Sarah Roy takes some time to talk to Voice about Catherine and Anita, inspirations, and to give advice to young people.
Could you first introduce yourself to the reader? (Sarah Roy answers)
I’m Sarah Roy, I’m the producer of the show and I also star in it. Derek Ahonen is the writer and director.
How would you describe your show?
Catherine and Anita is about a woman trying to overcome the obstacles in her life with the help of her best friend. It’s a story about love, friendship and also the destruction that can be caused by unchecked childhood trauma.
Why do you want to perform at Edinburgh Festival Fringe?
It’s a fantastic place to show new work. Edinburgh audiences tend to be very open-minded and enjoy seeing things they haven’t seen before.
What differentiates it from other festivals?
The diversity that Edinburgh Festival Fringe brings is incredible. My favourite show last year was a clown show! I wouldn’t normally get to see anything like that.
Do you think the Fringe has changed over the years? If so, how? Are these changes positive or negative?
I think the fact that the Fringe has grown so much over the years means that while there is more opportunity to show your work to a wider audience, it’s obviously a lot more competitive.
What first motivated you to enter the industry? Who were your inspirations?
There are definitely certain productions and performances that have stuck in my mind over the years and inspired me to get into the industry. I think if you can affect even one member of the audience in some way or another then that’s a hugely powerful thing.
One of my acting inspirations has to be Kate Fleetwood. I first saw her in Macbeth about 10 years ago and she blew me away.
If you didn’t have your current job, what would you probably be doing?
I love producing as well as acting so probably something down that road.
If you could have any job in the world, what would it be?
Ummm… an actor?
What is your earliest childhood art memory?
Seeing The Nutcracker with my mum.
Do you ever feel any pressure to be a social commentator, or constantly update material to respond to events?
(Writer/director Derek Ahonen answers) Naturally one wants to make a social impact within your material. But the word “pressure” confuses me. That suggests I have a responsibility to fulfil to society as an artist. I don’t. I choose to create what I create out of passion and then just hope it resonates with others. My only “responsibilities” are to live up to the potential my producers are expecting of me in the work we agreed to create.
Equally, do you think there has been a shift in public sentiment that has affected your work?
This is my first play since this current wave of world madness has begun. And it’s a personal story about one woman’s childhood trauma left unchecked. But if you have the time, go back and read what I was writing from 2007 to 2014: in all ten of those plays you’ll call them a warning to liberals as to what was coming if they didn’t focus better. It’s ALL there. The anger of the working class. But now I’d rather write stories about how the things that happen to us as children keep us in an endless cycle of adult insanity.
Describe the last year in 5 words or less.
A victory for the angry.
If you could work with anybody, from any point in history, who would you pick and why?
Mae West. She’s the best comedic actor of all time. And also, she wrote or co-wrote all her dialogue so I’d just like to sit in a room with her and watch her turn a malaprop into something genius on accident.
Original article: Voice