Alumni Stories - Patricia Gets Ready (for a date with a man that used to hit her)
Patricia Gets Ready (for a date with a man that used to hit her) was written by current BA (Hons) Acting student, Martha Watson Allpress, and includes a team made up predominantly of Central students and graduates; it was produced by Khai Ramli; directed by Kaleya Baxe, performed by Angelina Chudi, and includes production management and lighting design from Steven Frost, and sound design from Beth Duke.
The show was the inaugural recipient of the Charlie Hartill Development Fund for Artists of Colour. It won ‘Show of the Week’ during the second week of the VAULT Festival, has been nominated for an Offie Award, and has received numerous five-star reviews from outlets such as Broadway World, A Younger Theatre and Within Her Words.
Martha (MWA), Angelina (AC), and Khai (KR), talked with us about the show, and its current run at The Edinburgh Festival Fringe.
What is Patricia Gets Ready (for a date with the man that used to hit her) about?
(MWA) It’s an intimate one-woman show that follows Patricia preparing herself, mentally and physically, for a dinner that night with her abusive ex. During this time she shares stories and laughs with the audience as she attempts to reconcile who she was with, who she is now, and who she hopes to become.
How did you go about creating the show and assembling the team?
(MWA) There’s something about this show that’s always been ‘the little show that could,’ and a lot of that’s down to an accidental assembly of the best team ever. I wrote the show before attending Central. After the first year on the BA Acting course, I decided that I wanted to explore other creative avenues, and thus put Patricia up on its feet. Kaleya Baxe came on board, and immediately understood the piece in an intelligent, loving way. She had already worked with Angie prior to this, and so the two of them had a shorthand that helped created an ease and playfulness to the character. Then Steven Frost was brought on board by Kaleya, and the world was fleshed out fully. Then Kaleya interviewed Khai, and the team knew that we’d found our forever producer; she is so on it, so kind and supportive. Patricia has the dream team, and it’s a proper Central affair.
(AC) I had already worked with Kaleya, and had become friends, so she was the one who invited me to come in and audition. Initially I didn’t get the role, which I had made my peace with and moved on. About a week and a half before the show was supposed to go up, I got a call from Kaleya saying that the actor they had cast was no longer able to do it and that they wanted me. The rest is history!
This year’s Edinburgh Festival Fringe will be a hybrid of both in person and digital shows. Your show will be performed live, what influenced that decision?
(MWA) Patricia will be performed live to both audiences in London, and in Edinburgh too. With it being a one-person show, the risks other shows encounter with COVID-19 are minimised. Also, the show itself requires a back-and-forth with the audience; they need to travel with Patricia on a journey of emotions, and it’d be a lonely job for Angie if they weren’t there!
What has it been like taking a show to Edinburgh Festival Fringe this year?
(KR) I think from a producers point of view, the challenge is mainly in anticipating the unknown. You’re not only taking care of the whole team’s wellbeing when you’re up in Edinburgh, but also the health and safety of the team, the venue, and also making sure the audience feels confident to come and watch an in-person show. As long as you acknowledge that, and have that articulated and communicated and manage expectations, then I think we can overcome it as a team.
(AC) Every day we’re hearing about one show or another getting closed down due to COVID procedures, and I can only imagine how heartbreaking it is for all involved. As much as I would absolutely love to immerse myself in the Edinburgh scene while I’m up there, I’m very aware how delicate the situation is right now. All it takes is one positive test for a whole production to get shut down, and I’m desperate for that not to be us. I have been extra careful in the run-up to Edinburgh Fringe and will continue to do so while I’m up there.
What are you most enjoying about being in Edinburgh for The Fringe?
(KR) Meeting bodies in space, in the theatre, in the streets. Soaking in the atmosphere and getting inspired by new ways of presentation styles. Whether in person or online.
(AC) Sharing the show with new audiences. Going to see an array of different shows, some I probably wouldn’t ordinarily see in my London bubble.
Do you have any advice to share with for others who are interested in taking a show to Edinburgh Fringe?
(KR) Manage your expectations. Articulate your goals and objectives. And, always take care of yourselves. Never think that you’re alone in the journey. There are many Facebook and Twitter groups that you can turn to for help. Hustling is hard, but as long as you manage your expectations and be truthful with your aims, then keep the spirits high and enjoy the process along the way.
Do you have any plans to tour the show afterwards?
(MWA) Absolutely! We think the exciting thing about Patricia is the conversations it provokes; the questions it invites the audiences to ask themselves… And these are deeply personal questions. Asking them in different environments will give different answers, and so a tour is phenomenally interesting to us.
Patricia Gets Ready (for a date with a man that used to hit her) runs at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe, and at Pleasance at EICC - Lamond Theatre, from August 17-22 and 24-29.
Also, visit our Central at Edinburgh Festival Fringe 2021 listing page to find out about the other Central student, staff and alumni shows that will at Edinburgh Fringe this year.