It's kind of hard for a whole society to answer these daft questions - well if we want answers this year it is. So the AGS gave the task to Hugh Everett and it seems like a wise choice. There is no Fringe prize for most tasteful poster but the AGS publicity for Darling Deborah would have made the shortlist. The sex-life of Samuel Pepys (I paraphrase) is the theme of Darling Deborah and you can catch performances at the Pauper's Pit on the 11th, 19th and 26th of July.
(PS - the AGS ask rhetorically "Who hasn't heard of Pepys?" but then have to own up to being a bit hazy on Vera B. I blame the National Curriculum. As will be evident later on quite a few people know little about her - well there is no excuse. Jennie Ainsworth does a Guided Walk to Vera Brittain's Buxton on the 11, 13, 16, 18, 20, 23, 25 and 26 July from 2-4pm. It's in the Fringe Programme page 25 and it's a lovely couple of hours. It's compulsory).
Some of you have played at the Buxton Fringe before, so why are you coming back?
The writer’s had many of his plays on various Buxton Fringe stages, but none of us in this particular cast has played here before. I wonder if that tells us something …
For those new to Buxton , why have you decided to come for 2008?
Because we couldn’t afford to go to Edinburgh. No, that’s unkind (and untrue, because some members of our theatreare going to Edinburgh). It’s because we do know several who’ve performed at Buxton before, and they’ve all told us that it has to be done and is a wonderful experience.
Amongst Buxton’s famous sons and (adopted daughter) are Tim Brooke-Taylor, Dave Lee Travis and Vera Brittain. How do you feel about following in the footsteps of such giants?
We had no idea any of them were from Buxton, and are ashamed to say we didn’t know who Vera was. However, we are honoured to be following such illustrious predecessors, we know Buxton will take us to its heart, and we hope to be included as alumni in future lists.
What reaction do you expect from your audiences?
Delight. We wouldn’t be doing this otherwise.
5 pieces of fruit and veg a day – what do you choose to eat?
Me personally: fruit. Chocolate-covered raisins, marmalade, jam tarts, Cadbury’s Fruit’n’Nut … and so on. I can’t speak for the rest of the cast and crew.
Do you have any superstitions or routines that you follow before starting a performance?
Not really. Playing an historical piece, in period drama, means that we have to use a version of “spectacles, testicles, wallet and watch” to ensure no anachronisms – that often resembles a superstitious procedure !
Buxton Mineral Water – how do you drink it?
In copious quantities – preferably (when in Buxton) straight from the tap.
Are there any other performers/artists that you especially admire? If so, who and why?
The multi-talented polymaths, like Clive Anderson, Michael Palin and, of course, Stephen Fry.
What question would you have liked to answer here?
What do you plan to do when you’re not performing at Buxton ?
What is your answer?
Watch other performances at Buxton, no doubt thinking “I wish we’d done something like that”.
by Keith Savage - Published 11/07/2008
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