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 find out about the show Threads Of May
Date: 18th-26th August
Time: 19:00
Price: £15
Location: Etcetera Theatre
Ticket Link:https://camdenfringe.com/events/threads-of-may/
How did you come up with the name of your show that your taking to the Camden fringe?
Well, it’s a show about the embroiderer May Morris, where I follow several threads of her life, one of which is a pivotal moment where she describes watching her father weave his first tapestry. Threads of May felt like the only choice!
Tell us a little bit about your style of show?
I’m still figuring that out, which is I think what makes the Camden Fringe so great, it allows us to experiment. It’s a storytelling piece! Some bits feel like a play, and others like an abstract hallucination.
What other acts are you looking forward to seeing at the fringe?
I’m really looking forward to discovering new comedians and other new writing shows. I’m also really looking forward to meeting and connecting with other people making work right now.
How are rehearsals going?
Great! It feels like this show has a whole personality of its own! It’s like I’m sort of just facilitating it. Following the ‘thread’ (haha) and letting it be whatever it needs to. It’s a bit scary to just let go and see what happens, but I’m trusting the process. It’s turning out to be very different than what I originally envisioned, and that is so exciting.
What is the best thing about performing at the Camden fringe?
Camden Fringe is a festival where you can take risks, and just get your work out there. You can build something that may have a long-life as a production, but without the pressure of it having to continue on afterwards. I’ve seen shows at the Camden Fringe that have had a lasting impact on me as an audience member. Sticking in my mind over the years, and popping up as a memory or a visual snapshot that inspires me years later. I love that I have a chance to do that for someone else.
London can be an expensive place to perform in – what key advice would you give to performers that is a sort of life hack?
Eeek! I wish I have some life hacks for this – it’s one of the reasons I am doing Threads of May as a solo show. I feel very passionately about paying people properly when I work with them, and without funding, that is very difficult to do in London. I suppose that is one of the charms of Camden Fringe, you know when you’re buying a ticket to that show that you are supporting a lot of hard labour and love. These artists aren’t putting on shows for profit, they’re putting on shows because they are passionate and hungry to share and connect with audiences. That needs to nurtured. Which is why we need more funding opportunities for small-scale artists and theatre makers, and more funding to the venues so they bring their hire and runnings costs right down to be more accessible.
Who would be your ultimate dream audience member?
Jan Marsh, the pre-Raphaelite historian. She wrote the biography on Jane & May Morris which first inspired me to continue researching May, which eventually lead me to write this show.
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?
Darlene. Looking at her for on my phone now and she’s Darlene to me. It’s like ‘darling’ and she’s a sweet, eager pigeon with ticket in her beak.
If people want to find out more about you where can they follow you on social media?
@isabellajavor is my instagram handle!
And Finally in three words – Why should people come and see the show?
F*** Ai Art
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