EDINBURGH 2016: BWW Q&A - The Blind Date Project

BWW speaks to the creators of The Blind Date Project, which is heading to the Edinburgh Fringe this year.

Tell us a bit about The Blind Date Project

It's a fully improvised one-hour show set in a karaoke bar - about two embarrassingly desperate people looking for connection. I play Anna, who waits at the bar for a date she was matched with online. Each night, my date is a DIFFERENT guest performer (male or female) whose identity is unknown to me until the moment of performance. There is no script. All dialogue is created on the spot by us, and directions are sent via text messages and phone calls by the director. This is a completely insane night for theatre where no two shows are ever the same.

So each performance is different?

Yes, there is no set ending, no scripts, no rehearsals and what happens is entirely up in the air! Anna has been on dates with everyone from truck drivers, to out of work plumbers to Mafia leaders and math teachers. I've had everything from getting my toes sucked, to dates getting incomprehensibly drunk, to true love and cosmic harmony. Anna has been everything from an Uber driver, to a psychic, a maths teacher or gun lover, a christian or sex addict.

The dates all work out differently. We might leave together, I might leave him or her... or they might leave me. At a few shows security has been called to escort us out - weird shit happens all the time!

Can you give us an example of previous guests?

There is a full list here:

http://www.theblinddateproject.com/#!past-guests/c17dk

But we've had people from Margot Robbie to Jason Alexander, Joel Edgerton, Reggie Watts, Felicity Ward, Laverne Cox and many more.

What sets The Blind Date Project apart from other shows at the Fringe?

I haven't seen the other shows, so I cannot speak to them, but I can tell you that TBDP is its own thing. There is nothing like it out there - it's not theatre sports, or a comedy act. There are no rules, gimmicks or forced gags. This is an experience where the danger of performing without scripts lends itself to the reality of what is being explored: fear of facing the unknown and revealing far more than we would care to admit.

The show celebrates the unattractive and embarrassing aspects of being desperately in need and reveals the most humiliating impulses in us all: seeking approval, seeking love, struggling to impress. You will laugh and cringe at the same time... And rejoice in being human!

Who would you recommend comes to see The Blind Date Project?

Anyone who has been in love, been heartbroken, wants to be in love or has desperately sought it in the past. So basically - all humans. TBDP really seeks to tackle something we can all relate to. It's a great show to bring a date to as well, because no matter how bad your date, it can never be as bad as what you see on stage. Train wrecks are really fun to watch, as long as you're not on them!

Timings and ticket information for The Blind Date Project are available on the edfringe website.