Ferment Fortnight Preview | A Little Death

Ferment Fortnight returns for its bi-annual mini-fest of scratch theatre this July. Here we find out all about Vic Llewellyn +?'s upcoming show, A Little Death. Catch it at Arnolfini Tue 10 July.

I entered the performing world a bit later in life than most, I was the tender age of 29. I was sick and tired of my career in the science labs and went off to the Ecole Phillipe Gaulier not really knowing what was going to happen. Of course, it changed my life and I have been skint ever since…but happy and generally fulfilled, I hasten to add.

I have been lucky enough to have worked with some amazing people and been involved in the making of some beautiful theatre. Things like: being a part pf the crazy Desperate Man gang from around 1994 – until now, bringing their anarchic (yes ...it’s an overused word these days) brand of street theatre to unsuspecting audiences all over the U.K. and the world. I made the adult puppet show RUST with Chris Pirie and Green Ginger. Numerous shows at the Tobacco Factory theatre. I was Clown, alongside the legendary figures of Giraffe, Peggy, Rabbit and a hairy legged boy in the Bristol Old Vic’s series of Christmas shows depicting the adventures of the aforementioned Toys. Many a fully grown adult spine will tingle if the words CHEDDAR and Chutney are chanted at volume within earshot, (highly unlikely, I know). That was 1998 – 2001 I think.

A few other highlights; I was Vic in Tim Crouch’s The Author at the Royal Court and when it went on tour. The gorgeous Adrian Howells was in it, and I miss him. 

I’ve been in the skills ensemble for Improbables’ Satyagraha for 11 years. It’s been the mainly the same group of ragged arsed individuals ever since and best friends for ever.

I can’t mention everything, no one wants to read that and that was never the reason I went into theatre in the first place; to recant a series of experiences that only I have had. Before this begins to sound like an obituary I’d better mention how I got involved in Ferment. In 1996 I made a show called The Castle Builder with local music legend Kid Carpet (he’s a legend), Ferment firmly backed that show then and always and I’ll be eternally grateful. It went on to tour successfully and still does (Just about).

During that tour Ed and I began thinking about a new show. We carried out a weeks R & D, about a year ago, at The Bike Shed in Exeter and ended up showing fragments and atmospheres of a new possible theatre piece. The beginnings of this show at Ferment, A Little Death. We were joined on that occasion by Emma Bettridge , Hobbes & Merlin, Emma Williams , and Shona Reppe ( all the way from Scotland)

After Exeter Ed & I hummed and erred and we weren’t sure what it was we had.

Due to a family crisis (my Dad was rushed to hospital) we had to cancel our Ferment slot in January. I kept on writing and writing and things began to take shape. Ed had loads of other commitment and took a back seat for a while.

He came back in and wrote some great tunes. Some of which we will perform.

The show is by Vic Llewellyn + ? because sometime Ed will be in it and sometimes not. It will be a surprise.

There will be a third performer in this show. I have asked the brilliant Jannah Warlow and she said yes!

The show came from this idea: A couple of years ago, I was reading book by an American feminist writer, Elaine Showalter. It was called Hystories, Hysterical epidemics and modern culture. It’s a brilliant book, if you have time in your life, read it.  

There is a story in the book about a family in Dundee where the women, the Mother and three daughters were suffering from M.E. or Chronic Fatigue syndrome. The Father would come home every night and tell stories of the outside world using the Dolls house that they kept in the lounge.

I imagined that at 7 0 clock every night, the family would gather round and he would enact stories that reflected his view of the world. But what if the stories were unhelpful?

What if they didn’t help at all?

There is also a lot of my own family history wrapped up in the show, both factual and fictional.

It’s so good to back in the Ferment programme. If being involved throws up half of the opportunities the previous appearance gave us, we’ll go home happy.

It has a similar style to The Castle Builder but very different too.

The audience can expect (in three words) = Hysterical events unleashed. 

Ferment Fortnight kicks off at Arnolfini 9-11 July before returning to Bristol Old Vic for four more nights of theatre experiments 13-21 July. For more info and to book tickets, click here.