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 Bold House Productions about The Wasp

Date: 4th, 5th & 6th August
Time: 9:00pm
Price: £12 Concessions £10
Location: The Hen and Chickens
Ticket Link: https://camden.ssboxoffice.com/events/bold-house-productions-presents-the-wasp/

Hello! Tell us about Bold House Productions ? 

BOLD HOUSE Productions is a female lead and identifying production company. Our aim and ethos is to bring together strong performers from all backgrounds for strong theatre telling stories that aren’t told or shied away from to encourage the industry to talk about subjects that are considered taboo. 

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

It was already given to us. The Wasp was written by Olivier Award Winning playwright Morgan Lloyd Malcolm! 

Tell us a little bit about your style of show?

Well, all the cast and crew are story tellers. But the cast do this by ensuring their relationships to one another are thoroughly emotionally connected and understood before we open. This will allow the audience more of an instinctual reaction to the show as they will recognise (we hope) these relationships from their own personal connections. 

What will your set be about?

The show is about 2 girls, Heather and Carla, who were best friends during their childhood and time at school. They had a rather tempestuous relationship as friends and at the age of 16 they left school and went their separate ways. The play sees them both 20 years on with Carla, a pregnant mum of 5, and Heather – successful and married – but childless. See where this is going? You might be surprised. 

After some small talk, the tone of the conversations takes a curve into the serious and insane… a bag of cash and a request is placed on the table… both could change their lives forever. 

Will it be kindness? Or violence? 

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

There are some I have seen that are on at the venue we are performing at ‘Alice in Wonderland’ looks like an interesting one and also 

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

Very excited. The support has been amazing and to feel like im part of something bigger than myself, a bit like a machine, is thrilling. When you are a creative you feel alone – a lot. So feeling like this big group of people all around London are aiming for the same thing is really helping me feel seen and welcomed.  

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

Plan plan plan! This whole process is made so much easier with forward planning and a plan of action. The press/publicity/organisation/ fundraising alone for producers is extremely time consuming and to enable you to get your show under the right noses you have to let people know way in advance (6-8 weeks) and also for actors learning lines – do it gradually but steadily don’t cram over one week! But most importantly – what will happen will happen : ENJOY IT!! 

What are your favourite things about London?

I’m originally from a small countryside town where there were buses every 2 hours from my house growing up… so being so connected to everything physically is such a treat. Meeting people who know people and know people and feeling like anything is possible is so exhilarating to live in. I’m very fortunate that I moved here 10 years ago and have since made a very happy, colourful life doing things I love with people I love. Sometimes London can be a cold mistress to some and can eat people up and spit them out but I am so glad I’ve pulled through with her and persevered. Here’s to London! 

What are your three favourite things about Camden?

I’ve never done a fringe before so I can only go on what ive experienced so far:

1. Excitement – knowing im part of this and that im contributing to this and that I don’t know who will be coming to see us… is so exciting

2. Support: It has been so nice knowing we have a hub of team players from Eventotron and The Hen and Chickens Theatre supporting us. The acting/entertainment industry can at times be so cold so having a friendly face or supportive email can make all the difference

3. WE ARE DOING IT! Camden fringe is giving us all space to perform. To show, to dance, to cry, to laugh, to shout and its such a luxurious feeling to have people WANT us there to perform and to represent London in this fringe. 

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

From The Wasp my favourite one liner has got to be when Heather says she doesn’t want anything stolen from the break in (without giving any spoilers!) Carla replies “no, I WANT to take some things” – that line just shows Carla’s happy go lucky attitude. She sees she is surrounded by nice things she could probably never afford and thinks shell take her chances whilst she can and steal some stuff from rich Heather. 

Who would be your ultimate dream audience member?

For me, either Stephen Graham – who has been one of my favourite actors for a long time and also because I would love to work with him one day OR casting director Shaheen Baig because she casts some lovely independent drama’s and gritty dramas and those genres in acting get me up in the morning…. 

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?

Probably a phoenix. Emerging out of covid19 with not a clue in the world on how the industry will re-open, this year has been a fantastic insight into how supportive people are and how they are so keen to see live theatre back up and running. So a phoenix to represent all of these actors/creatives/theatre makers rising from the ashes and creating not waiting! 

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

@thewasp_play OR @jjb_thornton (personal)

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

Thrills, Laughter and Tears (that’s right you saw all those words for one show!)