Interview with “The Human Animal”

Ahead of their upcoming amateur production of “in-yer-face” playwright Simon Stephens’ “Wastwater” at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe, Emily Dunford caught up with The Human Animal, a theatre collective formed by students Juliet Clark, Maria Hildebrand and Samuel Wightman.

According to Hildebrand of The Human Animal, the aim when setting up the company was to “create work which holds human consciousness in specific social contexts at the centre.” Prior to this summer’s production of “Wastwater”, they have created a number of shows, including two original translations from German playwright Thomas Brasch and an online performance piece entitled “Virtual Tourist”. Clark adds, “We stress a collaborative creative process which generates a unique feeling of ownership of the productions.” Hence as each scene features only two actors, the cast members have the opportunity to co-direct sections of “Wastwater” as well as perform in their individual scenes, a process which the team are “passionately involved” in.

Simon Stephens’ 2011 triptych of three very different couples, set on the edge of Heathrow it is not only described as “shocking…and seriously enjoyable” by What’s On Stage but also according to Wightman “speaks to our generation”. “It raises important questions about the state of interaction and how communication has changed in the technological and globalised age we live in.”

For their run in Edinburgh The Human Animal will be transforming C Nova into the “Wastwater” universe, the company’s aim being the creation of an immersive environment which holds the sense of human consciousness at its core. India Smith, set designer and assistant stage manager, found that designing the set having not seen the performance space before was a new challenge. “It’s difficult but exciting as it gets me thinking how we can be as innovative and flexible as possible whilst maintaining the intentions and unsettling nature of the piece.”

Although the process of preparing a show for the Edinburgh Festival Fringe has been demanding, the group feel lucky to have had the guidance of Hannah Tookey (who produced WUDS’ Vinegar Tom at the 2013 Fringe) as well as the support of the Theatre Department at Warwick. When asked what had been most challenging about the process, Juliet Clark answers “Getting started, but once we received funding we adopted a no-turning-back attitude, which I believe has boded really well for the continued enthusiasm and dedication towards the production.”

Catch The Human Animal’s “Wastwater” at C Nova, Edinburgh between 30^th July and 16^th August. For more information visit www.thehumananimal.co.uk or to find details of the Edinburgh Festival Fringe and buy tickets to “Wastwater”, www.edfringe.com.