Ahead of opening this week, the team behind BEGIN: tell us more about the creation of the show and why you should come and see it.
What inspired you to create this show? Why this story?
George (Writer, Co-Director): Mental health and the way the mind works has been an influence on the things I create, deliberately or not, for as long as I’ve been conscious of it. I think that’s probably the case for a lot of artists and I’ve found that the concept of how the psyche drives people's decisions has inwardly influenced my writing, just as it has outwardly influenced my thoughts, feelings and actions, for as long as I can remember.
This play has been a long time coming.
I’ve been desperately wanting to write something about my own experiences and struggles with mental health, as well as the events that have affected that, for better or for worse, for a long time. As previously mentioned, I’ve touched on themes and events in other pieces of writing, but I’d never properly dived into the concept as a whole. I think a big part of this was the fear that I just wouldn’t be able to do it justice. Mental health is such a sensitive subject (and rightly so) for so many people, including myself, that I worried by translating it to stage it would seem as if I were making light of it, or it would tip the other way and that I would end up writing something that was too heavy and almost seemed preachy and both of those outcomes would be unworthy of what I wanted to communicate with this play and just felt...fake. So, after a lengthy period of going back and forth, swapping ideas and characters and gradually developing a world that increasingly became more detached from mine, the first draft of BEGIN: came into life. This version of the play, which would eventually metamorphosise into what you see on stage, has elements of the real: some story beats are semi-autobiographical and at their most fundamental, the characters are amalgamations of extreme characteristics drawn from people that I have known. However, by creating an absurdist piece which blends acting, movement and live music, alongside characters whose extreme traits transform them into caricatures of their own psyches driven by their worst qualities, I believe we have created a world alien enough for the audience to lose themselves in the story, but with enough similarities that they will leave the theatre able to see their own reality mirrored in that which we have created on stage, able to assess the relationship they hold with their own mind as well as those around them and perhaps begin to see the little changes they can make, in their lives and their communities, for the betterment of themselves and those around them.
What do audiences have to look forward to?
Carmen (Co-Director, Stage Manager): An exciting piece of new theatre from an emerging theatre company! We are incredibly excited to present BEGIN: for its first run at The Bread and Roses Theatre. Born from the brain of George we have spent months bringing this show into reality. BEGIN: explores themes of mental illness in an absurd and funny way from the perspectives of the character B, M and E. Having performed earlier in the summer at the Barnstaple Fringe Theatre Fest and having fantastic feedback we are ecstatic to share it with the audiences at the Bread and Roses.
Alfie (Performer: B): The audience should be prepared to see the dystopian framing of a fractured mind, where reality decays to separation alongside moments of alleviating stillness.
Justine (Performer: E, The Boss): BEGIN is definitely a very interesting, original show with great directorial choices and a complex story that engages the audience
George: This is only our second show as a company, but I believe that one of our strengths is that we all come from such varied backgrounds and draw inspiration from so many different places that all of these elements somehow blend together to create explosive performance that has a little bit of a lot! Expect live music, naturalistic acting blended with surrealist movement and hopefully a play that will leave you thinking.
What inspired you to create this show? Why this story?
George (Writer, Co-Director): Mental health and the way the mind works has been an influence on the things I create, deliberately or not, for as long as I’ve been conscious of it. I think that’s probably the case for a lot of artists and I’ve found that the concept of how the psyche drives people's decisions has inwardly influenced my writing, just as it has outwardly influenced my thoughts, feelings and actions, for as long as I can remember.
This play has been a long time coming.
I’ve been desperately wanting to write something about my own experiences and struggles with mental health, as well as the events that have affected that, for better or for worse, for a long time. As previously mentioned, I’ve touched on themes and events in other pieces of writing, but I’d never properly dived into the concept as a whole. I think a big part of this was the fear that I just wouldn’t be able to do it justice. Mental health is such a sensitive subject (and rightly so) for so many people, including myself, that I worried by translating it to stage it would seem as if I were making light of it, or it would tip the other way and that I would end up writing something that was too heavy and almost seemed preachy and both of those outcomes would be unworthy of what I wanted to communicate with this play and just felt...fake. So, after a lengthy period of going back and forth, swapping ideas and characters and gradually developing a world that increasingly became more detached from mine, the first draft of BEGIN: came into life. This version of the play, which would eventually metamorphosise into what you see on stage, has elements of the real: some story beats are semi-autobiographical and at their most fundamental, the characters are amalgamations of extreme characteristics drawn from people that I have known. However, by creating an absurdist piece which blends acting, movement and live music, alongside characters whose extreme traits transform them into caricatures of their own psyches driven by their worst qualities, I believe we have created a world alien enough for the audience to lose themselves in the story, but with enough similarities that they will leave the theatre able to see their own reality mirrored in that which we have created on stage, able to assess the relationship they hold with their own mind as well as those around them and perhaps begin to see the little changes they can make, in their lives and their communities, for the betterment of themselves and those around them.
