Fanta Barrie takes us to the edges of This Little Earth
This Little Earth comes to the Arcola Theatre this October and describes the journey of two flat-Earthers to discover the edge of the world. The play has already been shortlisted for both The Women’s Prize for Playwriting and The Originals Playwriting Award, so we were keen to find out more about this brand new two-hander. We were delighted to chat with Fanta Barrie, who plays Honey and learn more.
Hi Fanta. Thanks very much for talking to us about This Little Earth. What is this show is about?
The show is about Two Flat Earthers who go to Antarctica to find the edge of that world… that’s all you’re getting.
Can you tell us about the character you play, Honey?
Honey is grieving the death of her sister. When life feels like it might not get any better she meets the ever so awkward and charming Christopher, who shows her a new world… the flat world if you will.
The Flat Earth theory seems so absurd in this day and age. How does the play approach this belief? Is it serious, or perhaps comical?
It’s a bit of both, the show isn’t a satire on people who believe in Flat Earth Theory, but a doorway into understanding how people can get to that point of believing something so extreme or understanding the humanity of these people. Ultimately, it’s a show that’s very comedic and can be at times a little bit sad. But the best things usually are!
You are co-starring with Ross O’Donnellan, who plays Christopher. How’s it been working with him?
So utterly dreamy, he has the most infectious laugh and energy, which is certainly a tonic during this process. He brings such heart, comedy and warmth to Christopher – you’re really in for a treat!
You have a multi-disciplined background, having worked on screen as well as on stage. Does this feed well into director Imy Wyatt Corner’s vision for the play?
Yes! Imy has had such a strong vision of the show! Themes are heavily inspired by off-beat rom coms, like Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind or Sliding Doors, or more meta films like The Truman Show. It’s been so amazing to have the writer Jessie Norman in the room too: it’s been incredibly collaborative. Jessie’s writing is big, bold and absurd and Imy has taken such care of this play. And managed to make it come alive in a way I didn’t think could be possible, considering the two characters travel to Antarctica. It’s just been so fun!!!
The play examines ideas of truth and who controls the narrative. Can you talk a bit about that and why it’s important in the current political climate?
There is something completely absurd about believing the Earth is flat, a theory that has been disproved for thousands of years. But, as with many conspiracy theories, I think it reflects a feeling that people have that there is something very wrong with the world around us and a human desire to make sense of that. You only have to look at the political landscape of the world right now, and it’s pretty bleak, I think in many ways people want a form of escape: for some people that might be reading, going to choir or (a bit more extreme) believing in flat Earth. I think that what the play touches on beautifully is that everyone wants to feel part of something, whether that’s a narrative, a community, or a search of connection. When the world feels huge and scary, I think it’s very easy to want to find some sort of hope.
How do you hope the audience will respond to the play?
I hope that audiences will find the comedy in the absurdity and tragedy of it all. Or just have conversations they didn’t expect to have. That’s the beauty of theatre, right?! Maybe they’ll even really love parts of Honey and Christopher or see parts of themselves within these characters that they didn’t think that would see, plus it’s a wild ride and there’s nothing more fun than watching something you don’t know where it will go.
Thanks very much to Fanta for talking to us about this fascinating new production. This Little Earth will debut at Arcola Theatre, Studio 2, running from Wednesday 22 October – Saturday 15 November.
