Lynda Radley is something of a rising star in Scottish theatre. Originally from Cork in Ireland, the 31-year old has been in Scotland since 2005 and is building a successful career as a playwright.
“Scotland is home now, my husband is a sound designer and composer and so both of us feel very embedded in Scottish theatre,” she said.
“It’s funny, I consider myself a Scottish playwright now but obviously in a different way because my Irishness is always going to be part of how I write.”
Lynda’s breakthrough came in 2007 when she wrote and performed her one-woman show The Art Of Swimming, which won critical acclaim and was nominated for prestigious awards. It has since toured internationally.
As well as writing, she works with young people, community groups and prisoners, helping them express themselves creatively.
She was involved with the new work department of The National Theatre of Scotland from 2009 to 2010 and her other works include Soap! a live soap opera, Berlin Love Tour, a walking tour of Berlin that can be performed in any city, Dark Week, a site-specific journey through a music hall theatre and Spend A Penny, a one-to-one monologue set in a toilet cubicle.
Lynda said, “I was always very involved in drama growing up, at school and in extra-curricular activities, I was a performer.
“I studied English literature at Cork University and literature and writing was my passion.”
She added, “I joined the drama society at the university and that was a huge part of my development.
“It was a really interesting group of people and I was encouraged to start writing.”Move to ScotlandLynda said, “At the end of my first year we had a one-act play competition which I entered and I had my play produced.
“That was where it began and I was continuing to perform and write.
“I was also a founding member of a company in Cork called Playgroup, which is still running.”
Lynda began to concentrate more on her writing and moved to Scotland because she was serious about pursuing a career in theatre.
She said, “I wanted to go somewhere nobody knew me.
“I had been working in Ireland before that and had reached the point when I had to go somewhere else in order for things to happen.”
And things are certainly happening now. Lynda’s new play Futureproof was commissioned by the Traverse Theatre after she did a residency there. She had been working on the idea on and off for a number of years.
A magical and deeply human play set in a society obsessed by beauty and normality, Futureproof focuses on a once-successful freak show which is no longer pulling in the crowds.
The owner must therefore invent new ways to attract audiences and save the show as well as protect his family from the harsh reality of the outside world.’I like the unusual’Lynda said, “It was an idea that has been around for me for a long time. When I moved to Glasgow I wrote and performed The Act of Swimming and Futureproof was the next idea I started working on.
“At that time I was still doing admin jobs part time and I went to the Traverse and did a residency there and developed the idea and then went away and wrote a few drafts myself.
“I then sent a draft I was happy with to the Traverse, and they commissioned it.”
She added, “This is a large ensemble piece that involves a lot of parts and it’s quite theatrical.
“I felt like in order to progress and have bigger theatres notice me I needed to be quite ambitious.”
Lynda says Futureproof is set in no particular time and Riley’s travelling freak show is down on its luck because they were once seen as being marvels and wondrous, but looking at them has become a bit shameful.
She said, “Nobody wants to come see them anymore, they don’t have any money or much to eat, the owner Riley is desperately trying to figure out how to make what they do more productive.
“That’s where the drama takes off, when they’re wondering what to do next.
“I like the unusual and the strange and I feel we have become quite preoccupied with making people bland.”
She added, “It’s quite a serious play, although there are some funny moments that arise because of the way the characters are and also it’s very theatrical.
“We have an incredible cast and design team and some wonderful music.”
There is an early preview of Futureproof at Dundee Rep Theatre on August 3 at 7.30pm. The play runs at Edinburgh Traverse Theatre from August 6-August 28 then at Dundee Rep from August 31-September 9. For more information visit the Traverse Theatre and Dundee Rep websites.
Pictures courtesy of Simon Conlon.
Futureproof is directed by Dominic Hill, who was artistic director at the Rep from 2003 to 2007, after which he left to join the Traverse.
The co-production will star members of the Rep Ensemble as well as visiting actors.
It will be performed at the Traverse as part of the venue’s programme for the Edinburgh Festival Fringe before playing at the Dundee Rep.
Lynda said, “I feel very privileged to have these two organisations supporting the piece and, for me, it’s been joyous to hear it aloud rather than in my own head.
“Traverse is Scotland’s premiere new writing venue and the Rep has its ensemble of actors who have been working together for a long time.
“That really feeds into the play because the group of travellers have been performing together for a very long time as well, so that’s an amazing resource to have.”
After Futureproof hits the stage, Lynda will be embarking on researching women convicts who were transported to Australia in the 1700s to develop a play, thanks to money from Creative Scotland.
She is also hoping her play Berlin Love Tour previously produced in Ireland will tour in Scotland.
Futureproof is directed by Dominic Hill, who was artistic director at the Rep from 2003 to 2007, after which he left to join the Traverse.
The co-production will star members of the Rep Ensemble as well as visiting actors.
It will be performed at the Traverse as part of the venue’s programme for the Edinburgh Festival Fringe before playing at the Dundee Rep.
Lynda said, “I feel very privileged to have these two organisations supporting the piece and, for me, it’s been joyous to hear it aloud rather than in my own head.
“Traverse is Scotland’s premiere new writing venue and the Rep has its ensemble of actors who have been working together for a long time.
“That really feeds into the play because the group of travellers have been performing together for a very long time as well, so that’s an amazing resource to have.”
After Futureproof hits the stage, Lynda will be embarking on researching women convicts who were transported to Australia in the 1700s to develop a play, thanks to money from Creative Scotland.
She is also hoping her play Berlin Love Tour previously produced in Ireland will tour in Scotland.