What do audiences have to look forward to?
Carmen (Co-Director, Stage Manager): An exciting piece of new theatre from an emerging theatre company! We are incredibly excited to present BEGIN: for its first run at The Bread and Roses Theatre. Born from the brain of George we have spent months bringing this show into reality. BEGIN: explores themes of mental illness in an absurd and funny way from the perspectives of the character B, M and E. Having performed earlier in the summer at the Barnstaple Fringe Theatre Fest and having fantastic feedback we are ecstatic to share it with the audiences at the Bread and Roses.
Alfie (Performer: B): The audience should be prepared to see the dystopian framing of a fractured mind, where reality decays to separation alongside moments of alleviating stillness.
Justine (Performer: E, The Boss): BEGIN is definitely a very interesting, original show with great directorial choices and a complex story that engages the audience
George: This is only our second show as a company, but I believe that one of our strengths is that we all come from such varied backgrounds and draw inspiration from so many different places that all of these elements somehow blend together to create explosive performance that has a little bit of a lot! Expect live music, naturalistic acting blended with surrealist movement and hopefully a play that will leave you thinking.
Have there been any obstacles in creation?
Oscar (Performer: M, The Customer): I found it really challenging to learn lines and get the emotions for my monologues right. It took a while for me and the directions to figure it out but when it clicked, it clicked!
Carmen: As more than half of the company have just graduated from their final year at Wimbledon College of Arts (UAL) there has been many obstacles. However, we were (and still are) incredibly determined to bring this show to life. We worked around tight schedules of different rehearsal and projects, squeezing in rehearsals for BEGIN: into much of our very limited free time. This project took a lot of hard work from everyone in the company, and we very much hope that it has paid off and that you enjoy a fantastic piece of theatre.
Alfie: Getting my head around the thought-process of B was quite challenging during the first few months of the production. To launch my character work, we deducted that my character lacked any sort of understanding of social cues, having the temperament of an angry alien in denial. Which is definitely easier said than done!
Who are the collaborators on this production?
George: jarfrog was formed by myself and Alfie back in 2020 for Messenger, a production we created as part of the Barnstaple Fringe Theatrefest. After finishing that show, we knew that next time we wanted to be ambitious and go bigger...and we did!
Alfie and I have been privileged enough to create BEGIN: alongside some insanely talented and amazing individuals, including Carmen Rivas Perez (co-director and stage manager), Ieva Ievina (designer), Oscar Reynolds (performer), Justine Koutsoyianni (performer), Kitty Pilgrim Morris (movement director) and Scarlett Bryan (lighting designer and operator).
Oscar (Performer: M, The Customer): I found it really challenging to learn lines and get the emotions for my monologues right. It took a while for me and the directions to figure it out but when it clicked, it clicked!
Carmen: As more than half of the company have just graduated from their final year at Wimbledon College of Arts (UAL) there has been many obstacles. However, we were (and still are) incredibly determined to bring this show to life. We worked around tight schedules of different rehearsal and projects, squeezing in rehearsals for BEGIN: into much of our very limited free time. This project took a lot of hard work from everyone in the company, and we very much hope that it has paid off and that you enjoy a fantastic piece of theatre.
Alfie: Getting my head around the thought-process of B was quite challenging during the first few months of the production. To launch my character work, we deducted that my character lacked any sort of understanding of social cues, having the temperament of an angry alien in denial. Which is definitely easier said than done!
Who are the collaborators on this production?
George: jarfrog was formed by myself and Alfie back in 2020 for Messenger, a production we created as part of the Barnstaple Fringe Theatrefest. After finishing that show, we knew that next time we wanted to be ambitious and go bigger...and we did!
