Preview

PULSE POINTS: Wonder Fools – The Coolidge Effect

Ipswich’s Pulse Festival returns to the New Wolsey Theatre 1-10 June 2017, packed with over 50 events to thrill and entertain. To help you decide what to see, we’re running our Pulse Points Previews, asking performers to tell us about their productions.

Here, Robbie Gordon of Wonder Fools tells us about The Coolidge Effectwhich is performed at Pulse on 2 June 2017

How would you describe your show in one sentence?
The Coolidge Effect uses an interactive blend of storytelling, poetry and science to examine how pornography affects our mental health, relationships and sexual experiences.

What appealed about appearing at Pulse?
PULSE is internationally renowned and has played host to an incredible range of artists that have inspired us over the years. Taking our work to new places always excites us and we’re looking forward to not only performing but going to watch all of the incredible shows the program offers.

How have you been preparing for Pulse?
Originally supported by the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland, The Coolidge Effect was staged as a work-in-progress sharing at the Glue Factory, Glasgow in late 2016. As part of our research process, we conducted interviews with porn advocates, addicts, mental health experts and scientists; these conversations spanned the globe: Quebec, California, Sweden, New York, Indonesia, Pittsburgh, Glasgow, Edinburgh, Manchester and London. It is their stories that form the basis of the show. In March, Wonder Fools made our London debut with the play at Camden People’s Theatre as part of SPRINT Festival. The Coolidge Effect will be performed at the Tron Theatre, Glasgow, and the New Diorama, London, in Autumn and we are currently looking to secure more dates for a small-scale tour.

What do you think sets your show apart from all the other festival offerings?
Established in 2014: Wonder Fools seek unknown and forgotten stories lost in the evolving social landscape of modern Britain that we are able to reshape and make theatre from. We strive to create evocative and exhilarating contemporary theatre and performance, in both conventional and out of the ordinary settings.

We seek to make accessible, energetic and engaging work which appeals to both traditional as well as non-traditional audiences. We are fascinated by how theatre and performance can be socially and historically rooted in the landscape and community in which it’s made; however big or small. Whether socially, politically or intellectually motivated we strive to carry that principle with us in all of our work.

What’s the show that you don’t want to miss at this year’s Pulse (apart from your own)?
We’re big fans of the work of Chris Thorpe so we’re looking forward to The Shape of Pain. We’ve also seen fellow Scot Kieran Hurley’s Heads Up and it’s a terrific piece of work.

What’s the best bit of advice you’ve ever been given for performing at a Fringe Festival?
The best bit of advice I’ve recently was “don’t be confident, be courageous”. It sounds like an utter cliche but it’s something I always consider when performing. Taking risks and trying new things is an important part of the work Wonder Fools make.

The average human pulse rate is 70bpm, what is the pulse rate of your show and why?
I think taking a pulse would be pretty difficult on this show. We present five intertwining narratives within The Coolidge Effect and each of them has their own unique heartbeat. We’ve tried to capture five people’s unique experiences of pornography and they all have their own story to tell.

[divider]

The Coolidge Effectruns at Ipswich’s Pulse Festival on June 2 2017

For more information visit www.pulseipswich.co.ukorwww.wonderfools.org

The Reviews Hub are proud to be the Media Partner for the Pulse Festival and will be providing in-depth coverage throughout the festival.

Show More
Photo of The Reviews Hub - South East

The Reviews Hub - South East

The South East team is under the editorship of Nicole Craft. The Reviews Hub was set up in 2007. Our mission is to provide the most in-depth, nationwide arts coverage online.

Related Articles

Back to top button
The Reviews Hub