Glass Half Full Theatre’s new play Walk of Shame has taken its own journey to being staged as a week-long production at the White Bear Theatre this winter. Co-writer and star Stephanie Silver tells us more about the drama that may be perfect for Christmas party season. Take a look at what she has to say, then book your tickets!
Running at the White Bear Theatre from 11 to 15 December 2018, Walk of Shame tells the story of Alice and Liam. Well, it tells both their stories, for while events bring them together, they view them from two very different angles.
Walk of Shame is co-written by Emelia Marshall Lovsey and Stephanie Silver, who also plays Alice. It began life as a one-person piece, written by Lovsey and telling Alice’s story, but after Silver directed a performance at new writing event Actor Awareness, she was moved to collaborate with Lovsey to add Liam’s side of events.
For Liam, it’s a night of glory
For Alice, it’s a walk of shame
It’s a tale that will surprise audiences and turn stereotypes on their heads, as there is more to the characters than it may first appear.
In addition to co-writing Walk of Shame and starring as Alice, Silver is also the Artistic Director of Glass Half Full Theatre. She previously appeared in productions including C’est La Via, #StrongNotSkinny and The Monologues of a Tired Nurse.
Calum Speed stars opposite Silver, playing Liam, and returning to the White Bear Theatre where he previously appeared in Eight and Chummy. His previous credits include Three Wise Monkeys at the Bush Theatre and Orlando Furioso for Read Not Dead at the Sam Wanamaker Playhouse.
Michelle Payne, who previously directed The German Girls at the Camden Fringe, Brittle Britain at Wandsworth Arts Fringe and Power at Queen’s Theatre Hornchurch, directs.
An Honourable Man, which precedes Walk of Shame at the White Bear Theatre, is a political comedy. Written by Michael McManus, it follows Labour MP Joe Newman who, when Momentum try to oust him, takes drastic action.
Interview with writer/performer Stephanie Silver
Where did the idea for Walk of Shame come from?
The initial idea came from Emelia. She wrote a short monologue for an Actor Awareness scratch night. She wrote it in response to being a woman and the prejudice that comes when, as a woman, you don’t fill a pretty stereotype.
Why did you think it was important to show two sides of this story?
The story shows how Liam is an ordinary man and how his mistake can be made by anyone… but also that this is not, and shouldn’t ever be, an excuse.
How long has it taken to bring it to the stage in this form?
We have spent the last year developing it after the Actor Awareness scratch. We worked at it again for a new writing festival, then we did some more work on it for Get Over It Productions’ festival last summer
How did collaborating with Emilia as a co-writer work?
Emelia and I are good friends. She has always worked with me some way or the other. She let me direct the first monologue she wrote for Alice and I just fell in love with the character. When I was directing it, I got inspired and ideas were popping all over the place. I said to her, “Give me a week and I’ll write the rest of the show,” and she said ok! So I went away and wrote Liam’s story. It was fun having two separate monologues written by two people as we have two distinct voices.
How did you cope with any creative differences?
We just talk and decided what’s best for the play! We normally agree.
How important is it to have spaces, theatres and events that help you try and grow new work, as you have with Walk of Shame?
If we hadn’t had Actor Awareness, I doubt this would have come about or even got as far as it has. Having the support of the new writing festival in 2017, through Actor Awareness, gave us the basis for our show and it’s developed from that. It gave us a grounding and a start point.
How have you found rehearsing/performing in a piece you’ve written?
I love performing something I’ve written and I love having a director on board to bring out a different vision. I get excited when Michelle comes up with ideas and as a writer/director herself, Michelle knows the process of new writing. I think that helps, as we both are very open to making changes if needed. I trust Michelle 100 per cent and I think as a writer you have to have that trust in a director to be able to let go and just think about your character
How are you feeling about staging the show at the White Bear Theatre?
I love the space at the White Bear Theatre and it does a lot of good new writing. For the show it’s perfect and the pub’s great!
Why is theatre a brilliant way of telling this story?
The topic in the play is very current and relevant, and I think the nature of the play is very powerful when you have the stories being physically told to you.
What can audiences expect from a trip to see Walk of Shame?
I don’t expect anyone to expect anything when they come to one of my productions. I like to see how people react after the show! But I’d say it may make you laugh, it may make you cry and it will make you think!