Alfie and I have been privileged enough to create BEGIN: alongside some insanely talented and amazing individuals, including Carmen Rivas Perez (co-director and stage manager), Ieva Ievina (designer), Oscar Reynolds (performer), Justine Koutsoyianni (performer), Kitty Pilgrim Morris (movement director) and Scarlett Bryan (lighting designer and operator).
Who should see this show and why?
George: I think that this show appeals to anyone who has ever struggled with their mental health, those we are interested in the mind, how society can force some of its most vulnerable to try and regain control through extreme actions or anyone who just enjoys a good story and likes seeing theatre that combines various forms of live performance!
Alfie: BEGIN: will resonate with anyone who has ever felt emotionally isolated when it comes to understanding and expressing your emotions. Especially since the first lockdown in 2020, where we were stuck between our four walls with only our thoughts to contend with.
Justine: Everyone who enjoys unravelling all the small details of a show that make up the story and could potentially have multiple interpretations.
Carmen: In my opinion, this is a show for young adults trying to navigate the world for the first time. The show deals with themes of mental illness; expanding on heartbreak and the monotony of modern life. This is balanced out by comedic writing, fantastic hyper-naturalistic acting and absurd style.
What attracted you to stage this production at The Bread and Roses Theatre?
George: Having come up through the Devon fringe theatre scene, any venue that actively encourages emerging, grassroots theatre will always immediately have my heart. This is the exact reason the Bread and Roses stood out to us while we were scouting for venues. It seemed like an honest, fair and supportive space that would nurture young, emerging creatives such as ourselves and this has fully been our experience so far!
George: I think that this show appeals to anyone who has ever struggled with their mental health, those we are interested in the mind, how society can force some of its most vulnerable to try and regain control through extreme actions or anyone who just enjoys a good story and likes seeing theatre that combines various forms of live performance!
Alfie: BEGIN: will resonate with anyone who has ever felt emotionally isolated when it comes to understanding and expressing your emotions. Especially since the first lockdown in 2020, where we were stuck between our four walls with only our thoughts to contend with.
Justine: Everyone who enjoys unravelling all the small details of a show that make up the story and could potentially have multiple interpretations.
Carmen: In my opinion, this is a show for young adults trying to navigate the world for the first time. The show deals with themes of mental illness; expanding on heartbreak and the monotony of modern life. This is balanced out by comedic writing, fantastic hyper-naturalistic acting and absurd style.
What attracted you to stage this production at The Bread and Roses Theatre?
George: Having come up through the Devon fringe theatre scene, any venue that actively encourages emerging, grassroots theatre will always immediately have my heart. This is the exact reason the Bread and Roses stood out to us while we were scouting for venues. It seemed like an honest, fair and supportive space that would nurture young, emerging creatives such as ourselves and this has fully been our experience so far!
What have been the highlights of the process for BEGIN:?
George: Collaborating and being continually inspired by all the fantastic creatives involved in this project!
Alfie: Working in a much larger team has shown me what our theatre company is capable of, and how far it can stretch from a tight budget. More importantly, it was incredible to work with so many lovely and passionate creatives! I really hope we collaborate again in the future.
Justine: Seeing the show come together throughout the rehearsals and how far we can take the story as performers.
Carmen: As a director it’s been incredibly fun to come together with old and new friends to create theatre. We have had fun all through the process. It has been really exciting to see jarfrog expand and grow and to see us all improve in our craft throughout the duration of rehearsals. Exploring wacky ways to find solutions to stage directions has been a fantastic highlight of mine. Working with our movement director, Kitty, was super interesting as we got to explore how the body can be utilised more in an actor.
Oscar: When we first started rehearsing with the set and costumes, they really gave the piece this playful energy and made the whole play really feel it was coming alive and finding its style. Oh and also the time I fell off stage at our first show (I played it off don’t worry).
What do you think the future of British fringe theatre looks like and how does your company or show fit into it?
George: The British fringe theatre scene historically has, and I hope will continue to, provide a space for companies such as ours to create theatre that falls outside of the realm of what you may traditionally see on stage. It provides a safe, engaging space to take risks, to push the boundaries of the traditional roles within performance and to continually entertain and engage an audience.
