Going solo: 5 Solo Performances to watch at Plymouth Fringe Festival
Just as far as the history of performance has lasted, so has that of One-Person Shows; from the telling of hunter’s stories to the telling of comedian’s stories, and from Samuel Beckett to Simon Stephens. They have a seated history with Fringe Festivals too, all of which have helped to evolve the way one man or woman performs alone. Now, with the inaugural Plymouth Fringe Festival, a total of fourteen performers (and their stage crew!), will look to capture the magic of story-telling. As there are so many fantastic soloists coming up, it is difficult to list them all, so I have chosen to list the 5 I am looking forward to watching the most:
- Homeward Bound | Ruth Mitchell
Thursday 28th May | 6:30pm, Saturday 30th May | 4:00pm
Barbican Theatre – Stage
I have never been good at sports, but if there was one thing I could always do, it was to somehow hit a palm-sized sphere travelling at some speed towards me, with a plank of wood the size of my body, and do it quite well. The award-winning Ruth Mitchell explores our dreams and aspirations whilst in the context of the typically ‘Yankee’ sport of Baseball. As directed by the supremely talented Derek Frood, this solo performance looks like it could be the home run of the festival.
- Mixed Up Me | Alix Harris
Monday 25th May | 5pm, Saturday 30th May | 6:30pm
The House Studio @ The University of Plymouth
An extremely interesting exploration of race & heritage; how the treatment of mixed race persons have changed in the last few years, let alone the last century. A solo performance linked with the growing ‘Beyond Face’ project (which you can still donate towards on their crowdfunder!). Having performed a brilliant preview at last month’s BETA (New Model Theatre), Alix Harris will open the festival and perform as one of the closing shows, and in my opinion, there is none better to do so.
- Professional Supervision | Thomas Martin
Friday 29th May | 8pm
Barbican Theatre – Stage
I feel like this solo performance was written specifically for me. I have a secret love for Jackass, and an even more secret love for Johnny Knoxville. Set those elements in a time-travelling coming-of-age spoken word murder mystery (as Thomas describes it), and you have Professional Supervision. Joined on stage by musician Luke Novak, this surreal indie experience won ‘Pick of the Week’ at VAULT Festival 2015, and was nominated for ‘Pick of the Year’ and ‘Best Debut’. Oh, there’s also another name for the show: ‘How Johnny Knoxville’s consciousness travelled from the future to live inside my teenage head.’ Awesome.
- Infinity Pool | Bea Roberts
Monday 25th May | 6pm, Tuesday 26th May | 8pm
The Lab | Theatre Royal Plymouth
A collaboration with director Nik Partridge and designer Max Johns, Bea Roberts’ performance could be more defined as a one-technician show; utilising projectors to dive in to a story of love and imperfection. Music & sound combines with artistic sight in this unique comedy, filled with colour, but lacking in – as the trailer states – butterflies, unicorns, and Gandalf.
- Iron M.A.M. | Owl Young
Wednesday 27th May | 6.30pm, Thursday 28th May | 3.30pm
The House Studio @ The University of Plymouth
I expect this to be a performance that will both appeal to and educate me. As with the similarly aged Owl Young, I would consider myself to be a bit of a geek; with specialties (if one could call it that) in comic books and video games. Using a PlayStation controller – if you have a teenager, it’s that black thing they are always holding in their hands – and action figures to discuss technology in warfare, Owl’s year-long journey looks to make us think about the use of drones & remote killing, contained by the metaphor of ‘The Invincible’ Iron Man.
