CJ Smith on ‘Windchimes’ at Canal Café Theatre
After the success of our 2025 Camden Fringe Interviews, we thought it only right to attempt a repeat for 2026. So throughout July we’ll be publishing new interviews each day to give a taste of what to expect from London’s best fringe theatre festival. The festival starts Monday 3 August this year, so we may give ourselves a couple of days off inbetween the end of the interviews and the first shows… then again, we might not.
You can find out more about Camden Fringe, along with details of every show playing this August here. You can also find all of this year’s interviews as they are published here.
How do we find our way back to one another when we’ve forgotten how to ask for help? That is the core question driving Windchimes, a deeply moving yet surprisingly funny solo play coming to London’s iconic Canal Café Theatre this August for Camden Fringe 2026.
Written and performed by South West actor and theatre-maker CJ Smith, Windchimes follows a young man navigating the aftermath of a mental health crisis. Through rapid-fire multi-rolling, distinct vocal characterisation, and a touch of observational comedy, the show balances the heaviness of recovery with genuine warmth and hope.
We spoke with CJ about evolving the play from its raw beginnings, building a full cast of characters using vocal technique, and why a humble camping bed sits at the heart of the stage.
If you had to describe the vibe of Windchimes in just one sentence, what would it be?
Windchimes feels like returning home after being lost for years, brought to life through fast-paced multi-rolling and a heartbreakingly funny journey from isolation to reconnection.
Why is 2026 the perfect time for Windchimes to hit the stage?
In 2026, conversations around mental health are more visible than ever, yet many men still struggle with isolation and emotional vulnerability, and mental health challenges continue to rise. Windchimes poses the question: How do we find our way back to one another when we’ve forgotten how to ask for help? Through humour and vulnerability, Son explores the courage it takes to reconnect with loved ones.
Is this version how you originally envisioned it, or has it changed drastically?
This version of Windchimes is drastically different from the first iteration staged in 2024. The show is loosely inspired by my own experiences with mental health, and the original version was much darker, exploring questions of purpose and healing without offering clear answers.
While it resonated with audiences at The University of Plymouth, I felt there was more to discover. Over time, I separated the story from my personal experiences and focused on something that would appeal to everyone: our universal need for connection. Looking back, that original version was my way of reconnecting with myself and the people around me. Since then, Windchimes has evolved into a more hopeful and emotionally complex piece, balancing vulnerability with humour.
What is it about your character that you most enjoy?
One of the joys of performing Windchimes is getting to take on a cast of characters through multi-rolling. Each brings a unique perspective to Son’s journey.
My favourite character to perform is Son himself. We meet Son the day after his suicide attempt and throughout the show see him at different stages of his life. His journey from isolation towards vulnerability is a powerful experience to perform. Additionally, I enjoy his connection to the sentient Windchime and how they influence his journey.
I also love to play Manager. Nameless but unforgettable, she’s a well-meaning but painfully awkward manager who responds to every crisis with an offer of tea or coffee. She never fails to get a huge laugh from audiences and has become a fan favourite with phrases that become iconic following the show.
Mum is another character I deeply love. She’s emotionally complex, compassionate, and resilient. Her relationship with Son resonates at the heart of the play, and neither of them know how to reconnect, which makes their scenes together very moving.
How challenging has this solo role been for you technically?
Performing Windchimes has been a rewarding challenge, particularly in learning how to shift between multiple characters seamlessly within a solo performance.
In earlier versions, I experimented with staging that placed characters in specific fixed areas of the stage, but I realised that approach was restrictive and made the movement feel clunky. Therefore, I now focus heavily on voice and breath as the primary tools for differentiation. Developing distinct vocal qualities for each character allows them to feel instantly recognisable, clarifying quick shifts in time, place, and perspective.
The other challenge has been holding the emotional thread of the piece. In a solo show, you’re effectively responding to yourself, which initially feels strange, but it creates a very authentic, direct performance style that is incredibly fun to play.
How have you handled set and props for a fast-paced festival environment?
The set is intentionally minimal, with Mum’s bed as the central focal point. It’s a simple camping bed with a duvet and pillows, chosen because it represents Son’s desire to return home; a symbol for safety and emotional grounding.
The wind chime hangs on a free-standing pole made from a repurposed banner stand, built with the help of my real-life dad! Additional props, such as Dad’s dressing gown and daffodils (Mum’s favourite flower), are used to evoke specific memories Son revisits.
If budget or reality was not an issue, I would love for the show’s climax to have a hundred real wind chimes fill the stage.
What does “success” look like for you this August?
If even one audience member leaves feeling seen, or like the show has opened up a conversation they needed to have, then that feels meaningful to me. On a personal level, this is my first Fringe, and I’ll be heading to Camden on my own, so success also means learning from the experience, enjoying it, and making space to see other artists’ work.
Many thanks to CJ for the chat. Windchimes will be playing at Canal Cafe Theatre on Friday 21 and Saturday 22 August as part of Camden Fringe.
