Everything Theatre Reviews, interviews and news for theatre lovers, London and beyond
The Camden Fringe Interviews
Writer Peter Todd on his play Straddle
Scar Theatre is a new theatre company dedicated to sharing the humanity in ugly stories, warts and all. Their aim is to tell honest, hard-hitting stories, to shine a light on the messy parts of life and the all-too-human ability to get through it.
Writer Peter Todd talks about their latest show Straddle, showing at the Hen & Chickens Theatre. It has the intriuging tagline ‘a fantasia on gay rage’. Theatre can be very cathartic, is that right Peter?
Thank you for talking to ET, why don’t you introduce yourself.
My name is Peter Todd and I’m the writer and performer of Straddle.
What can audiences expect from the show?
A lot of fun, a lot of silliness and a lot of gay rage! Like watching a car crash in slow motion, but make it hilarious. It’s a piece about learning to be brave enough to take the first step, even when you don’t know what that means.
So where are we going to find you during Camden Fringe?
We’re playing two shows at the Hen and Chickens Theatre. We loved the space and the tech specs made it the perfect space to house our little show!
What inspired you to write Straddle?
I feel like the constant unpicking and rewiring of our brains that we do as queer people often leaves us in a perpetual state of flux. I’m always refreshing my thoughts, rethinking my ideas and finding the next step in my queer evolution. And I wanted to capture some of the joy and fear in this unsteadiness: the excitement and opportunity that comes with reinventing yourself and becoming more authentically you; how terrifying it can be to realise that you haven’t felt like yourself until now. The routes we’ve taken to become ourselves in the present are messy and convoluted and I guess, in many ways, Straddle has become a loving ode to the mess of figuring yourself out in a world that never quite felt ready for you in the first place. I’ve been writing Straddle over the last year and this is the first time we’re putting it up on its feet, which is both terrifying and very exciting—we can’t wait for you to see it!
As well as writing it you’re also performing as well, yes?
I play the narrator of the show and I love his pure unfiltered chaos. He’s so entirely and unapologetically himself and I love it.
What is it you hope the audience think after watching the show?
We want them to have to go and sit down in a dark room to think about life and listen to Mitski.
Are there any plans for what comes next after August – for you or the show?
Straddle is coming back in full force for a week at the Bread and Roses in late October!
What made you decide to be part of Camden Fringe this year?
Really just the spirit of giving things a go. I’ve written and workshopped the show over the last 12 months and the only true test is putting the whole thing up in full in front of an audience so here we are, gay and full of rage!
What words of encouragement would you give anyone thinking about doing Camden Fringe next year?
You’ll never feel completely ready so you’ve got to just jump in! The mixture of fear and excitement will propel you on to make your show the best it can be!
Is there one question you feel we should have asked you?
Why are you so f*****g angry??!!
Who is going to play you when your autobiography is snapped up by Hollywood in years to come?
Oh they’ll be transferring this exact team for the cinematic retelling.
If you had to describe your show as a meal, what would it be and why?
A huge buffet without any cutlery or napkins. Just grab a fistful of everything and chow down!
If budget was not an issue, what’s the one piece of scenery/ set you’d love to have in your show?
Give us a massive rainbow-coloured revolve, right now!
Many thanks to Peter for taking the time to chat. You can catch Straddle: a fantasia of gay rage when it plays at the Hen and Chickens Theatre on 20th and 21st August. Further information and tickets available here.
