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The Girl and Her Balloon
TheSpace on North Bridge
August 5 -27 (not 14), 6.45pm
by Gareth K Vile
A feisty, female artist sells painted balloons whilst living on London’s streets. Using imagery-based storytelling and shadow puppetry, this play explores themes of ambition, addiction, and escapism. Expressed through humour and raw emotion, the girl and her balloon will take you on a journey through the highs and lows of living outside the system and the battle to cling onto hope when you feel invisible.
Gareth K Vile speaks to Amy Wakeman
Can you tell me a little about the inspiration for your show?
The show was originally inspired by a poem that I wrote about 8 years ago called ‘The girl and her blue balloon’. I have written several poems and short stories, but this particular poem stuck in my head. I think this may be to do with what was going on in my life at the time. I was going through a ‘blue’ period and could not shake myself out of it, and during this time I wrote this poem which was based on loneliness and escapism. The poem now features in the play.
What role your puppets play in the production, and why did you decide to use them?
The main puppet is the character I play, but in the past, when she was a little girl. The aim of the puppetry throughout the piece is flashbacks of my character, floating around with her balloon (bit like Mary Poppins) as a way of escaping her life at the time. The balloon was given to the little girl by her mother as a gift and was the last thing that she remembers of her mother, as she was brought up in care from around the age of five. So, the balloon holds sentimental value to the little girl, and continues to do so through her life.
Q3. Is this work typical of your productions, and do you have a particular dramaturgical approach to making theatre?
My previous work was a 12minute short story which was performed solely through shadow theatre. I was inspired by a music video by Little Dragon called ‘Twice’. I was so inspired I wanted to explore this form of theatre for my online piece for the 2020 fringe.
Link to Underground which I created for the online fringe 2020
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r7Y4O7e-OeA&t=4s
Q4. And do you feel that the Fringe is a good place for your work? What are you hoping to experience?
Though I entered my previous work ‘underground’ in 2020, this current piece will be the first time I physically bring my work to the fringe. I am very excited, though I do not know what to expect!
However, I am hoping to network with like-minded producers and artists, and what I would really like is to have the opportunity to develop my show further, particularly the shadow theatre part, for the hope to transfer my show to another festival or venue, or even a tour. I am looking for collaboration opportunities and to learn more about shadow theatre, that’s for sure!
