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, Stephanie Ridings tells us about The Road to Huntsville which is performed at Pulse on 6 June 2017
How would you describe your show in one sentence?
The Road to Huntsville explores unconventional love, state homicide, and cats.
What appealed about appearing at Pulse?
Being part of an exciting line-up of work in a brilliant festival.
How have you been preparing for Pulse?
Pulse comes as part of wider touring dates. Lots of smoothies and healthy eating are helping with enjoyable (hateful) trips to the gym. During the rehearsal process I worked with Drama Therapist, Lou Platt, so it is also remembering and re-engaging with these exercises.
What do you think sets your show apart from all the other festival offerings?
The mixture of documentary and storytelling ties into the obsession we have with real life crime stories on platforms such as Netflix. It gets up close to the death penalty in America’s busiest execution chamber in Texas, but it is also about what is real and what we perceive to be real, becoming obsessed and distracting ourselves with cute cats.
What’s the show that you don’t want to miss at this year’s Pulse (apart from your own)?
Ugly Chief by Victoria Melody and I missed Bubble Schmeisis in Edinburgh but heard really great things.
What’s the best bit of advice you’ve ever been given for performing at a Fringe Festival?
Making sure you protect your wellbeing both mentally and physically.
The average human pulse rate is 70bpm, what is the pulse rate of your show and why?
During the Edinburgh Fringe someone told be they had a Fitbit on and during the show her heart rate just kept rising and was just short of 100 by the end. I should have asked for a printout to put on the posters.
Image: Graeme Braidwood
The Road to Huntsville runs at Ipswich’s Pulse Festival on June 6 2017
For more information visit www.pulseipswich.co.ukorwww.theroadtohuntsville.com
The Reviews Hub are proud to be the Media Partner for the Pulse Festival and will be providing in-depth coverage throughout the festival.
