What’s your favourite theme of your play?
Art, the ocean, friendship.
Why did you want to become a director?
Because I love telling stories, working with a great variety of people, and the playful element of theatre. I love about directing, that I have the opportunity to tell stories how I understand them, emphasise what I think matters most, and how I think they could be touching, relevant and make a difference for others.
Tell us about your play in 3 sentences.
It is a sad, funny and intelligent story. I think it asks fundamental questions about life, art, courage, fear and choices in an unpretentious and beautiful way. It’s been one of my favourite books since 15 years.
How do you feel that your background influences your take on theatre?
My grandparents were both actors, which resulted in me spending half of my childhood in the theatre, entering a variety of fascinating worlds and seeing extremely different kinds of theatre (often not really appropriate for children). My mum is a psychoanalyst, which resulted in me very early questioning and analysing what’s below the surface and recognising the power of the subconscious. I think the mixture of these two influences defines to a huge extent how I approach my work.
What are you up to at the minute?
Just finished my MA in Advanced Theatre Practice at Royal Central School of Speech and Drama, now preparing new projects for my co-founded theatre company Place and Means and co-founded artist collective Honolulu Start Productions.
Do any of the characters in the play remind you of someone you know?
The narrator reminds me a bit of myself. Novecento reminds me in some respects of my oldest friend.
What’s a current topic you feel very strongly about?
The way we oppress and exploit other countries, so we can live in luxury and then get hysterical about immigration and helping poorer countries financially, after we built our wealth at their expense over centuries.
What’s your favourite dinosaur?
Triceratops.
What’s your favourite
“Knock Knock” joke? “Knock knock.” “Who’s there?” “Boo.” “Boo who?” “Stop crying.” ( by my seven-year old cousin).
Favourite thing about home?
My mum’s cooking.
What do you hope for the future?
Creating exciting, engaging, entertaining and hopefully intelligent art in the theatre and through creative writing.
What’s your drink?
Scotch.
What’s your favourite hideaway you’ve found in London?
Still searching.