Interview: What Are Your Six Most Important Life Events?

Des Ttoouli on Sparrow: A Life in Six Acts

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Sparrow, a young girl, leads us through the six most important events of her life, from her youth to her arranged marriage and beyond. As she fights to protect herself and her family from abuse, sickness, poverty and loss, Sparrow learns to empower herself despite the trials of womanhood and the limitations set by her Cypriot culture in England. Duty, loyalty and love can be a force for good or a means of imprisonment. In six emotional acts will Sparrow unfold her wings and fly?

What can audiences expect from the show?

An attempt to give the audience a resonating and visceral experience through Sparrow’s deep emotions, her experiences and reactions to them. 

Is Camden Fringe going to be the show’s first time on stage, or have you already performed elsewhere?

This will be the first time the work will be debuted as a whole: the first monologue was performed at the Judith Wilson Studio in Cambridge in 2023 before the extended version.

What was your inspiration behind the show?

As a child I was always deeply emotional and full of fear so I wanted to take a journey through life from childhood to womanhood, breaking patriarchal and cultural paralysis and finding freedom and empowerment.  

How long have you been working on the play?

It has taken two years to bring the work to fruition in its present form. 

Is this version how you originally envisioned it or has it changed drastically since you first put pen to paper?

It began as part of a course at ICE: The University of Cambridge, as a short monologue play but has grown to follow the character through her life and has become a monologue play of six short acts instead of one.  

Being a fringe festival, we all know sets have to be bare minimum, how have you got around this with your set and props?

The props are minimal purposely in order to make the language and the work the main character. 

What has been the biggest challenge in realising your vision for the show?

Finding an appropriate actor, venue and red tape/logistics. 

How important is audience interaction to you?

The audience’s reaction and interaction with the reading is most important. I would like the audience to feel included, and leave having been moved by Sparrows’ struggles and her bravery in the face of adversity. 

Are there any plans for what comes next after the show has finished its run– for you or the show?

Yes I’m hoping to get venue confirmation for the Edinburgh Fringe. I have also submitted to a number of theatres in London and the UK. 

Who would play you in the Hollywood adaptation of your future autobiography?

Lydia Bakelmun, Penelope Cruz and Kristen Scott Thomas. 

If you had to describe your show as a colour what would it be?

Deep purple. It is a strong colour and signifies endings but as it sits opposite yellow on the colour wheel it suggests the possibility of transcending into joy. 

If you had to describe your show as a meal what would it be?

A feast would describe the work as it deals with a plethora of life’s experiences: sweet, sour, bitter and enjoyable. 

If your show had a soundtrack, what songs would definitely be on it?

The soundtrack would consist of: Simon and Garfunkle’s The Sound of silence. An old Cypriot folk song about an eagle sunning itself called The Eagle ( O Aetos). A Greek song about being estranged from one’s country and those one loves called,  The Dove (To Peristeraki). R.V. Williams violin work, The Lark Ascending. 

If you could perform this show anywhere in the world, where would it be?

In  one of the world’s greatest amphitheatres or a house where the audience would follow sparrow throught he changes in her situation. 

What’s the weirdest or most unconventional prop used in your show, and how did it come to be part of the production?

The industrial sewing machine symbolising, the immigrant work ethic and struggle Cypriot women went through in a foreign land. 

If budget or reality was not an issue, what’s the one piece of scenery/set you’d love to have in your show? 

An old victorian house in the East End of London. 

What’s the most valuable piece of advice you’ve received during your career, and how has it influenced your work on this show?

A playwright’s work should be seen! Believe in the work and yourself and don’t let your inner saboteur stop you!.

What words of advice/encouragement would you give anyone thinking about doing Camden Fringe next year?

The advice given me as in the question above plus take the opportunity and help The Camden Fringe grow.

Sparrow: A Life in Six Acts plays at Theatro Technis as part of Camden Fringe on Tuesday 29 July.