Preview: 13

UEA Drama Society have put on some stellar productions this year, and The Tab is very excited to see their latest offering, the mysterious sounding ‘13’. We sat down with the director- second year Louisa Smith, and her cast to chat apocalypses, nightmares and a bucket…

Tab: So, tell us first and foremost, what is ‘13’ about?

Louisa: It’s about a group of people in London, in 2012. They each suffer the same apocalyptic nightmare every night. Their country is at war, and they need to make some very difficult ethical decisions.

Tab: Why did you choose to put on ’13’?

Louisa: It wasn’t like any play I’ve ever seen- and it gave me the opportunity to work with a large cast. The issues are so current, for example, the economic downturn. It’s a very different insight into aspects of war.

James McDermott (Stephen): It’s an epic tour de force of politics- and the characters are so richly developed.

Tab: Joe, you play the protagonist, John. Tell us a bit about him.

Joe Jones (John): He’s at university with the other characters. He sees an incident involving the Prime Minister’s son, and disappears for years. When he returns, it comes as a bit of a shock! In some ways it invokes religious ideas- almost like the resurrection.

Tab: Let’s hear some more about the style of the show. What have you done with the studio?

Louisa: The play spans the space of a few weeks, and the play is very fragmented and fast-paced. We’ve kept the studio relatively stripped back and bare. Originally we designed an elaborate set, but it didn’t work. We’ve taken it back, made it urban and industrial.

Tab: We’ve been told to ask about…a bucket?

Louisa: John delivers speeches on his bucket! It’s used as a symbol across the piece. It becomes chairs, a drum… we used a lot of freedom with our props to create the imaginary.

Tab: How was the rehearsal process?

Jerusha Green (Ruth): It was good fun! It was nice to work with so many different people

Joe: It’s a difficult play to do but we enjoyed the challenge. We were worried, but hopefully it’ll divide opinion and give the audience something to think about!

Tab: Why should UEA students come to see ‘13’?

Joe: Hopefully, they’ll be fascinated by it!

Louise: These issues are relevant to everyone. You will identify with at least one person in the show. Hopefully the audience will go away feel they’ve had an experience!