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 the company Stage Noir about the show An Unexpected Tale In Smoky Midtown.

Date: 8th, 9th, 10th August
Time: 7:00pm
Price: £10 Concessions £8
Location: Canal Cafe
Ticket Link: https://camden.ssboxoffice.com/events/an-unexpected-tale-in-smoky-midtown/

Hello! Tell us about yourself? 

We’re Stage Noir, a company of (relatively) new East 15 graduates, who were eager to create new work that would increase representation of neurodiversity in the arts without neurodiversity being the “conflict” of the story. What we’ve written is a clever Film Noir musical comedy that happens to be experienced through a neurodiverse lens rather than, say, a neurotypical one.  

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

We wanted a title that sounded “Noir-esque” while foreshadowing the themes of the show. Without giving it all away, the first letter of each word in the title spells out a word that’s never said in the show, but strongly hints at the underlying theme. The title also describes the show quite precisely: It is, put simply, an unexpected tale (happening) in fictional Smoky Midtown.

Tell us a little bit about your style of show?

It’s a Film Noir musical comedy about neurodiversity (yes, really) so it’s a bit of new territory. We obviously lean heavily on Noir narratives and Detective stories, but the show is deliberately anachronistic, taking place in an undefined time period mixing elements from the 1930’s all the way up through the 1960’s. The show is not immersive per se, but we do encourage the audience to become Detectives themselves as they watch the show, piecing together the clues that are presented and discarding the deception.

What will your show be about?

Low on leads and all out of whiskey, a down-on-his-luck Detective has no choice but to team up with unlikely allies and old enemies to solve a missing person’s case with deeply personal stakes. As he gets closer to unravelling the truth it becomes clear that nothing is what it seems and that secrets never stay buried.

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

In the vein of comedy mysteries… we have our eye on “Murder at the Mansion Block”, “The Midnight Snack”, “Detective Inspector” and “The Man Who Wouldn’t Be Murdered”.

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

Go for it! You have a story and someone will want to see it. The Camden Fringe team are very supportive and helpful and this is a great opportunity to get your work out there without having to make quite as daunting a commitment and investment as Edinburgh Fringe can be.

What are your favourite things about London?

 It’s a creative melting pot, culturally and artistically. It’s an exciting place to be an artist because there are many initiatives and opportunities for creating and sharing your work, but also many opportunities to develop your skills, network and learn from each other.  

What are your three favourite things about Camden?

The vibe around Little Venice, the markets (we’ve sourced some props from there!) and of course, the food! 
  

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

Our favourite line in the show is this bit of narration: “Like a hedgehog in a hurricane, I was going to have to roll with it.” Without spoiling too much, it manages to sum up the theme, style, and humour of the show. 

Who would be your ultimate dream audience member?

Someone who is open-minded, looking for a fun evening, and curious to reflect on how each person experiences the world in a unique way and the beauty there is in that.

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

Sir Byrd Astaire, because he looks like he’s ready to put on a spectacular show. Fitting!  

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

Follow us at @StageNoir on both Twitter and Instagram.

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

It’ll surprise you!