INTRODUCING: SITA CALVERT-ENNAL & DUNCAN SPEAKMAN'S 'SHIFTS'

Briefly describe for us what your show is about?
Shifts is about a time of change. When things change rapidly for the worse what happens?  Our piece is set in a time when oil has almost run out, and all over the country borders have been set up, dividing families and isolating communities.

Is it similar to what you’ve done previously or are you trying something new?
It feels very new. This is the first collaboration of Duncan and myself leading on a project together. We have both worked on each others pieces for many years but never co-lead. My work up to now has been fairly traditional in this piece we are experimenting with sound as a lead element.

Describe it for us in three words.
Bleak, present, intimate

How will it make people feel? / What do you want it to make people think about?
I want people to leave and think about how likely that reality might be? I want them to think about their own experiences of change.

What stage will it be at in its development when we see it in July?
We have had one week with myself Duncan, writer Adam Peck and 3 actors to decide on what this project might be and a week to consolidate that and rehearse something.  The performance in July will give the audience a fragment of the story and an insight into the form and environment of the piece we're making.

What elements in particular are you looking forward to testing out on Ferment audiences?
The transition between the inside world  into an audio outside world.

What are your personal highlights of July’s Ferment Fortnight?
Looking forward to Dan Canham’s piece, I loved 30 Cecil Street. Also Tom Wainwright, Hattie Naylor and Chris Gylee’s pieces. Also just looking forward to having chats with the other artists.