As the Edinburgh scene keeps buzzing with this summer’s new fringe offer, we get to chat with one of its contributors about his debut as a playwright. Guillermo Nazara discusses all the fun facts and creative process of this award-winning piece paying homage to the cultural soul of Birmingham, to know more about a show that defines love as a work of fine art.
Beyonce lyrics, techno music and a deep bond developed between a man and his barber. Sounds like the perfect ingredients for an epic romance, don’t you think?
Nathaniel (a character I creatively named) is a serious romantic like the human manifestation of I will always love you (The Whitney Houston version) and every homemade slow jamz cassette from the 90’s. We meet him at an integral point of his life – his early 20’s. Approaching what appears to be his quarter life crisis. Bullring Techno Makeout Jamz is a world in of itself, it’s the characters own world. It’s a show about agency and searching for your purpose. Those themes are at the heart of the play but ultimately, it’s about love and all the different ways we perceive and receive love. It’s fun, super playful, and slyly surreal but you don’t clock that till you’re too deep into it.
What inspired you to write this piece?
The inspiration came from a place of frustration, within our sector growing up I always felt like there was a real lack of representation of Birmingham and the Midlands despite it being the second city. As I got older it became more confusing to me as there is an abundance amazingly talented artists and creatives across the whole region, but I feel like we’re criminally underappreciated and often overlooked. The main inspiration for this came from watching those artists in practice and having discussions about the work and the industry. I’m just one of many and if you don’t know you should really get to know.
I really wanted to make something that has a real sense of place and space for people from Brum and the Midlands but something that had a wide-reaching narrative that anyone from anywhere can relate to. I think specificity is the key to universality and I really wanted to localise a universal experience.
There are several references to songs within the play. What significance does music have within the script?
In my head Bullring Techno Makeout Jamz exists in a nostalgic but timeless place, and it holds a wide collection of Black influence on British culture and Music is a huge part of that. I do believe the significance of music in the play is more of a reflection of the cultural significance of growing up in Birmingham. It’s a city so rich and diverse in its musical history I think it’s just subconsciously in my soul.
There are references to Slow Jamz, RnB, Techno, Garage, House, Rap and Soundsystem Culture. I’m sure there’s probably more I haven’t even realised. Also growing up music was so vital to life and friendship, getting the newest songs and remixes no one had heard of off Limewire or BitTorrent or GrimeTorrent and sending them via Bluetooth but gatekeeping certain songs, so you always had a couple exclusives up your sleeve.
You know the idea of looking outside a window when it’s raining and feeling like you’re in a music video? from the name of the show to the way Nathaniel behaves and sees himself I just always have this image that Nathaniel see’s his life like a music video and that genre of music might change throughout but the energy and vibe is always consistent.
This your debut play! What are most excited about seeing it performed for the first time?
It’s gonna be slightly different cause the first time it’s performed, I will be in it as an actor. It’ll be a different perspective; I won’t only be able to see the audience’s reactions, but I’ll really be able to feel it. I like to think I have an idea of the rhythm of the show, but you never do till it’s in front of an audience and 95% of the show has never been performed in front of an audience before. There’s a part of me that’s fully aware that I’m a bit of an unknown entity and people don’t know what to expect from me as a writer and I love that. I feel like a smug parent giving their child a present on Christmas day. Ultimately, I’m looking forward to seeing my best friend off into the universe and allowing it space to thrive.
What was the process like of developing this play?
It was less of a process and more of a creative outlet for me when I really needed it. I never started writing Bullring Techno Makeout Jamz with the intention of it being a full play, let alone a fully produced one.
If there was ever a time where I maybe felt like things weren’t going well for me in life or I felt frustrated or I just felt a real sense of unfulfillment it was always there for me as an outlet for the creative part of my brain.
I didn’t have loads of time and resources to fully commit to writing, so I’d really only write when I really needed it and that came in so many different ways. The first part of it, like the initial monologue was written when I was working in the cellar of a pub on the notes of my iPhone, later parts were written during some sleepless nights.
I never really got the chance to have a process, but it definitely kept me going and motivated when I needed it most.
You wrote the play over 5 years. How has your own relationship to it changed during that time?
It’s changed significantly to be honest, I never doubted the strength of the script or the story but it was always a fear of the unknown. What it was capable of, who it would resonate with, where it could go, and it’s only been very recently I’ve been able to actually look at it as a genuine piece of work.
Having written it over 5 years sounds dramatic but some years I’d literally spend 30 minutes staring at it and that’s it. I’m so glad it did take 5 years, when I started writing it I was in my early 20’s and I didn’t know where the play was headed or how I’d finish it. I think as I matured as a person, I was able to see the play from a completely different perspective and learn new things about the character and story. I think you can literally see me grow as a person and a writer through the script.
Why go see BULLRING TECHNO MAKEOUT JAMZ?
We’re in a bit of a weird, confusing and scary place in the world right now, I think there a parts of that reflected in the play naturally. However, with that in mind I want audiences to come away with a glimmer of hope for humanity and people.
Nathaniel is searching for meaning and purpose and I think the audience being able to recognise what they do have, and where the character might overlook certain aspects I’d love the audience to really feel a sense of ownership in their own lives.
On top of that it is a supremely good vibes show, like if you’re coming to see Bullring Techno Makeout Jamz you’re coming for a good time first and foremost.
Bullring Techno Makeout Jamz plays at Paines Plough’s Roundabout @ Summerhall until 27 August. Tickets are available on the following link.