SE Fest is a theatre festival based in southeast London to promote and celebrate new writing. It is hosted for the second year by two neighbouring venues, The Bridge House Theatre in Penge and The Jack Studio Theatre in Crofton Park, two award-winning theatres with a reputation for supporting and presenting new work.
You can find the full programme for the festival here.
One of the first shows that will be playing at the festival is Wendy Fisher‘s It Never Rains (2 and 3 September at Jack Studio, 4 September at Bridge House Theatre). The show promises a blend of evocative storytelling, sharp humour, and haunting imagery, as it navigates the intersections of family, memory, and climate change, to ask: what do we hold on to when the world around us is slipping away?
We grabbed an umbrella (just in case it did actually rain) and headed south of the river to ask Wendy a few questions.
What can audiences expect from the show?
Our audiences will find themselves on a roller coaster of emotion, they will laugh, they will cry, they might identify with the characters. They will certainly find the situations relatable.
Watching three generations of women cope with the revelations of long held secrets and having a mirror held up to their character traits is gripping and sometimes disturbing but also as it’s a family with all that goes with that, it’s very funny. The audiences will have a jolly good night out with a lot to talk about later.
Is this going to be the show’s first time on stage, or have you already performed elsewhere?
It Never Rains has had snippets performed before but this is the first time it will be on stage in its entirety following on from a very successful rehearsed reading. It’s very exciting to have been chosen.
What was your inspiration behind the show?
Climate change was the initial inspiration, then it developed into linking climate change to changes within the family dynamic as a result of being affected by climate change. I’ve always been interested in the darker side of life, relationships and family generally and this was the perfect vehicle.
Is this version how you originally envisioned it or has it changed drastically since you first put pen to paper?
I’ve been working on the play for about a year. It started off very differently as a monologue that won me an Old Vic monologue prize where it was recorded and I was cited as one of their emerging artists. Since then it’s gone down many rabbit holes and versions but I’m happy with it now. I hope the audiences will be too.
Being a fringe festival, we all know sets have to be bare minimum, how have you got around this with your set and props?
We’re using projection to enhance some of the situations but if anybody has a spare two seater sofa we’d love to borrow it!
Are there any plans for what comes next after the show has finished its run– for you or the show?
We’re hoping to have a week at the Lion and Unicorn from 17 – 21 September, that was on the back of getting into SE Fest so we’re very grateful to everyone there.
Who would play you in the Hollywood adaptation of your future autobiography?
Harriet Walter.
If budget or reality was not an issue, what’s the one piece of scenery/set you’d love to have in your show?
A collapsing ceiling.
What’s the most valuable piece of advice you’ve received during your career, and how has it influenced your work on this show?
Cut the first ten pages, I try to cut any superfluous dialogue and make it as natural as possible.
What words of advice/encouragement would you give anyone thinking about doing a festivas like SE Fest next year?
Just go for it.
Thank you to Wendy for taking the time to chat.
It Never Rains plays as part of SE Fest from Tuesday 2 to Thursday 4 September.
2 and 3 September: Jack Studio Theatre, tickets here.
4 September at Bridge House Theatre, tickets here.
