Villainous Dramaturgy: David Robinson @ Edfringe 2015

The Fringe

What inspired this production: did you begin with an idea or a script or an object?
David Robinson: I attended a production called Bomber's Moon starring James Bolam in a small venue of around 40 people- and was struck by the over-whelming effort put in for such a small audience. 

Later on that evening, I flicked through the free newspaper and glanced at the television listings for that night and saw an over-whelming abundance of repeated shows. The comparative disparity between the effort placed into a small theatre production and a national television audience was jarring and sad. 

This inspired me to write a series of songs charting the demise of television and about a cast of characters affecting through the lack of work opportunities in this medium and what the future might hold. 

Why bring your work to Edinburgh?There are few places to perform consistently- there is a certain democracy to an abundance of choice in other productions. The people who attend are paying a big compliment in not opting to see something else. It is important to fulfill that leap of faith they have demonstrated.

What can the audience expect to see and feel - or even think - of your production?
I hope the audience might consider television as being truly threatened and the cultural reality of a disappearance.


The Dramaturgy Questions
How would you explain the relevance - or otherwise - of dramaturgy within your work?
'Where Are The Villains Now' is directly about 2015 and the demise of television.
What particular traditions and influences would you acknowledge on your work - have any particular artists, or genres inspired you and do you see yourself within their tradition?
My music has been influenced by the great acoustic musicians like Leadbelly and Hubert Sumlin.

Do you have a particular process of making that you could describe - where it begins, how you develop it, and whether there is any collaboration in the process?
My show mixes music, political films and live spoken commentary. I began with a series of concepts relating to television in the present day and gradually spread it across into three clear sections.

What do you feel the role of the audience is, in terms of making the meaning of your work?
Each UK resident in the audience will be liable to pay a licence fee- this show is written directly for those people who might feel under-whelmed with the service they receive and rightly would anticipate a more artistically valid output from the BBC.