Dirty Dramaturgy: Narin Oz @ Edfringe 2017

Narin Oz Presents 

THEATRE/COMEDY

UK Premier

                      

#DirtyWoman

  ( IN PROGRESS )

Performed & written by Narin Oz (as seen on Channel 4’s Girls Go Trolling)

The Cuckoo's Nest' in the 'Basement' 

     69 Home Street Tollcross, Edinburgh EH3 9JP, Scotland.

3rd to 27th August

Start time: 16:15  

Narin Oz is a mad scientist, obsessed with cleanliness and order, on the mission to cure dirty thoughts using a powerful liquid she discovered from an ancient well which contains the chemical Hydrogen 2 & Oxygen. 

One drop and you will never have any dirty thoughts ever again… for 12 seconds…WHAT COMPLETE UTTER BOLLOX IT’S WATER..BLOODY WATER FROM THE FACKIN TOILETS. ELLO! ME NAME’S #DIRTYWOMAN NARIN OZ’S SHADOW (Played by Narin Oz)…

CUM WATCH ME SABOTAGE HER SEMINAR  EVERY TIME SHE RUNS OUT OF WATER AND I’LL LET YOU FLOP IT IN ME HAND…

Oi AND GIVE US SOME GRUB & CASH ASWELL. 

Join Narin Oz in this disastrous bonkers seminar. (Contains mud, water, nudity  with a hint of profanity). 

What was the inspiration for this performance?

I was completely skint this year and my card maxed out. I was on my arse.  I couldn't afford to travel to work so I went home and cried listening to I feel sorry for myself music (Queen: I want to break free) I couldn't even do that properly without hearing my budgerigars squarking in the background, "I want to break chchchch".  

Then whilst I was laying down on my bed, crippled with anxiety,  I began reflecting on my life and started to feel like a complete looser; 32 living with dad,  no money,  a bad love life that has a disastrous track record of toxic relationships. This was an indescribable feeling but none of it was a coincidence and  at that moment I decided to take charge and to stop self sabotaging. 

Richard Pryor has always been my inspiration for mocking the dark, making fun of all the dark moments in his life. I wanted to do the same to purge the darkness so I started creating this   a solo theatre comedy show #DirtyWoman. A show essentially about learning to love your dark shadow. 

Is performance still a good space for the public discussion of ideas? 

Yes Definitely. A lot of my work is accidentally politically charged which is laced in between stupidity.  I always create shows from a place of truth because ultimately I am earning for connection with other people.  Laughter brings people together and I love bringing everyone together from all backgrounds because we are all human beings with feelings.  

How did you become interested in making performance?

I studied performance with film &  TV in Aberystwyth University and I saw some freaky performance art during my time there. I realised that it was not for me so I ended up doing stand up comedy then I saw this amazing clown/actress called Sonja Quita Doubleday and I decided to do lots of workshops in clowning. 

Is there any particular approach to the making of the show?

Firstly I think to myself what have I always wanted to do on stage and what will amuse me for an hour? 

Then I use the hero's journey to help structure the show and then let my imagination run wild imagining scenarios, doing impressions and retelling embarrassing stories from my own life.  I also talk to a lot of people listening to what people talk about the most. 

After writing the show and rehearsing I workshop the show for a whole month at The Edinburgh Fringe Festival and let the audience decide what works and what doesn't by listening/observing how they react to the show. 

Ultimately I am making a show for people to watch not for myself otherwise I might as well

perform in front of a mirror.

Does the show fit with your usual productions?

Yes its a dangerous fictitious show, based on my true story, laced with self deprecating humour and riddled with complete lunacy. 

What do you hope that the audience will experience?

A feeling of liberation, joy and connection.   Anyone who has fallen on their arse, has been in toxic relationships or feels isolated  at some point in time will be able to relate to this show.  I love it when people come out thinking, "What the fudge did I just watch?" or if they come up to me saying: "that was wicked mate really enjoyed that".  Making people feel good is what theatre & comedy is all about.   

What strategies did you consider towards shaping this audience experience?

Since I come from a clowning discipline the show naturally breaks the fourth wall allowing the audience to engage with the performer at a more intimate level. I feel this is important because I want them to travel with the character, through the hero's journey, to heighten their experience of the show ultimately creating a bigger impact.  I do inform the audience at the beginning that it is a work in progress show so it is my responsibility to make it as entertaining as possible even if I corpse, forget lines or flop.  

#DirtyWoman is a work-in-progress show (part of Free Festival) containing a blend of clown, physical comedy, jokes & idiocy caked in mud.  The show will be refined throughout 

the fringe getting more ridiculous within the hero’s journey narrative. 

(show lasts 60 minutes).

Details: https://tickets.edfringe.com/whats-on/dirtywoman

About Narin Oz:

Previous Edinburgh show in 2014 was called Narin Oz: Addicted To Love which received lots of press attention as it was a slapstick/live prank show performing on and in a car about Love Addiction. Mark Watson from BBC came down to interview me.