EDINBURGH 2017: BWW Q&A- Lists For The End Of The World

Tell us a bit about your show

This is a show composed entirely of crowd-sourced lists, from all kinds of people in all kinds of places - including from the audience as they queue up to take their seats. It's a kind of sideways portrait of humanity, which is both funny and moving.

Lists are something we all make - to remember, to make decisions, to make sense of our lives. Umberto Eco has an essay in which he suggests that we make lists to deal with our own mortality, which is a bit heavy, but I think there is a thing about establishing control over a moment in time.

We wanted a way of creating a really polyphonic piece - less and less I'm interested in work that resolves everything into one narrative or story. Our experiences are all so different and we should be celebrating that, not trying to shoehorn everything into a coherent narrative drive. Really early on, we realised that the strength of the piece lies in the incredible stuff that people share.

Lists are so simple, but they tell you a lot. We wanted a way of asking people to contribute to the show that wasn't offputting or difficult. Making a list doesn't take specialist skills like for example writing a poem or a song. It's almost like the format -and the anonymity - take the pressure off: people share things that make you roar with laugh, smile in recognition - and stop in your tracks with their unexpected profoundity.

Why bring it to Edinburgh?

So that more people can see it - and so that we can gather more content. It's a show that's always changing, we're adding new lists that people give us, so when we tour next year, the show will have in it stuff we collect in Edinburgh.

And also, because it's a really good piece. As a company we've existed for 10 years but we've never felt we had the right piece to bring to Edinburgh until now.

What sets it apart from other shows at the Fringe?

Umm, it's a show made of lists? Over 200 people have contributed to making it. There's laughs, music, sadtimes, romance, some dancing, a look at the world through other people's eyes, and fish sticks. Oh and the most memorable reworking of Nirvana's Smells Like Teen Spirit that you'll ever see.

Who would you recommend comes to see your show?

Anyone who is feeling a bit down or sad. In a world where each day brings news that can make us feel depressed, frightened and isolated, it's really easy to lose sight of the small, wonderful things. I want people to leave feeling like they're not on their own. That the things they thought were weird about them are probably weird about other people too. But also that different people experience the same thing in incredibly diverse ways. I want people to feel connected and empathise with each other. I want them to leave feeling like there are things to be hopeful about - not least that people are wonderful, contradictory and surprising.

Also come if you (like me) are an obsessive list-maker!

Are there any other performances you're hoping to catch at the festival?

Certainly - that's half of the fun! Seiriol Davies' How to Win Against History is fantastic. Rachel Mars' Our Carnal Hearts is also great. I haven't seen The Letter Room's No Miracles Here yet but we're office neighbours and they are all awesomely talented so chances are that it'll be good. I'll make sure I see lots of international stuff (like the Big in Belgium programme) because when else do you get the chance? Oh, and Charlotte Church's Late Night Pop Dungeon!

Timings and ticket information for Lists For The End Of The World are available on the edfringe website.

Photo Credit: Guy J Sanders