Director Lisle Turner talks documentary film ‘The Last Show’: “Truth and beauty are increasingly rare commodities in this world”

Upon the closure of one of the world’s most important theatre festivals, artists and audiences gather together in this international award-winning documentary – to share their experiences about the platform that changed the paths of some of today’s most prominent creatives and performers. Guillermo Nazara chats with the man behind this stirring film tribute, to learn all the facts about the development of a piece where the stage lives on through the screen.

How did the idea for The Last Show come about?

When it was announced that the London International Mime Festival was to host its final iteration, there was an outcry from artists and audiences alike. Along with my creative and life partner Claire, we run Open Sky, a theatre company whose first play (The Idiot Colony at RedCape Theatre) was given a London run as part of the festival.

Twenty years later, we’re now an Arts Council England National Portfolio Organisation specialising in theatre, film and digital theatre. Our digital theatre feature film, Cold, debuted at the penultimate festival. Helen and Joseph, the festival organisers, knew we were good with cameras, so they asked us to capture some testimonial interviews for posterity.

So many people wanted to speak, and such were the stories told that the interviews morphed into a documentary film featuring industry shaping artists and five decades worth of archive material.

The London International Mime Festival showcased all kinds of visual theatre: mime, physical theatre, puppetry, juggling, dance. We love all this kind of work as audience members and also work in several of these mediums ourselves. The film is a love poem to the festival, and all those amazing artists we’ve watched over the years. They blew our minds and expanded our horizons.

Do you think this branch of theatre is at stake right now?

All theatre is at risk right now. Stand still funding equates to cuts in real terms. It’s getting increasingly difficult to book tours. We’ve lost 18,000 jobs in the industry since 2017. It’s easy to be convinced that everything is fine if you only look at the glittering successes of the West End. There has actually been years of erosion of the industry’s foundations despite the Arts Council’s best efforts to support us. Hopefully, our new Labour government is going to start righting some of those wrongs as this country is home to some of the world’s most talented artists.

Should any action be taken to preserve its durability?

I’m no expert but I see two things that obviously need doing. We need to simplify and increase direct funding so that wonderful, successful and inspirational things like the London International Mime Festival continue. And we need to fund the next generation of innovators.

The mime festival was the UK’s longest running annual theatre festival and it ended, as it began, on its own terms. It was solvent, successful and wildly popular with artists and audiences alike. But now it’s gone. 

Its absence deprives British audiences of groundbreaking, taste-forming work from emerging UK companies and some of Europe’s most exciting theatrical artists. It also deprives British artists of a much-needed platform from which to launch into the unknown. 

Have you found any particular challenges throughout its making?

Choosing what to include was very difficult! So many people gave amazing interviews and so many incredible artists have participated in the festival. It was a privilege to film the work of current artists and also to review the huge archive of the vanguard of visual theatre.

How would you define the message you’re trying to convey through this film?

The film posits a challenging question. In a post-Covid, post-Brexit environment of growing bureaucracy, reduced appetite for risk and funding stagnation, who or what can replace this festival?

Are there any other intents with this film, in regards to its effect in the future of theatre?

We’d love as many young people studying theatre to watch the film as possible. Interviewees point to the festival’s influence shaping shows ranging from Shockheaded Peter to War Horse. Students should see how that happened. The film is also a massive thank you from us to Helen and Joseph for the years of inspiration, love and support they’ve offered artists like ourselves.

Do you have any other theatre-related documentaries in the making?

Top secret – sorry!

Why should people see The Last Show?

Truth and beauty are increasingly rare commodities in this world. Helen and Joseph spent 47 years seeking it out to present on London stages. It’s a sight to behold.

The London International Mime Festival is currently running as Mime London – a smaller series of physical and visual theatre featuring shows from all over the world. Read our latest London Mime review here!

By Guillermo Nazara