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, David Ralfe of On The Run Theatre tells us about Tell Me Anythingwhich is performed at Pulse on 2 June 2017
How would you describe your show in one sentence?
A brutally honest boy meets girl story about the impact mental health conditions have on relationships, for both partners.
What appealed about appearing at Pulse?
Tell Me Anything won the Suitcase Prize last year, so we’re delighted to bring the full-scale version of the show back for Suitcase Day. It’s our third visit to New Wolsey and it’s one of our favourite venues. It’s a real honour to be part of such a varied and artistically ambitious programme of work.
How have you been preparing for Pulse?
It’s the last date on our Spring tour, so the show is a well-oiled machine now!
What do you think sets your show apart from all the other festival offerings?
It’s a complex, nuanced portrait of adolescence, relationship dynamics, masculinity and mental health. It’s uncompromisingly candid; occasionally uncomfortable but still finds humour and lightness in the dark. It teaches audiences about eating disorders and how to help the ones we love to get better, by telling a true story as honestly as we can.
What’s the show that you don’t want to miss at this year’s Pulse (apart from your own)?
The Duke by Shon Dale-Jones and Unconditional by This Egg. Steffi performs in Unconditional with her and Shon’s daughter, Josie. I’ve known the whole family for years because Shon and Steffi gave me my first job in theatre! So it’s amazing to be sharing a bill with them.
What’s the best bit of advice you’ve ever been given for performing at a Fringe Festival?
Make friends. Meeting other artists is the best bit because touring can be a lonely business!
The average human pulse rate is 70bpm, what is the pulse rate of your show and why?
It starts gentle and builds to a roar. The music as the audience leave is 160 BPM because it’s a footwork track!
Image: Alex Brenner
Tell Me Anything runs at Ipswich’s Pulse Festival on June 22017
For more information visit www.pulseipswich.co.uk or www.ontheruntheatre.co.uk
The Reviews Hub is proud to be the Media Partner for the Pulse Festival and will be providing in-depth coverage throughout the festival.
