Director Victor Sobchak brings One Woman and Her Bitch, a play by William Lyons, to the Etcetera Theatre later this month.
“The play is a highly theatrical and absurdist comedy blending influences from Aristophanes, Brecht, and Panto on the theme of being homeless in a big city.
Showing an influence from Brecht, the play deliberately breaks the fourth wall, invites improvisation, includes audience interaction, and interrupts the action with song at a number of places, and has serious social concerns.
In deference to Panto, the actors are given the freedom to ad lib, engage with the audience, invent “funny walks” or wear clothing with local references etc.”
Where: Etcetera Theatre
When: 27-30 Nov
Ticket link: https://www.etceteratheatrecamden.com/events/one-woman-and-her-bitch-by-william-lyons
Victor talks about the show, collaborations, and Fringe in general.
Tell me about A Woman and Her Bitch and how you came to be attached to the project. Has it been easy to bring the absurdity, songs, and jokes together?
It just happened one day. I received a very flattering email from William Lyons, the writer of One Woman and Her Bitch, in which he asked me to read the play and consider staging it in London “because he thought I was well-known for staging absurd plays”.
The play is a highly theatrical and absurdist comedy blending influences from Aristophanes, Brecht, Beckett and Panto. I instantly agreed to direct this hilarious satirical absurdist gem. For me, it wasn’t difficult to find the keys to unlock it.
For years, I used to act and direct plays by Beckett, Ionesco, Artur Adamov and others. And I am so happy that my very talented cast has instantly embraced this style and brought in many own jokes and improvisations.
You have a smashing cast led by the wonderful Caroline Burns Cooke. What do you hope both actors and audience will bring to the show?
Yes, to have a great cast is 50% of the success. We started working together with Caroline in 1996 when she was a student at the Courtyard Drama School and I used to be a visiting teacher.
Her first role for me was a lead in another absurdist play, Life with an Idiot, which we brought to the Edinburgh Fringe, then another brilliant role as Lulu in my adaptation of Beckett’s First Love.
The other actress, Angela Prince, I have worked with for years. She played in many of my productions from Anna Karenina to a brilliant surreal exploration of the poetry of David William Parry – The Grammar of Witchcraft).
Angela helps us a lot with our songs in One Woman… And I really like the blend of the ‘old guard’ and the ‘fresh blood’. This situation almost instantly creates trust and chemistry between actors. And I am sure the audience will get along with their tricks and jokes.
How do you find the Etcetera as a venue for your work?
I love Etcetera Theatre for their efforts and help to keep many Fringe companies and actors afloat.
It is not an easy time for the Fringe Theatre, and in my opinion, Etcetera Theatre is one of the best in London.
I know what I am talking about – I used to run The Lion and Unicorn Theatre and The Lord Stanley venue for about 15 years, and my collaboration with Etcetera Theatre has carried on for a long time.
You are artistic director of both Theatre Collection and Art-Vic and a veteran of the Fringe scene. Is it in a good space right now?
I am also used to be an Artistic Director of the legendary Actprovocateur Int. One company has evolved from the previous one. I started with Angli-Russian Theatre (Art-Vic), then formed Actprovocateur Int mostly from students I worked with.
With this company we did 10 Edinburgh Fringes. Once we brought over there 11 productions with 11 actors – most of them had 2 performances a day for 4 weeks.
As I said, we are not at the easiest time for the Fringe. Fringe practically has no support from the Government or local business; many fringe companies and venues just can’t survive. It is a very unfortunate situation.
But, somehow, we survived. Ine has to be fully dedicated to the ART – and our collaboration with Caroline Burns Cooke, which has lasted for almost 30 years, proves it.
Sell us the show in one sentence!
If you want to be a healthy person – laugh at yourself and all bad things will fly away!