Shireen Shaikh on writing Significant Other
Significant Other is the debut play from writer Shireen Shaikh, playing at the Jack Studio Theatre this summer. It’s a tale that brings together some rather unlikely figures – a teen influencer and a travelling salesman in his fifties. We were intrigued to know more about the process of writing a first play and about how this extraordinary combination of characters came about, so we called Shireen up for a chat.
Hi Shireen. Thanks very much for talking to us today about Significant Other. What can you tell us about the two main characters and the plot?
It’s a dual narrative over a surreal weekend, two characters trying to let go of a past significant other who is refusing to go away. Victor is not in a good place. His career is stalling, he’s in love with a mannequin and is estranged from his child. His ex-wife (is she real or not?) comes back as the voice of reason to question his choices and ultimately make him confront himself. Malika has a rather different problem. A romance with an older boy has turned toxic and he is now stalking her. This cuts her off from her best friend, herself and those around her.
I am interested in how we carry a past relationship inside us as fragments, memories and motivations, and how the past can continue to interact with us. On the stage you will see Victor and Malika navigate real and liminal spaces, not realising how closely connected their worlds are.
Is this your first time writing a script? What inspired you to write a play?
I have been writing for a long time, but this is the first time since my twenties that I have written a full-length script. I had just finished writing a novel and thought, why not try writing a play again. Seeing the play Red Pitch, which I absolutely loved, made me go home and resolve to get started. It was liberating to be writing something quickly and energetically. I signed up for a Theatre503 write your first full-length script course and continued on with what I had created to complete a first draft. I then worked on it further after two readings with actors and with invaluable feedback and support from my director friend Wils Wilson.
How is the process of writing a play different to writing a novel?
Writing a novel is solitary and it is a much bigger structure. When you do another draft of a 90,000 word novel it’s like taking down dividing walls. Working on drafts of this play felt less daunting because it was easier to discard, dismantle and try out new things. I drew on the advice of Mark Ravenhill in his 101 Notes on Playwriting, to allow yourself to write a really fast first draft, then see what’s worth keeping for later on. Speed can be a virtue, especially if you are prone to overthinking.
Tell us about the cast for the show and what they each bring to the table.
I am so pleased we were able to assemble a cast who bring a wealth of experience and newness. Some have been acting for decades, for others this is their debut. Charlie Buckland (Victor), who recently appeared in the TV series What It Feels Like for a Girl, has a charming and wry quality. Kate Russell-Smith (The Woman), who recently appeared in Fawlty Towers in The West End, has a grounded and matter of fact way of delivering humour, something essential for an ex-wife. Then there’s the warm and fluid style of Christie Fewry, who will be playing Malika. Finally, I am very excited about our debut actors, Bryan Seisay (The Boy) and Leila McCalla (Sophia). I must also mention my fabulous director, Julia Stubbs, who recently took debut show Still Here by Mari Lloyd on tour to critical acclaim. She immediately saw the liminal aspects of the script and is adding exciting dimensions.
What kind of audiences do you hope will come to this show and why?
The play is intergenerational because it’s about how romantic relationships insist on defining us (even by their absence), regardless of how young or old we might be. I want it to appeal to young people who are navigating relationships for the first time, also married and divorced folk who think ‘How did I get here?’ or ‘Where do I go from here?’ And of course, all the single people are welcome!
Thanks very much to Shireen for telling us all about this fascinating production. Significant Other plays at the Jack Studio Theatre from Tuesday 18 to Saturday 29 August.
