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PULSE POINTS: George Orange – First Lady

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, George Orange tells us aboutFirst Lady which is performed at Pulse on 2 June 2017

How would you describe your show in one sentence?
The story of how I almost became First Lady of the USA

What appealed about appearing at Pulse?
First Lady is about queer political activism in an unfriendly time. Thatcher, Reagan, Bush/May, Trump, Putin it all feels like it is happening again. Any chance to tell this story of how a group of artists stood up to run for president I will take. I have been wanting to perform at Pulse Festival for several years before this but no show was quite right. I am very excited to bring First Lady to the Suitcase Day.

How have you been preparing for Pulse?
First Lady as a show has been gestating for the last 5 years. It is based on my own life and it is as true as I can recall the events that took place from 1992 to 1996. I received a grant from Arts Council Wales last year and Creu Cymru this year. to work on First Lady. I preparation I have been doing interviews and writing and presenting sharings and performed. Including a run on the PBH’s Free Fringe in Edinburgh last August. I wrote a different ending when I thought Hillary Clinton would be president of the USA, no Trump is POTUS I have been re-writing the ending for the last few months.

What do you think sets your show apart from all the other festival offerings?
First Lady is unique because it tells a story rarely heard. Joan Jett Blakk and the Queer Nation Party were a force of political action in the 80s and early 90s that the world is just catching up to now. Just as it seems that forces are putting on the brakes or worse sliding back on human rights.

What’s the show that you don’t want to miss at this year’s Pulse (apart from your own)?
If I hadn’t already seen All the things I lied about that would be my first choice. However, DollyWould I don’t want to miss.

What’s the best bit of advice you’ve ever been given for performing at a Fringe Festival?
Don’t panic.

The average human pulse rate is 70bpm, what is the pulse rate of your show and why?
105bpm. Thats the pulse rate I reach when I am bracing for a fight.

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First Lady runs at Ipswich’s Pulse Festival on June 2 2017

For more information visit www.pulseipswich.co.uk or www.georgeorange.com

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

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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.

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