In anticipation of his play Dough coming to the Edinburgh Fringe, we caught up with David Lescot, the talented writer behind this unique production. Dough delves into the story of a character from birth to death, focusing solely on their relationship with money.
Describing the play, Lescot shared, “Dough is a play I wrote a few years ago. It’s about the whole story of somebody, a character, from his birth to his death, but we focus on their relationship with money. ” With a minimalist approach, the play features only three actors with two of them playing over 40 characters, swiftly transitioning between them without the need for props or elaborate set designs. Lescot emphasized the importance of the rhythmic, fast-paced nature of the performance, which mirrors the continuous flow of life itself.
When discussing the challenges faced by the actors, Lescot acknowledged the demanding nature of the production. He explained, “It’s quite a virtuoso way of acting, but even for the main character, for Zach Lusk, he also has a lot to do because he grows up in age, he’s really a child, and then he becomes a teenager, and at the end, he’s over 60.”
The inspiration behind Dough stemmed from Lescot’s commission to write a short play about money. He wanted to delve deeper into the concept and explore how money intertwines with life and relationships. Lescot noted, “It’s not only about money; it’s about life, it’s about relationships. It’s about what we exchange in life, what goes between people.” By framing life as a theatrical play, with individuals as characters who come and go, Lescot sought to offer a fresh perspective on the topic.
Dough was originally written in French and has been translated by Christopher Campbell. Lescot actively participated in the translation process, ensuring that the essence of his writing and the play’s humour remained intact. Reflecting on this, Lescot shared, “I like to hear it in English, I worked for quite a long time with the American actors on this and now, I think I prefer the English. The English words, the English for this text, because for the rhythm, for the simplicity of all that, it fits very much the English language.”
When asked about his expectations for the Edinburgh Fringe, Lescot expressed his excitement for the adventure and the opportunity to bring Dough to a broader audience. Lescot is also the writer of another production at this year’s Fringe; A Portrait of Ludmilla as Nina Simone, which combines theatre and music.
Lescot’s is enthusiastic about both plays as he extended an invitation to potential audiences, saying, “Come, my friend, and see a play about life, about money, because it interests everybody. I think that you can recognise events and feelings and thoughts of your own life.” He encouraged theatregoers to embrace the unique experience of witnessing an entire life unfold in just one hour, embracing the dramatic and comedic aspects that mirror real-life complexities.
More information about Dough by David Lescot can be found here.
