Dinosaurs is a dark comedy produced by The Nightmare Lizards from the United States. Amanda Rubeli has written the show (and plays Norma the dinosaur) and took time out from performing at the Hollywood Fringe to tell us about it.
“Dinosaurs begins when Claire comes home to an unexpected guest: a real-life dinosaur rummaging through her apartment. After retracing her steps, she concludes the dinosaur is a strange manifestation of unresolved trauma she carries after being sexually assaulted as a teenager. Claire then determines the only way to send the dinosaur back in time is to find closure. For fear that the very fabric of time and space could collapse at any moment, her quick solution is to confront her abuser, and somehow, what she discovers in the process is even more unexpected than a spontaneously appearing dinosaur.”
Where: Thistle Theatre at Greenside @ Riddles Court
When: 7-29 Aug (not 16 or 23)
Ticket link: https://www.edfringe.com/tickets/whats-on/dinosaurs
What can you tell us about your show? What is it about and where did the idea come from?
Dinosaurs is a dark comedy about time travel, healing your inner child, and sweet, sweet revenge. The piece surrounds a girl, her best friend, and a real-life dinosaur she accidentally conjured, who all go on a quest to confront her high school abuser.
The show is a personal piece, very loosely reflecting true events from my life, but most of the story grew from my imagination. I was interested in exploring the emotional truth behind those experiences, rather than recreating them exactly as they happened (except for the real-life dinosaur, that happened, obviously).
How would you sell it to audiences in one paragraph?
Claire comes home one day to an unexpected guest: A real-life dinosaur rummaging through her apartment. After retracing her steps, Claire and her best friend Hayden conclude the dinosaur is a strange manifestation of unresolved trauma Claire carries. For fear that the very fabric of space and time could collapse at any moment, their quick solution is to confront her abuser, and somehow, what they discover in the process is even more unexpected than a spontaneously appearing dinosaur.
Do you enjoy participating in the Fringe? And do you have any moments you particularly remember?
Absolutely! I performed at the Edinburgh Fringe in 2017 with my high school theatre troupe, and it was incredible to see an entire city transformed by the arts. Since then, I’ve participated in the Hollywood Fringe four times, and my favorite part of both festivals is the incredible sense of community and the chance to experience truly wild, imaginative work.
One show that has always stuck with me from Hollywood Fringe was about a nudist family. Not only were the performers fully nude, but the audience was too! Everyone stored their clothes and phones in lockers before entering, and then we all watched the show together, completely naked. It was one of the most memorable theatrical experiences I’ve ever had and a perfect reminder that at Fringe, there are truly no limits to creativity.
What are you looking forward to the most in Edinburgh?
I’m most looking forward to meeting artists from around the world, seeing eccentric, bold theatre, and continuing to grow as a performer. I’m also excited to explore Edinburgh and get to know the history of the town.
What’s next for the show?
My biggest hope is to continue touring the show around the world and sharing it with new audiences. I’d also love to expand it from its current 50-minute format into a full-length production. Looking further ahead, I hope the piece will have a life beyond me and eventually be produced by a larger theatre company.