Producer Martin Szalla joins us on Close-Up Culture to preview his show, PHAB, which will have its world premiere at Camden Fringe.
What inspired you to bring together such a wide range of absurd, surreal and sometimes grotesque ideas in PHAB?
It just happened because of the people: if a bunch of absurd, surreal and sometimes grotesque people meet, they can’t help doing stuff like that.
Audience interaction plays a role in at least one of the pieces. What do you hope audiences will contribute to the experience?
For us it is most interesting to see what kind of endings the audience prefer. Furthermore, everything that helps to turn down the 4th wall helps to create a special vibe.
There are references to Kafka, Pythonesque comedy and phantasmagoria in the show’s description. Which artists or theatrical traditions have had the biggest influence on your approach to PHAB?
Apart from Kafka and Monty Python, Samuel Beckett, Harold Pinter, Eugene Ionesco and Tadeusz Różewicz are to be mentioned. Not to forget Boris Johnson, of course.
This is a world premiere at Camden Fringe. What do you hope audiences take away from the show?
Some kind of optimism that art isn’t dead yet and still might contribute to saving the world.
See PHAB 12th, 14th, 15th August at The Libra Theatre Cafe: https://camdenfringe.com/events/phab/
