EDINBURGH 2019: BIRTH Q&A

BWW catches up with Theatre Re to chat about bringing Birth to the 2019 Edinburgh Festival Fringe.

Tell us a bit about Birth.

BIRTH is a powerful piece of visual theatre with original live music about what it means to lose and create a new life. It deals with family secrets, parenthood, loss, life and birth of course. We follow the journey of Emily, who is six months pregnant when she first reads her grandmother's journal. As she delves into the depths of her family history, its pages trigger a shift in her sense of reality, unveiling a legacy of unspoken tragedies, courage and unconditional love. Through her story, we portray what is being passed down from one generation to the next.

Why is it an important story to tell?

In the UK, it is estimated that 1 in 4 pregnancies end in loss during pregnancy or birth. What the parents go through is rarely discussed and often considered taboo. It is part of the realm of the 'unspoken', or the 'unvoiced'. It is buried.

Where else might we know Theatre Re from?

BIRTH is Theatre Re's 7th production and this will be our 5th time in Edinburgh. Previous productions include The Nature of Forgetting and Blind Man's Song. Both shows toured extensively in the UK (York Theatre Royal, Leeds Playhouse, Mac Belfast, The Lowry, The Tobacco Factory Theatres) and internationally (Brazil, Peru, Taiwan, South Korea, Hong Kong, Mexico and the USA).

How important is the live music to the piece?

Like for all our productions, the live music is absolutely crucial and is integral to the whole piece. It sets the mood of every moment. It guides the emotional journeys of the different characters. It responds to the action and the action is hightened by it. It brings everything to life.

Who do you think should come and see it?

BIRTH will appeal to the lovers of physical and visual theatre, as well as those looking for new ways of making and seeing theatre. It will also speak to the more traditional theatergoers. Despite being devised and very visual, the piece has a very clear dramaturgy and our characters are going through life-changing experiences. We see how they are being changed by these experiences. We see their struggles, their dreams, their fears, their failures and ultimately their humanity. BIRTH is for the lovers of music. As mentioned above it is also a live concert in its own right...

So I would recommend for anyone to come to see BIRTH as there is something in it for everyone!

https://tickets.edfringe.com/whats-on/birth

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