How did we get here? What does the future hold? What can we learn from our personal and political choices? This Restless State, a collaboration between writer Danielle Pearson and performer Jesse Fox, examines our European identity at three different points in time: 1989, 2017 and 2052. This brand-new show, a co-commission between Fuel Theatre and Ovalhouse, launches this week in London ahead of a regional tour. Got your tickets yet?
This Restless State, co-commissioned by Fuel and Ovalhouse, leads audiences on a journey across our continent’s past, present and future in a story of family, national identity, conflict and love. This premiere production, directed by Jemima James, runs at London’s Ovalhouse from 14 to 24 March 2018, before touring until 20 April.
Intimate storytelling and innovative sound design combine in This Restless State, a new collaboration between writer Danielle Pearson and performer Jesse Fox. Weaving together three stories from across Europe at different times – in 1989 around the fall of the Berlin Wall, in London in 2017, and in Rome in 2052 – each considers the personal and political choices we make and the fact that our beliefs and our personal feelings don’t always match up.
Jesse Fox says:
“I’ve been interested in making a show about European identity for a long time. I was defining myself more comfortably as European than British and I realized that this is not a universal experience. As Europe finds itself increasingly plagued by schisms and challenges, I’ve begun questioning my assumptions about how important national identity and a sense of home are to people and I’ve discovered that perhaps being British is more important to me than I initially expected.”
This Restless State builds on the success of Jesse Fox’s recent shows with his company Engineer Theatre Collective, which have seen his work nominated for various Off West End Awards and featured in The New Yorker. He is collaborating with Danielle Pearson, playwright in residence at the Watermill Theatre and the winner of the EU Collective Plays! Competition, and Jemima James, associate director on Complicite’s The Encounter starring Simon McBurney.
The production is funded by Arts Council England and the Leche Trust, with development supported by Engineer Theatre Collective. Following Ovalhouse, it visits Arena Theatre, Wolverhampton (7 April), Exeter Phoenix Theatre (11-12 April) and Alphabetti Theatre, Newcastle (17-20 April).
This Restless State launches its tour from Ovalhouse
Bios
Jesse Fox (Performer) – Jesse is an Actor, Director and Co-founder of Engineer Theatre Collective. Acting credits include Foyle’s War and Midsomer Murders (ITV), Doctors (BBC), Hard Feelings (Finborough Theatre) and Missing (New Diorama). He works regularly at the Royal Central School of Speech and Drama in the capacity of Visiting Lecturer and Director. For Engineer he has co-directed Run and The Gap in the Light, both of which received Offie nominations for ‘Best Director’ and ‘Best Ensemble’. Run was also featured in The New Yorker. Other recent work includes collaborations with Complicite Creative Learning and Southwark Playhouse. He is very excited to be sharing This Restless State and would like to thank Fuel and his parents for being brilliant.
Jemima James (Director) – Jemima is a Director and Writer. Recent work includes Skate Hard, Turn Left at BAC (Director/Writer), DIGS at Camden People’s Theatre and Pleasance Courtyard (Director/Co-Writer) and This is not a Drill at Tristan Bates Theatre (Director/Text). She is an Associate Director at Complicite, having worked on The Encounter, which returns to the Barbican in Spring 2018.
Danielle Pearson (Writer) – Danielle Pearson is the current Playwright in Residence at the Watermill Theatre. She is the winner of the 2017 EU Collective Plays! Competition, a member of the Royal Court Writer’s Programme 2017 and Criterion New Writing 2018. Recent work includes Digging for Victory (Watermill Senior Youth Theatre), The Witches and the Singing Mice (Unicorn Theatre, R&D), The Local History Club (Old Red Lion), Newbury Yarns (Watermill Theatre), Ann Veronica (Watermill Senior Youth Theatre), New Europe (Camden People’s Theatre), Tabitha’s Ballad (South Street Arts Centre, Reading) and The Shipping Forecast (Pleasance Theatre Scratch).
Jesse Fox in This Restless State
Jesse Fox in This Restless State
