All My Friends are in Australia, Libra Theatre Cafe
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How do we cope with distance from what we know and from the people who shaped us? That’s very much at the heart of All My Friends are in Australia, which will be playing at Libra Theatre Cafe on Wednesday 6 and Friday 8 August (tickets here).
Down under, Gráinne’s surfing the waves with kangaroos and a mojito in hand… in a supermarket stockroom? Meanwhile, we are left behind with Trudy in Dublin, where they both grew up. Feeling like she’s finally escaped Ireland, Gráinne wonders whether anyone will ever learn to pronounce her name correctly or if ‘finding herself’ means going by ‘Granny’ from now on. Trudy and Gráinne are best friends. They just haven’t spoken in a while, is all.
Luckily for us, creators of this intriguing show, Lucy Bruton and Caoimhe O’Farrell were on hand to speak to us about the show they’ve put together.
What can audiences expect from the show?
The audience should expect a 40 minute burst of fun, yoga, karaoke, supermarkets and a friendship break-up. Together, we will enter Trudy’s vibrant, oddly personal, and, at times unsettling, hybrid yoga/spin-class meets karaoke-nightclub extravaganza! Down under, Gráinne’s surfing the waves with kangaroos and a mojito in hand…in a supermarket stockroom? Meanwhile, we are left behind with Trudy at home in Ireland. Trudy and Gráinne are best friends. They just haven’t spoken in a while, is all…
All My Friends are in Australia is about friendship, decision-making and identity. This whirlwind, fragmented experience forces its audience to participate in Trudy and Gráinne’s changing friendship. This show is not only colourful and hilarious but also a response to the lack of opportunity for young people, resulting in emigration and a lot of ‘Goodbyes’.
Is Camden Fringe going to be the show’s first time on stage, or have you already performed elsewhere?
No! All My Friends are in Australia is premiering in Longford as a Work in Progress on July 11, and then later on in Dublin on 22 and 24 July. As co-creators, our own long-distance friendship this year between London and Kildare has inspired much of this project, and so we wanted to take the opportunity to put it on in both Ireland and the UK!
What was your inspiration behind the show?
We were inspired by the situation we found ourselves in a year ago. Having just finished college, with one of us moving over to London and the other staying in Ireland, it was uncertain what lay next for our journey as collaborators. It can be scary, not knowing your next move. That’s really what this show grew out of.
What brought you all together?
Drama and Theatre Studies at Trinity College Dublin and a passion for interactive theatre.
Being a fringe festival, we all know sets have to be bare minimum, how have you got around this with your set and props?
All the props and set pieces we need fit into one suitcase and each prop is used in multiple ways throughout the show.
How important is audience interaction to you?
Audience interaction is integral to the show! The audience will help tell the story and Trudy needs them to be her friends, in order for her show to work. It is important to us that the audience play some sort of role in our work and it is for that reason they are at the forefront of our devising process.
Are there any plans for what comes next after the show has finished its run – for you or the show?
We’re hoping to put it on again, so definitely stay tuned for more information over on our instagram: @legroom.collective!
If you had to describe your show as a meal what would it be?
Surf and turf! Come to the show to find out why…
If you could perform this show anywhere in the world where would it be?
Australia, because based on the title of our show, all of our friends seem to be there!
What words of advice/encouragement would you give anyone thinking about doing Camden Fringe next year?
Don’t take it too seriously. Having fun is the main thing. Try things out and experiment. Anything is possible if you are working with people who believe in the production’s success!
It sounds like a lot of fun and we’re happy to come along and be one of Trudy’s new friends. Thanks for taking the time to bring the show alive for us.
If you would like to see the show (and also be one of Trudy’s new friends) then you can catch All My Friends are in Australia at the Libra Theatre Cafe on Wednesday 6 and Friday 8 August.
