Written and
Directed by Colin Chaston
(Creator/Co-writer
/composer of Get Got, 5 star show,
Edinburgh Fringe 2013)
Greenside Venues,
Forest Theatre, Infirmary Street.
August 5th - 13th
14.55 1 hr
August 15th - 20th
11.25 1 hr
August 22nd - 27th
13.45 1 hr
Irons, the nick name for West Ham United
and its supporters is set in the away enclosures at Premier League football
matches. Three male supporters, lifelong friends, live and die football
together until one of them comes out as a transgender female. Their comments on
the football action, interspersed with observations of what's going on in their
lives are very funny. As they experience the highs and lows of following their
team, it becomes apparent their love of football can overcome any hate.
What was the inspiration for this performance?
I simply love the Edinburgh Festival Fringe. In 2013 I brought my
creation, the musical Get Got to the
Fringe. With many 5 star reviews it became a success and is currently optioned
by a Broadway producer and TV exec. Whether anything will happen it's still
unclear.
With a company of over 20 including West End/Broadway cast, band and
crew it cost a small fortune and as you can imagine was enormously hard work to
produce.
I wanted a smaller, less expensive show that I could tour post Edinburgh
without ithe involvement other producers and backers. I'm a passionate West Ham
supporter and while at an away game, when West Ham scored and I witnessed
people of all races and genders coming together in celebration, all hugging,
kissing, singing and dancing together, totally unconcerned with the labels we
usually stick on people, I thought wow!
This is what can be achieved by celebrating what we have in common
rather than giving in to what divides us. I have transgender friends and
am acutely aware of the issues and discrimination they face so I
decided to marry the two together.
How did you go about gathering the team for it?
I wanted to cast the play with actors who were also West Ham supporters
so I advertised on West Ham fan sites. After auditions I'd cast two of the
roles. I cast the third role through industry adverts.
Interestingly it only came to light after we began rehearsing that one
of the cast is actually a Tottenham season ticket holder and another supports
QPR. There are just the four of us in the team, we share the workload and they
are all great guys.
How did you become interested in making performance?
I began performing myself starting rather late in life at the age of 26.
Joy Hyman, singing teacher at Mountview Theatre school asked me to perform at
her masterclasses after seeing me perform in Operas and musicals. She
encouraged my creativity and I have been writing, composing and producing for
25 years now.
Was your process typical of the way that you make a performance?
I believe it was typical in so much when rehearsals start there is a
script and score if it's a musical and I use the rehearsal process to workshop
the piece to ensure it makes for the best performances possible. Irons was
slightly different in that rehearsals took place in the conservatory at my
house.
What do you hope that the audience will experience?
For me the most important thing is that the audience leave the theatre
feeling they have been entertained. I like audiences to feel challenged but
absolutely refuse to lecture or preach to people on issues I feel strongly
about. I prefer the audience to decide for themselves what they want to take
from it. In my work, including my novel, there is always a subtext that is not
always obvious. In Irons as well as
the "subtext" I want them to experience the highs and lows and fun of
following a football team and the East End humour.
What strategies did you consider towards shaping this audience
experience?
The optimum performance time at the Fringe is an hour, so it needed
to be no longer than that. Also because of the Fringe logistics the set needed
to be minimal. Our set consists of three folding chairs and some flags which we
hang up. A cast of three is always interesting and with the accommodation costs
being what they are makes financial sense as well.
I also wanted Irons to be ready for critics to review on our first
Fringe performance, so we have toured theatres in Essex, a total of five
performances. This has enabled us to fine tune the production.
Do you see your work within any particular tradition?
Not really, I try to break with tradition, experiment and innovate.
For example, Irons, because it is so different, football fans who have never
been to a theatre or play before are coming to see it. They are joining in with
some of the chants and responding to what is going on on stage.
Colin says the idea for Irons struck him while at an away game.
"Football doesn’t always receive a kind press but when West Ham scored and
I witnessed people of all races and genders coming together in celebration, all
hugging, kissing, singing and dancing together, totally unconcerned with the
labels we usually stick on people, I thought wow! This is what can be achieved
by celebrating what we have in common rather than giving in to what divides us.
I needed to create an authentic feel of being at a football match so the play
is accompanied by a live soundscape of West Ham fans that enables audiences to
soak up the football crowd atmosphere and even join in the fan chants. The
actors are all very passionate about football and have experienced the highs
and lows of supporting a team.”
Irons is a play that doesn’t shy away from life issues affecting all of
us. Through use of classic East End humour and an authentic football
environment, it tackles topics from sexuality and gender, to religion and
relationships. Irons has received a great response from audiences as it
previews in Essex
Cast
Paul Spires, Steve Owles, Warren Palmer.
Previous Performances
During May and June this year, Irons has been on a mini tour of Essex
with productions in Maldon, Witham, Chelmsford and Basildon.
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