This year’s Camden Fringe includes a new show, The Pink List, from Michael Trauffer, whose previous show Fabulett 1933 has had several successful festival runs.
The Pink List is a “gripping new work, illuminating an untold chapter of LGBTQ+ history through searing personal stories.”
Michael stopped by to chat about the show.
Where: King’s Head Theatre
When: 5, 11, 13 Aug
Ticket link: https://camdenfringe.com/events/the-pink-list/
You’ve played at the Camden Fringe before. What’s special about it?
The Camden Fringe holds a special place for me, as I premiered my previous show Fabulett 1933 there in 2021.
It’s an excellent platform for showcasing innovative work and reaching engaged audiences.
It’s also more affordable than Edinburgh, making it closer to the original Fringe spirit.
The Pink List is your new show following a successful run of Fabulett 1933. Now you are focusing on the post-war era of the 1950s and a gay concentration camp survivor on trial because of his sexuality. What inspired this piece?
The Pink List is set in 1957 West Germany, where Karl, a gay concentration camp survivor, stands trial for loving another man.
While Karl is a fictional character, his story is inspired by the untold stories of gay concentration camp survivors.Â
The show explores how the Nazi-era law persecuting homosexuals remained in force after the war, making men like Karl perpetual offenders rather than recognized victims.Â
It serves as a powerful reminder that the legacy of oppressive regimes can persist long after their fall, shaping laws, societal attitudes, and individual lives for generations.
This is another solo show for you. What do you like about doing these, and are there any challenges for you being alone in the spotlight?
One-person shows offer a unique intimacy with the audience. They allow for a direct connection and the opportunity to fully embody the character.
The challenge lies in maintaining energy throughout the performance and effectively portraying multiple characters.
The first few performances of a new show are especially daunting, when you know that you won’t get a break for a full hour, as the audience will have their eyes and ears just on you.
You are playing the show at the new King’s Head Theatre. Has the venue had an influence on developing The Pink List?
The King’s Head Theatre is an ideal venue for The Pink List.
It’s known for supporting new work and LGBTQ+ stories, and its smaller space 4below provides the perfect intimate setting for this personal narrative.
The King’s Head allowed us to do a Work In Progress in June, so the space is an important part of the show development.
What are your plans for the show after Camden?
I hope that the show will be well-received by audiences and press, but either way I expect that we will make some changes to the show after Camden.
Hopefully, I will be back in 2025 and take it to other Fringe festivals as well as tour it.
We have developed the show so it should be more travel-friendly than Fabulett 1933.Â
The show’s themes of injustice, resilience, and the ongoing fight for equality are universal, and we believe they’ll resonate with diverse audiences.