A Dramaturgical Diary: Sinéad Rushe @ Edfringe 2015

Living  Pictures  Productions  Present:
Diary  Of  A  Madman  

A  new  adaptation  based  on  the  classic  short  story  by  Nikolai  Gogol.

Living  Pictures  present  Nikolai  Gogol’s compelling  satire  at  the  Edinburgh  Festival  Fringe  as  part  of  the  British  Council   Edinburgh  Showcase  2015.  The  show  is  performed  by  award-­‐winning  actor,  Robert  Bowman  and  directed  by  Olivier   Award  nominee  Sinéad  Rushe.  


    Poprishchin  is  a  low  ranking  civil  servant  for  the  Government,  struggling  to  make  his  mark  on  life,  but  one  day  he   makes  an  amazing  discovery.  Could  he  really  be  the  next  King  of  Spain?  Driven  insane  by  government  bureaucracy  and   hierarchy,  Gogol’s  dark  comedy  exposes  one  man’s  reality  spiraling  deeper  into  a  surreal  fantasy  world.      

ZOO,  Venue  124      
Tickets:  £10  (Concessions  £8)   
7  -­‐  30  August  (not  16,  23)               
The Fringe

What inspired this production: did you begin with an idea or a script or an object? 
Inspiration came from knowing the text and Gogol's writing and seeing it as an ideal opportunity to use Micheal Chekhov techniques to release the story.

Why bring your work to Edinburgh? - Edinburgh is an exciting, creative festival and if your show goes well there then it is a good sign you're on the right track.

What can the audience expect to see and feel - or even think - of your production? 
We hope they are moved - whether it be laughter or sadness, that they are gripped by it, enjoy the inventiveness of the production and that they leave the theatre with a different perspective on those who are labelled 'mad'.


The Dramaturgy Questions

How would you explain the relevance - or otherwise - of dramaturgy within your work? 
The dramaturgy was done by the company as we worked the piece, we wanted to make the text taught and have an every-man feel.

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? 
Michael Chekhov and his techniques were a major inspiration for this project and in particular his work on transformation.

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? 

This started as a Michael Chekhov exploration, but was also a team (collaborative) piece of work. The lighting, design and music are all important to the piece and enhance the audiences experience greatly.

What do you feel the role of the audience is, in terms of making the meaning of your work? 
The audience is vital in whether or not they are with the piece. As a solo show, it is great to be in that place where the performer can feel when the audience is with you or not. The question then comes down to is it the performer not quite hitting something or is the text unclear.

In  2014  the  show  was  invited  to  perform  in  Armenia  at  HighFest  Festival,  Hay  on  Wye  Festival  and  at  Triad  Stage  North   Carolina  USA.  Also  in  2014  Robert  Bowman’s  performance  won  a  Wales  Theatre  Critics  award  for  Best  actor.      Diary  Of  A  Madman  is  part  of  the  British  Council  Edinburgh  Showcase  and  Wales  In  Edinburgh. 

 The  Company  was  formed  to  find   new  and  engaging  ways  to  develop  and  perform  theatre  art.  They  are  regarded  as  a  leading  training  company  for   director  training  in  the  UK.      Living  Pictures  stage  and  tour  productions  in  Wales  and  the  UK.  Past  productions  include  Sexual  Perversity  in  Chicago,   Miss  Julie,  Free  from  Sorrow,  The  Nest  and  Andromache.  The  company  provide  further  development  for  emerging   Directors,  Writers  and  Actors  in  London,  Derby,  Glasgow,  Cardiff  and  Carmarthen.        They  are  currently  in  preparation  to  build  a  Creative  learning  Eco-­‐centre  on  a  four  acre  site  in  Carmarthenshire.  The   Centre  will  offer  a  rare  opportunity  for  UK  theatre  makers  to  take  time  to  develop  work  and  champion  creative   development  for  adults  and  children.