Mark Ravenhill talks about Run At It Laughing
Playwright and theatremaker Mark Ravenhill is an absolute myth and legend here at ET Towers! He’s had some really serious stuff produced globally, including by the RSC, the National Theatre and the Royal Court, to name but a few exceptional organisations. But his latest project, Run At It Laughing, which runs at Wilton’s Music Hall this May, is a project of ten new comedies, presented as rehearsed readings over two days. Well that’ll put a smile on your face! We were keen to hear more about this unusual event, so dropped him a line with some questions.
Hi Mark! Thanks so much for talking to us today about Run At It Laughing. Firstly, what prompted you to produce this series of comedies?
We live at a time of great anxiety and division. Comedy is something I believe we need. Laughing releases stress and brings us together. It cheers us up but can also I believe reconnect and reenergise us to sort out the mess we’re in. When I discovered a series of scenarios for comedies first improvised in Italian in the 1580s, I decided that this would be a great foundation for a comedy marathon of ten new plays.
Who are the actors and creatives involved in the project with you?
I’ve been working for a year with the company Run At It Shouting, which provides courses in professional development for working actors. In the workshops I’ve led, we’ve explored clowning, improvisation and mask work. I’m drawing on this talented pool of actors to perform the rehearsed readings of these new comedies. Charlie MacGechan, founder of RAIS, has been incredibly supportive and encouraging.
How did the many stories come about?
The original stories draw on popular stories and folk tales. Particularly the more saucy ones. Most of them are farces motivated by sex. Lots of the plot elements found their way into plays by Shakespeare and Molière. And into ‘lower’ forms of drama: there’s a strong link with the ‘Carry On’ films of the 1960s and 1970s.
The plays will be performed in an absolutely marathon format, as rehearsed readings across two days! This sounds brilliant. Are you and your actors in training yet? Do the audience need to train up too?
We’ve been discovering ways to perform this kind of work over the last year of workshops. The comedy mostly works because the stakes are very high for the characters. It needs a high level of skill and commitment to play those stakes. It needs to be heightened but always precise and true. Because the same characters occur in all the plays, I think audiences will enjoy seeing more than one reading, although each play works as a standalone.
This is not only a fun exercise but a valuable fundraising activity for the Nia Project. How did you get involved with them and how will the show’s profits help make change?
Run At It Shouting have an ongoing commitment to raising money for the Nia Project. It’s a small local charity. The money we’ll raise will make a real difference to their vital workto end violence against women and children.
What do you hope your audiences will come away with from this bonkers weekend of comedy?
I hope audiences will come away with a big grin on their faces and perhaps aching sides and a bit of wee in their pants! And, as a bonus, an insight into some of the earliest comedies of the professional European stage as reimagined for a contemporary audience.
Thanks so much to Mark for taking the time to tell us about his fabulous project. We’ll be running all the way to the box office for this show!
Run At It Laughing runs at Wilton’s Music Hall on Friday 9 and Saturday 10 May. Further information and booking details can be found here.
