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 Rev. David William Parry about the show WOMEN IN MAYHEM.

Date: 21st –25th August
Time: 17:00
Price: £15 Concession: £11
Location: Etcetera Theatre
Ticket Link: https://camdenfringe.com/events/women-in-mayham/

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

Altogether, the title of my play reflects the madness of the times we live in. However, I confess that there is a deeper reason behind using the word mayhem, since the original term chaos seemed completely inappropriate.

Indeed, I wanted to alert potential audiences to the fact this was an openly absurdist production, even though there is an underlying method to the craziness, because modern woman offers the promise of cultural salvation to everyone.

Perhaps this is one of the reasons why it was recently published by the legendary Gwendolyn Taunton through Indigo Dragon as a book.

Tell us a little bit about your style of show?

Our self-confessed conceptualist show is a dramady, or, in other words, a mixture of poetry and fun. 

A fact presented in the structure of this piece where a prologue and epilogue frame three prank scenarios that use real life events in a surreal and blatantly trippy way, albeit with a dramatised message beneath. 

Taken together, we contemporary Brits must never give up optimism, which I hope is reflected by our production.

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

My partner and I live in on the idyllic Isle of Bute in the Hebrides, so our time in London will be short. Nevertheless, I am hoping we can see Mrs Pack, due to the fact anything even remotely associated with Princess Anne is something I personally find interesting.

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

My advice to every other theatrical is enjoy the process, while not taking everything completely seriously. 

In other words, why not come to our show and be pleasantly surprised.

What is the best thing about performing at the Camden fringe?

The Camden Fringe easily rivals the Edinburgh Festival Fringe. After all, it is a genuine celebration of performance in every form and lacks the pretension and subtle control placed on us theatricals in that allegedly more prestigious event. 

I can speak from experience, since I am a regular participant in both of these festivals as a director or writer, whereas my previous play, The Grammar of Witchcraft, was staged in the Camden Fringe two years ago.

London can be an expensive place to perform in – what key advice would you give to performers that is a sort of life hack?

I agree that London is a killer when it comes to expenses. Yet, my advice would be to negotiate with interesting and avant-garde venues, whilst refusing to be afraid of experimental options and out of the box creativity to solve performance issues. Certainly, pub performance spaces are a radically underrated treasure.

What are your three favourite things about Camden?

Camden is innovative, proudly multicultural and slightly mad. 

Who would be your ultimate dream audience member?

At the risk of dating myself, my fantasy member of the audience would either be Phyllis Diller (Wonder Woman’s neurotic mother), Les Dawson, or Sandi Toksvig.

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?

It would be Walter Pidgeon, since this Canadian-American actor was suave, sophisticated, but knew how to have a good time.

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

@dparry777 for me 

@victorsobchak for the director

@theatrecollection for the production company

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

Sex

Drugs 

Poetry