Alfie: I hope that it will remain a safe space for creatives to express and share their love of performance, while also allowing you to see tons of passionately forged theatre and talking directly with the crew, regardless of any sort of social standing. That's why I've loved working with jarfrog, its flat hierarchy allows us to trust one another and presents creative opportunities for everyone.
Carmen: British fringe theatre is a continuously growing and morphing platform that has been incredibly kind and rewarding to us. The exciting thing about fringe theatre is how creative you can be. It is fantastic for artists wanting to experiment with a style and is fantastic for audiences who want to see something different. We ourselves fit into the scene because we too want to explore how theatre as a whole can expand and grow. We want to break creative boundaries, playing with live music and acting styles. This growth and learning are aspects of creating that are incredibly important to us and hope to carry on. Something that I believe fringe theatre in the UK nurtures and appreciates, so I think we shall be here for a while.
What’s next?
George: While our run at the Bread and Roses Theatre may be the final stop for BEGIN:, that doesn’t mean it’s the end for jarfrog! We have two plays in the works, an adaptation of an old, obscure fairytale and a dystopian piece of new writing, both of which are currently in the R&D stage. We are hoping to secure funding for them, so once again we can go a bit bigger and really put onto stage what is currently only in our heads and we cannot wait to show them to you all. If you like, you can keep up with what we’re working on through our social media channels (@jarfrogtheatre on everything). Hopefully we’ll see you in the audience, whenever that may be!
George: Collaborating and being continually inspired by all the fantastic creatives involved in this project!
Alfie: Working in a much larger team has shown me what our theatre company is capable of, and how far it can stretch from a tight budget. More importantly, it was incredible to work with so many lovely and passionate creatives! I really hope we collaborate again in the future.
Justine: Seeing the show come together throughout the rehearsals and how far we can take the story as performers.
Carmen: As a director it’s been incredibly fun to come together with old and new friends to create theatre. We have had fun all through the process. It has been really exciting to see jarfrog expand and grow and to see us all improve in our craft throughout the duration of rehearsals. Exploring wacky ways to find solutions to stage directions has been a fantastic highlight of mine. Working with our movement director, Kitty, was super interesting as we got to explore how the body can be utilised more in an actor.
Oscar: When we first started rehearsing with the set and costumes, they really gave the piece this playful energy and made the whole play really feel it was coming alive and finding its style. Oh and also the time I fell off stage at our first show (I played it off don’t worry).
What do you think the future of British fringe theatre looks like and how does your company or show fit into it?
George: The British fringe theatre scene historically has, and I hope will continue to, provide a space for companies such as ours to create theatre that falls outside of the realm of what you may traditionally see on stage. It provides a safe, engaging space to take risks, to push the boundaries of the traditional roles within performance and to continually entertain and engage an audience.
Alfie: I hope that it will remain a safe space for creatives to express and share their love of performance, while also allowing you to see tons of passionately forged theatre and talking directly with the crew, regardless of any sort of social standing. That's why I've loved working with jarfrog, its flat hierarchy allows us to trust one another and presents creative opportunities for everyone.
Carmen: British fringe theatre is a continuously growing and morphing platform that has been incredibly kind and rewarding to us. The exciting thing about fringe theatre is how creative you can be. It is fantastic for artists wanting to experiment with a style and is fantastic for audiences who want to see something different. We ourselves fit into the scene because we too want to explore how theatre as a whole can expand and grow. We want to break creative boundaries, playing with live music and acting styles. This growth and learning are aspects of creating that are incredibly important to us and hope to carry on. Something that I believe fringe theatre in the UK nurtures and appreciates, so I think we shall be here for a while.
What’s next?
George: While our run at the Bread and Roses Theatre may be the final stop for BEGIN:, that doesn’t mean it’s the end for jarfrog! We have two plays in the works, an adaptation of an old, obscure fairytale and a dystopian piece of new writing, both of which are currently in the R&D stage. We are hoping to secure funding for them, so once again we can go a bit bigger and really put onto stage what is currently only in our heads and we cannot wait to show them to you all. If you like, you can keep up with what we’re working on through our social media channels (@jarfrogtheatre on everything). Hopefully we’ll see you in the audience, whenever that may be!
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