Written and performed by Paulus of BBC 1’s All Together Now, Looking For Me Friend: The Music of Victoria Wood plays in the Drawing Room at the Assembly Rooms throughout August 2022 as part of the Edinburgh Festival Fringe.
Come and celebrate her unforgettable characters, songs and sketches with this funny and touching tribute to the much-loved national treasure. Directed by Sarah-Louise Young with musical direction by Michael Roulston.
Looking For Me Friend, written and performed by Paulus, is at Assembly Rooms 3rd – 28th August at 2:30pm.
You’re bringing Looking For Me Friend: The Music of Victoria Wood to Edinburgh Fringe, what can you tell us about the show?
I share the stage with pianist and old pal, Michael Roulston – proving that it takes two men to do the job of one woman: half as well!
How did your love of Victoria Wood’s work inspire this show?
It is entirely the crux of our show – I believe that in the 80s and 90s Wood inadvertently created a modern polari for queer boys like Michael and I living up in rural England in a time when people were far less tolerant of anyone different. We literally used her catchphrases to find our friends – and some lovers too!
Why do you think audiences love these comedic songs so much?
Not all the songs in the show are comedic; one 20 yr old audience member who came today told me she cried three times – and she’s never seen any of Wood’s work before in her life. Whether hilarious – and there are many very funny ones in our show – or poignant, Vic went to the heart of the matter and always found the truth that we in the UK lived and live.
What’s the biggest challenge for you in bringing this music to the stage?
Victoria’s work is very wordy – it’s a bit like doing a marathon for the mouth. I used to give myself a hard time about making mistakes, but then a kind audience member reminded me that Vic herself usually only sang two or three songs per night – I’m doing 12 in one hour and a script to weave them all together!
How has director Sarah-Louise Young helped you bring it all to life?
Sarah and I have been best friends since we were 13 years old, and her own hugely successful shows about Julie Andrews and Kate Bush have been the models I wanted to work from. Sarah understands how to guide an audience, make them feel safe and leave no-one behind in a way few other theatre makers can manifest. I watched An Evening Without Kate Bush tonight for the first time in 2 years and was blown away by her artistry all over again.
What would you say to anyone thinking of booking to see Looking For Me Friend?
Bring a friend, bring a tissue, and bring your pregnancy-strength tights in case you wet yourself laughing.
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