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Donna and Jade Flack discuss their Camden Fringe show, Glad To Be Dead?
Camden Fringe is fast approaching. We keep saying August, but then we remember that this year it actually starts on 31 July. And one of those shows that will be opening in july is Make It Mine Theatre‘s Glad To Be Dead? from mother-daughter team Donna and Jade Flack.
A mix of ombination of gothic morality, philosophy and dark humour, Glad To Be Dead? plays at The Hen and Chicken Thetare for four evenings. And because we don’t think we’ve ever interviewed a mother-daughter combo, we thought we’d grab a little of their time and find out a little more about about the show.
What can you tell us about Glad To Be Dead?
Glad To Be Dead? is a series of monologues from beyond the grave. It’s an hour show consisting of three actors multi-rolling fictional and non-fictional subjects throughout history. Some of them you’ll know and some of them you’ll learn about. From their rooms, our subjects have a window to the outside world, a window that allows them to see important events connected to their lives and also their memories. Allowing them to digest, contemplate and reflect on their experiences and the impact they have had on the world.
We’ve noticed the question mark in the title, is that to suggest maybe some of those we hear from might not be quite so glad about their demise?
Yes, it does. We actually only answer that question directly once in the show. And although we don’t know for sure, we can only imagine that after the life this person had lived, perhaps they would have been ready to leave this world and finally be at peace. We also tell the stories of other victims who were taken from us far sooner than they should’ve been.
As we hear from fictional characters, we don’t answer the question, we have explored how they might feel having ‘passed’ from this world and have given them a life after death, as ‘dead’ characters. We listen as they contemplate and comment on their narratives as if looking back on their lives and how things have changed since they were brought to ‘life’. Of course, we stay true to the beloved characters but we do take some artistic license here and there!
What made you want to write this show?
Both of us love history and digging into the past and we both love reading especially the old favourites so thought we could incorporate the two together in this work. It started off almost as a research project over the lockdown period. Jade started to look into the witch trials and found women who had been accused and charged in the 1500s in Chelmsford, which is where we live and wanted to find out more about them, especially the less well-known ones. Then she thought ‘Why not put your degree to use and turn it into a play’ and started looking into others who had a story to tell and then lightened it all up by including some fictional characters. Donna joined the project to help shape our subjects as people, to give them more substance, allowing them to tell their tales as we imagined them to be.
There’s quite a gothic feel going on here, can we expect a few creeps and chills from the show then?
Definitely. There is something strangely fascinating about following the story of a murderer as they tell their tale from birth, to crime, to death and after! While relating all of the details in a somewhat comedic but certainly chilling way. This is not a ‘jump scare’ piece, but as you get absorbed in the story, we’re sure, you’ll experience a few shivery moments.
One of the joys of Camden Fringe is the need to be creative with the limitation on sets, have you already thought about how to generate that gothic feel of it all?
Our actors proved that our subjects telling their tales kept the audience’s attention without the need of extensive props and sets when we opened at Brighton Fringe in May. As we are lucky enough to be performing at the Hen and Chickens Theatre we can also incorporate sound and lighting into our show which of course will only add to the atmosphere our actors already create.
You’ve written this as a mother/ daughter joint effort, how does that work in the writing process? Have you always wanted to write something together?
We get on very well and have directed plays together before and so we thought we’d have a go at starting from scratch and put something together. Jade is very good at the logistics, fact-finding and putting the framework together and Donna is brilliant at fleshing out the characters, developing their personalities and imagining how they might feel in their various situations. Bringing them to life, or back to life in this case you might say.
Any further plans for the show yet, maybe London Horror Festival later this year?
After our run at the Hen and Chickens, we’re haunting the Pump House Theatre in Watford (30 September) and as soon as the London Horror Festival open their applications we’ll throw our hat in the ring! From then on, who knows, we’ll see where the wind takes us.
Thanks to Donna and Jade for chatting with us. Glad To Be Dead? will play at The Hen and Chickens Theatre between 31 July and 3 August, 6pm each evening. Further information and tickets available here.
The show will also be playing at the following:
8 July – Tunbridge Wells Fringe Festival. Tkts here.
17 – 19 July – Greater Manchester Fringe Festival. Tkts here.
30 September – Watford Fringe Festival. Tkts available soon here.
