characters who have hindered or helped her transition from frumpy housewife to an empowered woman of 21st Century.'
What inspired you to create your own show?
At age 48, I gave up a successful teaching career to go to ALRA and do my MA in professional acting. For our final we had to create a piece of theatre. It was easier to create a solo show as I was so much older than the other students in my group. Someone said, write about what you know. Years ago I was a party planner for a company selling sexy lingerie and toys, I was good at it. I had a stream of banter for the toys along with funny stories I had picked up along the way. So, the original piece began with Julie having an Erotica party and sharing the stories plus some insight into her own experiences of sex from virginity to age 50.
What advice would you give to anyone thinking of writing their own play?
Firstly, you must have a passion for what you want to say, you must know why it needs to be said and to be heard. What drives you to tell this story? What do you want your audience to feel/understand/take away from it? Research, know your facts and allow your imagination to take flight. Don't sit and think for too long, just write and write. Be brave and bold. You can cut it later!
How did you pick the themes for the piece?
In its original, drama school format it was 25 minutes of, almost, stand up. It was funny but had no depth. With guidance and a bit of prodding from my director, Mark Farrelly, I started to think about Julie and myself, and put myself in her shoes. I realised that she was a menopausal woman like me who struggled to be noticed. I questioned what it would be like to be suddenly single in 21st century and took it from there.
“The menopause and lives of middle aged women are still not discussed or explored enough. We are invisible, not seen as women with desires and needs, but as labels; mum, nan, carer.”
Have you been to Edinburgh Fringe before?
Yes. I was there in my first year out of drama school, in 2017. I went with Second Circle Theatre with Meeting at 33, a verbatim, immersive piece about recovering alcoholics, set in an AA meeting. It was very successful, mostly sold out, and I had a ball.
What are you most looking forward to about your 12 day run?
It will be exciting to perform it consistently, night after night, and see how much Julie develops when she meets all these new friends. A solo show is a hard call so it will be good to test my stamina and self reliance.
Why should people come and see “Buzzing” and why does it matter?
The menopause and lives of middle aged women are still not discussed or explored enough. We are invisible, not seen as women with desires and needs, but as labels; mum, nan, carer. Unless you are under 30, you cannot be taken seriously as a vibrant female. Julie is a 50+ woman who has had enough of being seen as 'past it' and 'boring'. She is anything but. She is warm, witty and the audience will identify with her tales and what it is like to be one of the 'invisible women'. If you are menopausal, you'll get it, if you're younger, you'll get it and if you are a husband of a menopausal woman, you will REALLY get it.
Why are there so few female stories being told in theatre, and comparatively few female solo theatre-makers?
I think it has something to do with women's stories being stereotyped for so long, not taken seriously, like female stand up. It is always perceived that it will only be something women would be interested in and then 'dumbed' down. I've seen a lot of female solo work but it is not so heavily publicised as its male counterparts.
“Buzzing required me to make myself vulnerable and to dig deep into my own insecurities. As it developed I began to recognise myself in Julie and have faced up to some deep seated pain.”
Why did you choose to tell this story on stage and not in another medium?
I'm an actress, that's what I do. I could have written a book but it's so much more fun to actually hear the words and have them spoken to you. To be in on the jokes in a live theatre situation. I could have written a play but I don't want a passive audience being asked to watch or be preached to. I want them to be Julie's bestie, and listen to her, let her confide in them, and feel they were part of her journey.
What has making this play done for you emotionally?
Buzzing required me to make myself vulnerable and to dig deep into my own insecurities. As it developed I began to recognise myself in Julie and have faced up to some deep seated pain. I am more open, expressive and less inhibited as a woman. I like to think I have a more positive approach to my body and my age. I used to look at myself and think nobody would fancy a woman like me but it turns out, when I now look in the mirror, I am still as 'sexy' in my 50s as I was in my 20s, maybe more so now 'cos I am not afraid to embrace it.
What plans do you have for after Edinburgh?
The preview audiences have wanted to know more about Julie and what else she gets up to, so I intend to answer those questions. Mark and I will be meeting to develop the show into a 70+ minute show for a 2020 UK tour. Our first date is 13th February at The Quay Theatre in Suffolk.
What would you like to do beyond “Buzzing”?
I am a working actress, so I will always be looking for the next role to play. However, I am interested in creating more of my own work. A friend and I are looking at writing a show about Hattie Jacques and Barbara Windsor. So I may be returning to Edinburgh with that next time.
You can watch BUZZING this Saturday 13th July 2019 at 9.30pm at Old Red Lion Theatre EC1V 4NJ
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