It is August which only means one thing – it is Camden Fringe time! Over the next few weeks we are chatting to acts that are performing at the festival and finding all about their show and what they would call this years iconic Camden Fringe Pigeon! Today we speak to Two Thousand and One Theatre Company about It’s Only Funny With Stage Directions

Date: 4th, 11th, 18th August
Time: 3.30pm
Price: £10 Concessions £8
Location: Etcetera Theatre
Ticket Link: https://camden.ssboxoffice.com/events/its-only-funny-with-stage-directions/

Hello! Tell us about yourselves? 

Amelia is a theatre maker and performer. She studied Theatre at the BRIT School and Production Arts Management. She has directed at The New Wimbledon Theatre. She took part in Summer Space to Create at the National Theatre and was a member of Unicorn Young Company at the Unicorn Theatre where she performed in two productions. She worked as a production runner at Actors Studio situated within Pinewood Studios. Amelia is a student of Psychology and is interested in the mental health field. She uses this in her work to inform and educate both herself and her audience. As a part of the LGBT+ community she is passionate about welcoming queer stories to the stage. She works as a Manager at a restaurant in Central London which has given her experience in managing finances and business. 

Laila is a theatre maker and performer. She studied Theatre at The BRIT School where she met the co-founder of two thousand and one productions. She has worked on a Production Management Placement at the Old Vic Theatre and produced at the Battersea Arts Centre. She has trained on the Central School of Speech and Drama Acting Diploma Programme and is a member of the National Youth Theatre. She is a second generation Moroccan immigrant and political activist. She is passionate about creating theatre that questions the dominant views of society and bringing to the stage stories not commonly told in mainstream media.

How did you come up with the name of your show that your taking to the Camden fringe?

Our show follows quite a deep storyline, through writing it we realised that it is genuinely.. only funny with the stage directions.

Tell us a little bit about your style of show?

Naturalism

What will your set be about?

A second generation Moroccan Immigrant trying to get rid of her sneaky link so her family can come over to break fast.

What other acts are you looking forward to seeing at the fringe?

Where are you on the Kinsey Scale by Better than not productions and ‘This is not a party’ By The Making Space Programme. Their shows seem amazing and we 100% don’t have a connection to them

It is your first time doing the Fringe – how do you feel about it?

Yes, it is not only our first doing the fringe but our first time performing in three years. We are quite nervous but there’s nothing a bit of rehearsal can’t fix.

What advice would you give to others who want to perform at Camden Fringe next year?

Start preparing early and actually do the things that you write in your to-do list. We only started rehearsing a month before which is when the stress kicked in.

What are your favourite things about London?

Other than ourselves?.. Angel Canal.

What are your three favourite things about Camden?

The spoons with a peng view and Joes bar

Favourite one liner you have done in a show and why?

‘I’m sorry I asked you for a second round after you told me your sister had a seizure’- We like this because it was written by us. it’s also gasp worthy.

Who would be your ultimate dream audience member?

Ricky Gervais because he would lower our egos

The iconic image of the Camden Fringe is the Pigeon – if you could call this years pigeon a name to represent its style what would it be and why?

Mohamed because it looks like its name is Mohamed.

If people want to find out more about you where can they follow you on social media?

@two000andoneproductions on instagram. We also post on our personal instagrams @lila.dvs and @a3eliar

And Finally in three words – Why should people come and see the show? 

There is no show quite like what we have wrote. It gives the audience an opportunity to be introduced to a character who they have never met before. It’s funny, sad, shocking.. Its a peng show and a peng audience coming would be amazing