10 Questions: An interview with Erika Blaxland-de Lange
Today our spotlight falls on Erika Blaxland-de Lange from the Pericles Theatre Company. Erika will be performing The Infanta: User’s Guide at the Komedia Studio Bar starting on Saturday 24th to Monday 26th May.
The Infanta: User’s Guide was written by one of the most prominent Eastern European writers, Saviana Stănescu. It is a play that redefines the delicate margins between madness and sanity. Having performed in Germany the they are now in Brighton for three shows. In August, Erika will be taking The Infanta to the Edinburgh Fringe.
This play is quite a challenging role for a young actress but one which I am sure we will hear lots more of. So let’s hear from Erika as she prepares for her most interesting one-woman show….
1. What inspired you to become an actress?
I decided that the next big thing was to become an actress when I was about 15; right after wanting to be a circus performer, a carpenter and a writer (in that order!). I saw the RSC performing “All´s Well that Ends Well” in London and the actress who played Helena just blew me away. I decided to learn to act like that!
2. What is your show about and what should the public expect from your show?
The Infanta is lonely and slightly unhinged. She seeks the assurance of others to keep her grip on reality. But she is courageous in her attempt to come to terms with her own tragic history and she still knows how to laugh at herself…..
Infanta: User´s Guide is very post modern (fairly weird and wacky!). The character, a young woman, lives in a railway station and relates the stories, which the passing trains tell her to the occupants of the waiting room. Weaving her own tragic history into the pattern, you realise that she´s not as mad as she could be… It´s really vibrant, but moving at the same time.
3. What is your favourite festival or fringe?
The only fringe festival I´ve been to in the UK is Edinburgh. I´m performing there this year for the first time and I hope I won´t feel as lost as I did when I was just visiting… it´s huge!
I think my favourite festivals are in Germany. 100 Grad Berlin is quite small but very experimental, and Fusion is a fantastic music festival just north of Berlin.
4. What’s your best advice for aspiring performers on the festival circuit?
I´m not really qualified (yet) to answer that! Anyone got any advice for me?
5. What is your funniest experience and also your worst experience performing or attending a festival?
My worst experience was at Fusion where I put my tent up next to the Trance stage before the music started. When it did start, I realised why no one else had put themselves there…the music just didn´t stop from Thursday night until Monday morning and it was so loud that even sticking my socks in my ears didn´t help! It was still fantastic though…
I find it funny that Womad closes at 2am every night!
6. As you travel performing, where is your favourite place to vacation/chill out and why?
The sand dunes in Rye because it feels like another world.
7. Who is the person you most admire and why?
My dad. Because he´s amazing!
8. What is the best tip you have ever been given?
Trust your instincts!
9. What is the best book you have read and why do you like it?
Dostoyevsky’s Brothers Karamazov because it made me laugh and cry, and because it´s all true.
10. If you could change one thing about the world what would it be?
I don´t know…I think the world looks pretty wonderful from here! I suppose it probably sounds a bit corny to say that but I wish everyone else could have it that wonderful?…
