Nov 18 – “A dark, intense and demanding play…” Local Playwright Julian Felice Talks About ‘Catharsis’
‘Catharsis’, a new play written and directed by Julian Felice, starts this week at the Bayside Drama Studio. We caught up with Julian and spoke about the play and his other projects…
YGTV: What is your latest play Catharsis about?
Julian: Catharsis is about a man who cannot sleep. A frustrated artist, he is going through a difficult time in his life and is almost on the verge of an emotional breakdown. There are many tensions in his life and in his relationships with the people around him - his girlfriend, his friends, his co-workers. In order to find answers and solutions, he takes to going for long walks at night, and this exposes him to a sinister underworld in which he feels alternately threatened, yet, at other times, at ease. His failure to find answers leads him to take increasing risks and, as he descends further into this self-destructive spiral, his actions start affecting those closest to him.
YGTV: Is it, to an extent, autobiographical?
Julian: There are autobiographical elements - it is no coincidence that, like me, Paul (the artist) has spent two years working for a pensions company. Many of the more anecdotal episodes in the play - particularly those that take place in his office - are based on my own experiences, but I cannot pretend that my life is anywhere interesting and dramatic enough to warrant being turned into a play. However, I feel that there are more sides to Paul's character to which many of us can relate.
YGTV: Tell me about the other cast members – I believe there’s a mix of familiar faces and young talent - why did you settle for this team?
Julian: The cast is indeed such a mixture. We have an ensemble of eight who help to support Paul's story, which is told primarily by myself in that role. Many of the actors - Tim Seed, Charlie Bishop, Elainne Perez, Kim Soiza - I have worked with in the past, but others - Davina Barbara and Daniel Strain-Webber, for example - I have never worked with before. Including youngsters such as Michael Byrne and Lauren McCann is a nod to a generation of very gifted and reliable young actors who, despite their age, already have significant stage experience. I chose these individuals because I felt they would all embrace the challenge of putting on a dark, intense and demanding play, with a strong emphasis on ensemble work. We are all on stage all the time, and this requires a great deal from the actors. They have far exceeded my expectations and it is a joy to work alongside them as they play a crucial role in telling this story, and I feel they do this very successfully.
YGTV: Your published play, Mary Jane of Whitechapel, is now being performed in the U.S. How do you feel about that work’s success?
Julian: I am overjoyed with the success Mary Jane is having. It has been staged in a number of locations across the US, and to think that my work is being performed so far away is very satisfying. It is bizarre, though, to see their posters and photos, with my name listed alongside the play's title. Next week it is being performed in North Dakota as part of the State Finals for a youth drama festival. The funny thing is that Mary Jane was never written with this in mind; instead, it was written to fulfil a specific purpose related to my participation in that year's Drama Festival, so everything else has been a most welcome bonus.
YGTV: What are your plans for future plays?
Julian: I am entering two original plays - "Utrecht" and "To Touch The Face of God" - into the next Drama Festival with my youth company. These are two very different plays, and I am very excited about them. With "Catharsis", they were part of a particularly productive and creative period that saw me write four plays in six months. I am currently toying with a few ideas for some full-length plays, and I am liking some of the writing that is emerging from this, but I need to get everything else out of the way first before I can really commit to developing these further.
Catharsis performances start at 8pm on 19th, 20th and 21st November at the Bayside Drama Studio. Tickets are £5/£4. For advance tickets, contact: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
