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The Camden Fringe Interviews
Alice Motta on Sacred Bath
We first bumped into Alice Motta whilst at the Camden Fringe Launch Party. She was gracious enough to giave up a little time to record a very quick interview (we’d planned to use to create a Camden Fringe Podcast but somehow failed to get enough content for that purpose). But having had a brief chat we realised we wanted to know more about both Alice and her fascinating sounding show, Sacred Bath, and so asked her if she’d do a second interview for our Camden Fringe series. And once again she said yes.
Sacred Bath will play at Rosemary Branch Theatre on 12 and 13 August.
Lovely to meet you Alice, so who are you exactly?
I am a physical theatre actor and poet who’s conceived Sacred Bath – its writing, devising, and production.
So what’s Sacred Bath all about?
The audience can expect an entertaining show combining physical theatre, music, humour, poetry, and some relaxed and caring audience interactions. This is a piece which carries a deep reflection on the theme of objectification in several spheres of society. It is also a very emotional play, “very honest and raw- also fun and engaging” according to the audience. There are beautiful poetic moments and images, which invites the spectator to take a journey of self-reflection and forgiveness and also to be kinder and gentler with themselves in a world where it is hard to feel whole and safe, where we are compelled to do things we do not want, with little space to even ask questions in regards to consent. Sacred Bath is a ritual, a manifesto to claim back the right to desire, to fire, and to wholeness and sacredness at the same time.
Where will we find you then for Camden Fringe?
Sacred Bath will be showing at the Rosemary Branch, in Haggerston, on two evenings only: Monday, 12th of August at 7pm and Tuesday, 13th of August at 9pm.
What was your inspiration for the show?
In 2018, I had a meltdown on the bathtub, where I had a crazy rant with Jesus about the complexity of being presented with His figure as a symbol of perfect love, which died a virgin leaving a huge blank page on sexuality for us to figure out in our messiness. I realized that could make for a play about sexuality and spirituality intertwined. I was afraid people from different backgrounds wouldn’t relate, but I learned by doing the play, that the sexual trauma/ harassment experiences are shared by so many people and the taboos around sex are shared by groups of very different upbringings – religious or not. To write the play, I took inspiration from Michele Coel’s show: “I May Destroy You” and the books: “Tomorrow sex will be good again“, by Katherine Angel, and “Sex and Punishment: Four Thousand Years Judging Desire” by Eric Berkovitz.
So if the inspiration came in 2018, what’s happened in the six years since?
I created the show in November 2019, when I was living in Lisbon. Originally, it was a bilingual piece – with 50% in English and 50% in Portuguese. Then I moved back to the UK and performed it last year at the Camden Fringe- mostly in English. This year I changed Sacred Bath quite a lot for the Brighton Fringe, and it got shortlisted by the South East Dance Awards as the Most surprising dance performance (which emcompasses physical theatre/ circus and dance).
What do you want audiences to take away from the show?
I hope the audience can feel moved, touched and take it as an invitation to reflect about the moments in their lives when they were a victim/ object of sexual harassment and where does the mentality which allows for it to happen starts. I’d like for people to discuss about the outdated taboos around sexuality, and think on ways in which we can evolve in our behavior around the body, sexuality and consent.
Being Camden Fringe, we all know sets have to be bare minimum, how have you got around this?
Originally, I created this show revolving around a bathtub. As I started planning on touring the show, I had to adapt. And I changed it into an old bathing set prop with a bowl and a jug instead. I also had a big room divider screen on the old version to create a different space, which I now do with my physicality and light change. I do miss the bathtub- and I am keeping it for a longer run in a venue, but it is nice to be able to fit a show in a bag and just travel around with it.
Who do you feel the show is aimed at?
This show is for anyone who’s ever felt unsafe in their bodies, who has a religious or conservative backgrounds and ponder about how sexuality can also be Sacred. It is a piece for those who want to shake the guilt and shame imposed on their bodies since childhood and give a new meaning to their experiences and are in a journey healing from sexual trauma. Also physical theatre performers, and people who like movement, music and poetry connected.
Are there any plans for what comes next after August – for you or the show?
I am doing the Lambeth Festival, on the 2nd of October. And then I want to do this new version of the show in Lisbon and also take it to Porto, Berlin, Barcelona and Brazil – where I have connections. And other festivals and places who’d like to book it – especially London venues. I am open for bookings, guys!
Is there one question you feel we should have asked you?
Yes. I think it’s good to ask artists how they got to the point where they are – as all too often we compare our success in the industry and it’s hard to spot the difference between someone who’s got sponsorship, those with had rich parents supporting their career and who worked really hard to get their work out there, or simply got contacts who helped. In my case, back in my country, I had some privileges: living with my mother, having had a good education and being white. As an immigrant, these things change and it is a lot harder. I had to climb the ladder- still do – and sometimes take breaks from the industry to just “pay the bills” or to support my mental health.
I hope we can create more inclusive Fringes, like the Camden one. Edinburgh is far too expensive to allow for any type of equity!
What words of advice/ encouragement would you give anyone thinking about doing Camden Fringe next year?
Get in there soon. With Edinburgh becoming super duper expensive, more of us will stay in London to perform their shows. And if you have the chance, go and watch as many shows this year and see the different spaces to check where you’d like to perform in.
Many thanks to Alice for chatting with us. Sacred Bath plays at Rosemary Branch Theatre 12 & 13 August as part of Camden Fringe. Further information and bookings available here.
The show will also play at Bread and Roses Theatre for Lambeth Fringe on 2 October. Tickets available here.
