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Anna Marie Simonsen on her one-woman present Naughty
Clowning, jelly, infantilization, and condemning the patriarchy; Norwegian theatre maker Anna Marie Simonsen’s Naughty is the right alternative to snort, cringe, and query all that we all know in regards to the world round us.
We sat down with Anna to debate her enthralling but uncomfortable one-woman present which goals to knock the patriarchy down one snort at a time.
Naughty is exhibiting for one night time solely on the 31 January as a part of the VAULT competition. Tickets right here.
Naughty looks like such a captivating present, may you delve into the premise for us?
Naughty is an influence sport between the patriarchy and a six 12 months outdated clown in pink crocs. It’s a one-woman comedy exploring the sexualisation of younger ladies and infantilization of ladies. Through viewers interplay, bodily fluids, clowning, jelly, & reckless scooter driving; the semi-improvisational piece develops into the absurd. Pushing on the boundaries of the male gaze, exploring the bounds of what this six 12 months outdated character may be allowed to do.
Is this present closely based mostly on private expertise?
I are inclined to develop concepts by utilizing objects as stimulus, after which I add the subject afterwards. In this case, the thing was jelly. I questioned what would occur if ‘my clown’ found jelly. I used to be launched to clown by Goze Saner (a genius!), who informed me a clown would do the unrealistic earlier than the practical. So what occurs when a clown does absolutely the last item you’d count on with a great deal of jelly? Come see the present and discover out!
I developed the present from that, then based mostly on my private experiences with older males ‘complimenting’ my ‘childlike’ look. A person as soon as stated to me: “You look 15, but I like that. I like women that look young”. The present has turn out to be my method of taking possession of my very own physique. Confronting the disturbing picture of innocence and youth as horny.
I believe it’s so highly effective to see you are taking fairly a heavy topic and switch it into an empowering and demanding manufacturing. Do you are feeling a specific amount of strain taking up this kind of matter?
First and foremost: the present goals to entertain, however the venture has additionally confirmed to be fairly empowering for me. The stage permits me the area to place my foot down. I don’t speak a lot within the present, the subject isn’t explicitly stated – it’s hidden in between the traces. I make folks snort after which they notice what they’re laughing at. It makes folks uncomfortable, however that’s the purpose.
Naughty is your debut solo present – what made you wish to flip this explicit story right into a solo manufacturing?
I’m educated as a solo performer and clown as a part of my diploma at Goldsmiths University. I like working as a solo performer, however I can’t stress sufficient how necessary an outdoor eye is. In 2021, I labored intently with Frankie Thompson (a particularly gifted artist and certainly one of my favourite clowns) on Naughty and the present wouldn’t exist with out her sensible directing. The present is consistently growing, and I hold discovering new issues while performing. Due to the character of clowning, the present can solely evolve with an viewers.
Previous opinions have described the present as ‘importantly’ making your viewers ‘uncomfortable’, is there something you hope audiences will take away from seeing Naughty?
To expose and dismantle the sexualising male gaze, as a result of I’m sick of it.
You’ve produced theatre in each Norway and the UK. I’m to know, are there any cultural variations you’ve needed to alter to while producing and performing theatre in both nation?
As I don’t actually converse within the present, it’s not been too onerous to tour between the 2 nations. I found fringe theatre when transferring to London. I additionally didn’t know I used to be a clown till I lived right here. As the UK is larger, there’s extra alternatives for freelancers and there’s an enormous clown neighborhood. The first ever Oslo Fringe happened in 2021, and this has been an absolute sport changer. Super thrilling to be part of the start of this and actually excited for the way forward for clowns and freelancers in Oslo.
You’ve had such an fascinating and various profession thus far, are there any moments that you’re notably pleased with? And do you could have any explicit objectives for the long run?
I went to the Edinburgh fringe with the present final 12 months, and I discovered it extraordinarily overwhelming. As a producer of my very own work, it’s loads to juggle and a variety of strain. I made a decision proper earlier than I went up there that my most important purpose was to make pals. I like my clown and queer neighborhood, and I don’t wish to lose that. I believe certainly one of my objectives for the long run can be to work onerous to guarantee that neighborhood can live on. For that to occur, I believe there are a variety of modifications that must occur when it comes to how issues are run (eg. fairer pay, extra queer areas and so forth).
Our because of Anna Marie for locating a while to speak. You can catch Naughty when it performs at VAULT Festival 2023 on 31 January. Further data and bookings might be discovered right here.
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