Today we interview Lisa Wells Turner whose new show traverses the traditional boundaries of classical music, dance, songs and original writing. For the past two years Lisa has been exploring how these disciplines can merge together creating edgy new ground. Lisa’s show, “The Opposite of Waiting” is on from the 7th-30th August at 1.15 pm at Venue 13.
1. What inspired you to become a writer and performer?
I always loved writing, dancing and performing but things really changed for me when I started studying singing 14 years ago. I realised then that what I needed to do was find ways of combining all these different things. It was a very strong urge but it took me a few years to work out how to do it. Now that I’ve worked that out I feel that I’m finally able to produce the sort of performances I used to dream about.
2. What’s your show about and what should the public expect from your show at the 2009 Edinburgh Festival Fringe.
It’s unusual because it’s a truly multi-disciplinary piece. Using traditional songs it tells the story of Rebecca. She’s locked in her room and decides that the way to get out is to become the sort of person who can achieve anything. When she actually investigates what that means though she finds that what she needs and what she wants are two completely different things.
3. What was the last Fringe or Festival you performed at and what was it like?
The last time I took a show to a festival for a full run was Edinburgh in 2006. That was my first show, Iphigenia, and it was generally a bit of a rollercoaster experience. It was exhilarating and terrifying and that lasted for the full three and a half weeks!
In the last few years I’ve done short runs at Buxton and Brighton fringes though and they’ve been a bit more relaxing – but not much. I can’t wait to get back to Edinburgh again.
4. What are your funniest and worst experiences performing in front of an audience?
It’s the same one. I was doing a show a few years ago that just had one prop – a chair. On the last performance, when we were all slightly hungover, I got on stage at the start of the show and the chair wasn’t there! The technician running the show and I realised at exactly the same time. With the house lights and stage lights down he took action and ran down from the box into the store room, banged around a bit and brought out the chair. He put it down in front of me, whispered ‘sorry’ and scampered back to the tech box. Lights then went up and I spent the whole performance trying very, very hard not to laugh!
5. What’s the best and worst advice you have ever been given? And did you follow it?
I can’t think of anything! That’s not good! I have a nasty feeling I spend quite a lot of my time avoiding advice of any kind – mainly because I’m worried I won’t like it!
6. What are you most proud of and what dreams or goals would you like to fulfill?
At the moment it’s probably the piece I’m taking to Edinburgh this year, The Opposite of Waiting. I’ve been working on it for two years and I’m so proud of the way it’s turned out and also of the fact that I stuck with it until it became the piece I wanted it to be. Dreams and goals: I’d like as many people as possible to see it and share it with me.
7. Which three famous people would you invite to dinner and why [dead celebrities included]? And what culinary dish would you prepare?
Pina Bausch, Mark Morris and David Alden – so I could pick their brains on the best ways of combining opera and dance. I’m not the best cook in the world so I’d probably find the best takeaway I could and leave it at that!
8. What is the best book or books you have read and why?
In the last year or so best thing is Russell T Davies’ ‘A Writer’s Tale’… it’s a wonderful and hugely comforting exploration of the creative process. I’m not sure I’d have got through the last year without it.
9. Tell us 5 interesting and unknown facts about yourself?
Err… my minds gone blank!… okay: I live in Cardiff; I have been training as a classical singer for 14 years; I have a Masters Degree in Intellectual History and the History of Political Thought; growing up I went to 9 different schools in 4 different countries; I have a diploma in dance…
10. If you could change one thing about the world what would it be?
I believe ‘world peace’ is a traditional answer?…
