Polish writer/performer Anna Krauze brings her new show, People We Bury Alive, to Edinburgh Fringe this year.
“Rita is an immigrant. She works at a mortuary and runs a support forum for people who have been buried alive. But can she practice what she preaches? Because the thing is, she just buried her ex alive.
A dark comedy one woman show about grief, love and loss. The choices we make, the decisions made for us and the prices we all pay as a consequence. It won’t kill you to get a ticket – we promise!”
Where: Playground 3 at ZOO
When: 1-24 Aug
Ticket link: https://www.edfringe.com/tickets/whats-on/people-we-bury-alive
Anna tells us more about the show.
Your show is a dark comedy about grief, loss and love. Where did the idea come from?
The idea actually came to me first when my twin sister was suddenly “buried alive” by her friend without any explanation!
But I dug deeper into this subject because it’s so universal and we all experience it in relationships.
Without giving too much away, most of us have been or will be buried alive at some point in our lives and will go through the process of grieving that. Come see my show to find out why!
And I love writing dark comedies, because they are so close to the universal human experience. After all, comedy is tragedy with time.
Real life blends it all, we often find humour in the darkest of times: in sadness and heartbreak, challenges and grief.
Like… Hear me out: is there anything that releases tension better than an unpredicted laugh at a funeral?
I love making people laugh, especially at the unexpected and the absurd, make them think: “Can I really be laughing at this?”
Would you agree that theatre has a duty to tackle difficult issues and topics?
I wouldn’t necessarily say it has a duty to do so, because there are so many wonderful shows that are purely entertaining and comedic. So it doesn’t have to, there’s enough space for everything.
But theatre is an amazing medium to tackle difficult topics. It’s the stories that dig into the gritty stuff that touch audiences the most.
I often get asked to advise what someone who’s never written a play or a comedy set should write about and I always say the same thing: write what you don’t want to talk about.
About stuff you find tricky, embarrassing, hard – regardless of the genre – without worrying that someone may judge you.
Because that’s the stuff that people relate to, the honesty, the truth. It makes your audience think “Thank God someone said what I couldn’t!”
They laugh with you or cry with you, get catharsis through your story.
How did you start in theatre? Do Fringe festivals inspire you?
I actually grew up in a theatre environment, I come from a family of Polish thespians. So as a medium, theatre will always be close to my heart!
I graduated from a drama school in London so I’m trained in acting, but I never even studied playwriting. I just love to write as well! And I do so in my second language, English – so if I can do it, anyone can!
I just wanted to have a freedom to perform in stories that I want to see (for example including more immigrants like myself, from Eastern Europe – you will notice this a lot in my plays!)
And Fringe Festivals absolutely inspire me! They are an opportunity to see incredible, bold, mad stories and meet so many talented people.
Which is why it makes me sad when artists get priced out of them, like with accommodation costs.
They should be more accessible for everyone to showcase their work and I think cities hosting them need to work on price caps for places to rent.
Because what is are the Fringe Festivals without their artists? We are the heart and soul of them.
What are you looking forward to the most in Edinburgh?
Performing, of course! Showing my new work, because it will be a premiere of People We Bury Alive and we have quite a few surprises in the play.
I’m trying something I’ve never done before and I also have a shocking prop/scene partner – so I can’t wait to hear what the audiences think.
But also seeing shows by my insanely creative and talented friends (such as the bonkers Awkward Productions who are even getting married on stage!
Or Jess Carrivick with her character comedy – if I can give a quick shout out to at least a few) and exploring plays and stand up comedy!
And being in the city in August! Edinburgh honestly becomes such a vibe. It bursts with love and passion for our craft and it warms my heart when artists genuinely support each other. After all, we’re in this together!
What’s next for the show and for you?
Like with all my projects, I hope for a long and happy life of the show!
I want to do it in London after the Fringe and hopefully on tour as well (we are already discussing doing it in Tokyo for example which is very exciting!)
I also have a development pitch for TV and Edinburgh is a great platform to explore that with various meet-ups with production companies.
And for me? I am simply but an actor and a writer. I love what I do and never want to stop. So producers and casting directors – hit me up.
I’m available for hire for the next hundred years! Jokes aside, I love collaborating on projects so do reach out! I have a fairly clever brain. Let’s make even more art babies!