Act Three director Andrew McPherson shares an exclusive update on To Walk on Water, one of our three Troubled Waters performances.
Can you sum up To Walk on Water in a sentence?
To Walk on Water is set in 2040 and is based on the company’s imagined fears of the future: it’s political, it’s pretty bleak in places but ultimately very hopeful and heartening too – humanity will prevail!
Has the play changed since we caught up with you before Christmas?
Since the December sharing the company have been pulling apart different drafts of the play.
We’ve been particularly focused on characters and their functions in the story, as new drafts of the play have seen switches in character function. This work has lead to fantastic discussions about the relationship between the characters and the importance of playing relationships on stage.
New drafts have also seen more details about the world of the play being revealed. We see more of the power struggle between the corporate ruling class and the underclasses and also more detail in the technological developments in the world of 2040.
How are rehearsals going?
The company is beautifully in flow at the moment, taking exciting risks. We’re currently working on blocking and shaping the scenes in ways that are visually exciting and that aid our storytelling.
As director, what are you most proud of so far?
These wonderful actors are showing up ready to rock and full of brilliant thoughts on their characters. There is literally nothing more pleasing to a director than that. I’m really excited for you to see this show and hear what these young adults have to say.
Are there any themes or standout performances the audience should look out for?
One of the themes in our play is homelessness. I would struggle to believe that there’s a single Londoner that has not had some interaction with a homeless person.
The fact that this year, even our most seemingly empathetic politicians only provided additional resources for homeless people when temperatures dropped below freezing. Do their lives need to be at risk before we do anything?
I think it’s such an important theme to explore and I think it’s very telling that, though our play is set twenty-one years in the future, homelessness is still a huge problem.
What do you want audiences to take away from the performance?
This generation of young adults overhear constant echos from politicians that their futures are being restricted because of Brexit and privatisation of resources, and yet they never get a say on any of it – most of them are too young to vote.
With regard to politics, they continue to be spoken above. It’s no wonder young people are disengaged.
We want the audience to take away the importance of listening to young people and to aid their understanding of politics wherever they can. Their voices count.
Book your To Walk on Water tickets today
To Walk on Water starts its run at New Wimbledon Theatre’s Time and Leisure Studio on Friday 29 March 2019 at 7.45pm.
Two further shows will take place on Saturday 30 March at 2.45pm and 7.45pm.
Click here to book tickets for this brand new play, looking for hope in an uncertain future.
All profits made from ticket sales are used to fund the Young Actors Company, from buying costumes to keeping our weekly workshops free for all Company members to attend.