As part of our Edinburgh Fringe 2024 coverage, we are running a series of interviews with artists and creatives that are taking part in the festival.
In this interview, we speak to Lauren Brady about her show OWEaDEBT.
Where did your arts career begin?
My passion for the arts began when I was three years old as a dancer. I've been dancing since then with various companies across Canada, and I wanted a change when I went to university, so I studied acting, where I discovered clowns. After graduating, I was taken under the wing of the creative team of Mump and Smoot—a Canadian clown duo (Michael Kennard, John Turner, directed by Karen Hines). Since then, I have been writing and devising my own work.
My passion for the arts began when I was three years old as a dancer. I've been dancing since then with various companies across Canada, and I wanted a change when I went to university, so I studied acting, where I discovered clowns. After graduating, I was taken under the wing of the creative team of Mump and Smoot—a Canadian clown duo (Michael Kennard, John Turner, directed by Karen Hines). Since then, I have been writing and devising my own work.
What can you tell me about your show?
OWEaDEBT is a parody of Swan Lake. It explores what would happen if Odette didn't kill herself at the end of Swan Lake but instead stayed alive and was still on the hunt for her prince to break her curse. As an audience member, you get an invitation to her lake and hang out with this now 147-year-old half swan half ballerina, chain-smoking damsel. Throughout the show, she tries to get suitors out of the audience to give her a debt of undying love so she can be free from the sorcerers' curse.
OWEaDEBT is a parody of Swan Lake. It explores what would happen if Odette didn't kill herself at the end of Swan Lake but instead stayed alive and was still on the hunt for her prince to break her curse. As an audience member, you get an invitation to her lake and hang out with this now 147-year-old half swan half ballerina, chain-smoking damsel. Throughout the show, she tries to get suitors out of the audience to give her a debt of undying love so she can be free from the sorcerers' curse.
How would you describe the style of the show?
The show is a true hybrid of all of the art forms I love: clown, bouffon dance, theatre, comedy, song, and dance. You will see everything from dick jokes to beautifully choreographed ballet en pointe. Think, what if South Park did Swan Lake?
The show is a true hybrid of all of the art forms I love: clown, bouffon dance, theatre, comedy, song, and dance. You will see everything from dick jokes to beautifully choreographed ballet en pointe. Think, what if South Park did Swan Lake?
How have you approached developing the piece?
This show has lived in my brain for two years and began as a 10-minute cabaret character. In September, I wanted to challenge myself and write a show involving audience participation and all my passions. Training with Spymonkey Physical Theatre has expanded my knowledge on clown and has made some exciting discoveries for myself as a performer and creator. Canadian clowning or Pochinko Clown is all based in mask work and playing various masks to evoke authentic response between performer and audience member. What I learned at Spymonkey is to be authentically yourself and find the humour without needing a mask. I would say OWEaDEBT plays with these two schools of thought now and has grown into its own unique medium that plays with both methodologies.
This show has lived in my brain for two years and began as a 10-minute cabaret character. In September, I wanted to challenge myself and write a show involving audience participation and all my passions. Training with Spymonkey Physical Theatre has expanded my knowledge on clown and has made some exciting discoveries for myself as a performer and creator. Canadian clowning or Pochinko Clown is all based in mask work and playing various masks to evoke authentic response between performer and audience member. What I learned at Spymonkey is to be authentically yourself and find the humour without needing a mask. I would say OWEaDEBT plays with these two schools of thought now and has grown into its own unique medium that plays with both methodologies.
How do/will you prepare yourself for a run at the Fringe?
My show is 60 minutes en pointe (the tippy-toe ballet shoes), which is incredibly hard on my body. Physically, I've been training and conditioning since June to prepare for my 30-day run. Mentally, since the show premiered in Adelaide, I've been working with an incredible directing consultant (Nicole Maloney) who has helped me shape my work and get it ready for this next round of performances. Plus, I research all of the cool local birds.
My show is 60 minutes en pointe (the tippy-toe ballet shoes), which is incredibly hard on my body. Physically, I've been training and conditioning since June to prepare for my 30-day run. Mentally, since the show premiered in Adelaide, I've been working with an incredible directing consultant (Nicole Maloney) who has helped me shape my work and get it ready for this next round of performances. Plus, I research all of the cool local birds.
Other than the show, what's something you're looking forward to doing in Edinburgh this year?
I was fortunate to take a workshop with Spymonkey Physical Theatre in May and become friends with many beautiful artists who will also be at this year's festival. I am beyond excited to see their work and cheer them on. You can check them out, too!
Pineapple Princess - One woman. One pineapple. A comedy show about falling in love.
BANGTAIL - a Cowboy epic about a man in search of his manhood.
Singh’ing in the Rain – feel-good characters and songs where you will gladly sing along
What keeps you inspired?
I never in a million years thought I would be a clown, but there is nothing else like it in the world. The experience of sharing a magical space between the performer and the audience member is never the same twice, and it has left me with many life-changing interactions. Throughout my run in Adelaide, at the end of my shows, I would get approached by women who would thank me for the work I made and how important stories like this get told. Not a single woman in this world deserves to be treated like an object to make someone happy, which continues to inspire me to perform and share this show.
What do you hope an audience takes away from seeing the show?
Social issues deeply inspire me. I believe comedy has the power to let audiences digest upsetting content. So, I make work that disguises upsetting topics like self-worth and patriarchy and roots it in comedy, hoping that you will laugh and walk away lighter with something to talk about
OWEaDEBT runs at Summerhall - Red Lecture Theatre from 1st until 11th August. Tickets are available from https://tickets.edfringe.com/whats-on/oweadebt
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