Edinburgh girl Sophie Peacock has always had a passion for drama. Whilst studying theatre at Glasgow University, she recently made the transition to directing and producing and has managed to fulfil one of her long term ambitions – to write a play for the Edinburgh Fringe Festival. All at only 18 years of age!
Tell us a bit about the play you are putting on as part of the Edinburgh Festival Fringe. Why should we go and see it?
This is the company’s first production at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe and focuses on a group of young people as they begin to turn new directions in their lives. However, once tragedy strikes their once promising futures and the foundation of their friendship remain in doubt. The company consists entirely of young people aged 18-20 and concentrates on issues many young people face as they make the transition into adulthood. The play also tackles the dangers associated with young people driving and the way the media portray young people. Both humorous and touching, the play shows just how vulnerable and innocent young people really are. People should come see Pulse for many reasons. As a young and Scottish company we’d really appreciate the support. The action constantly changes from light-hearted to dark, from action to silence, from humour to sorrow, keeping the audience actively engaged!
You wrote the play yourself – where did you get the inspiration for the story?
Pulse first came about from a lighting idea that I came up with whilst daydreaming in a university lecture. This lighting idea focused around the portrayal of death on stage and I then started to brainstorm the causes of death. This led me to thinking of car crashes and then of the alarming amount of young people who suffer from car crashes. This coincided nicely with my desire to write a play about young people that challenges the stereotype which frequently highlights young people in a negative way. The fact that the whole production process was done by young people further fights the negative stereotype. I feel this kind of project and focus on young people would work best when I was still young myself so I was keen to start straight away.
As well as doing the writing, directing and producing, you are also doing the lighting for every performance too. How do you manage to do so many things at once and which role is your favourite?
I am a bit of a workaholic and very organised so it hasn’t been too much of a struggle so far to do everything. It helps that I have a clear idea of what I need everything to be so decisions can get made quick. A vast amount of time is also saved by me doing a lot of the work as I don’t have to explain every decision or lighting cue to someone who isn’t as involved in the whole process. Obviously though the cast have been a fantastic help and support unit and will no doubt be the real stars of the show!
Have you been interested in drama and theatre since you were young?
Yes I’ve been involved in drama since I was about five. I was a part of Byre Youth Theatre in St. Andrews for several years and did a lot of productions at school. It’s always been something I’ve had a passion for and I moved towards producing and directing last year. I also have the pleasure of studying theatre at Glasgow University and try to be involved with the drama society there too. Doing a play at the Fringe was something I had always aspired to do and now I am luckily getting to do it!
The theatre company consists entirely of young people aged 18-20. How would you encourage more young people to get involved in launching their own theatre company or performing at the Festival?
A great way to start is to get as much experience as working in theatre companies or at the Fringe. I’ve done work experience at places such as Dundee Rep and at the Poorboy Theatre Company as well as working for Fringe companies before I had the courage to set up Baker Lane Theatre Company. By working with professionals, you pick up a lot of things that will later help you when you are on your own, for example, even something as simple yet crucial as to how many flyer you would need to purchase for a two week show. I would encourage anyone to do it though, it’s been a lot of hard work but already I have learnt so much from the experience.
What are your career aspirations for the future?
I most definitely plan to continue directing and producing. I would love to keep putting on more Fringe shows and building up the company’s reputation. I have so many ideas for various other projects that I feel would be successful at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival. However, I do also plan to go down to London and hopefully work with some of the bigger theatre companies there. At the moment I am just concentrating on building up my experience and CV.
Finally, where and when is the play on and how can people get tickets?
Pulse is on at theSpaces @ Surgeons Hall which is on Nicolson Street, Edinburgh in the Surgeons Hall opposite the Festival Theatre. The play is on from the 5th August to the 20th August, starting at 4.05pm and lasting 50 minutes. You can either phone the Fringe box office, the venue box office or buy tickets online from the Fringe website. I’d also like to point out that on the 8th and 9th August, tickets are 2 for 1!
Tickets are also available to purchase online, visit http://www.edfringe.com/whats-on/theatre/pulse now to buy yours.
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