After a decade serving as one of its patrons, the actress comes into the spotlight by starring in the world premiere of Jan Etherington’s most personal play. Guillermo Nazara chats with the artist to learn more about the festival’s evolution over the years and its commitment to championing new voices from non-theatrical backgrounds.
How does it feel to be joining the festival as a performer for its 10th anniversary?
It’s absolutely thrilling, because I’ve been with it from the outside. Throughout this decade, I’ve had the honour and privilege to be one of the three patrons, and I’ve watched it grow ever since. This year alone, we’ve considered over a thousand plays, of which we are putting on seventy. When we started, it wasn’t more than fifteen. It really has come a long way, and I feel enormously proud.
As a patron, how do you explain the festival’s success and growth in such a short period?
The team’s dogged determination. It’s a passionate project for everyone involved, and that explains the level of commitment. We really care about bringing creative input into this community and particularly this corner of East Anglia, where we’re not overflowing with theatres but we’re absolutely overflowing with talent and creative energy. We are even giving an opportunity to people who haven’t written any plays before, and we are giving them a voice. We are a team of right-minded people, and we care very much putting this on the map.
What are the challenges behind supporting this kind of festivals?
As you probably know, all the Arts Councils across the country have devastated a lot of theatre. There’s not much money to fund production. As a result, the greatest challenge is finding kind and generous sponsors – people who help us finance this type of projects. Putting on a production is always a costly business, and more in the calibre that we’ve become known for. We are very grateful to the local businesses and invididuals that finance us and who give us a space to make it happen.
In this season, you’re starring in a new play by Jan Etherington, titled Conversations from a Long Marriage, and which is a love letter to the author’s late husband. As an actress, what are the challenges of taking on such a personal role?
Jan is someone that I know and love, and with whom I swim at 7:30 in the morning every time I’m Southwark. That already shows what an indomitable spirit she has. I knew her husband, Gavin, too. We’ve been in all of this together. It is indeed a love letter, but it’s also been an ongoing love affair – the great sadness about it is that we lost Gavin along the way. It is, of course, a huge responsibility. For the sake of the festival, I am stepping into Joanna Lumley’s lovely shoes, as the play has previously been done as an award-winning radio drama, and they are considerable shoes to fill.
What are the highlights of the show?
It’s a bittersweet comedy like no other, because the author has lived through it. And once again, it’s a love letter.
What do you think makes INK unique in comparison to others of a similar kind?
It’s a short-play festival. Every single work can’t last for longer than twenty minutes. That makes for a very, very different theatre experience. Each one of them has a compelling story, but if you’re not absolutely in love with what you’re watching, there’s something else coming up very soon. That also allows for more variety.
Why come see this year’s season of INK?
Because it’s our tenth anniversary. Because Richard Curtis has written a play for it. Because Hugh Boneville will be doing a guest appearance. Because I will be interviewing Sir Tony Robinson onstage, with whom I’ve worked in the past. There’s a terrific overlap with everyone’s collective passionate projects. The evening events will also provide with a totally different experience – you’ll be able to see pieces written by ordinary people who have never written a play before. That’s the true jewel of this festival, and it’s what I love finding the most.
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Headshot credit to John Ferguson.
Further information and upcoming events at INK Festival are available on the following link.