This October, fell, Chris Salt’s moving new play, exploring the friendship and challenges between two troubled teenagers growing up in the Lake District, is set to have its London premiere ahead of a tour of England.
fell’s cast will feature Ned Cooper (Treasure Island, Hall for Cornwall, Spark, Arcola Theatre and The Full Monty, Disney+) and Tom Claxton (A Manchester Anthem, Vault Festival, as well as appearing in SAS Rogue Heroes, BBC, and George Clooney’s forthcoming film The Boys in the Boat, MGM). The production is designed by Jane Linz Roberts (Everything Goes, a collaboration with the Manic Street Preachers at the Sherman Theatre Cardiff.).
Produced by Edgeways Productions and directed by Janys Chambers, fell, will open in London at the Barons Court Theatre from 2 to 7 October and then tours till 29 October, with the final two performances at the Arcola Theatre, London.
Your new play fell is coming to Barons Court Theatre, what can you tell us about the play?
‘fell’ is the story of an unlikely friendship forged in the shadow of the Cumbrian fells, a relationship that unfolds against the stunning backdrop of the Lakes and also has to weather its unpredictability and danger. Two young lads on the cusp of adulthood navigate the landscape, life, and each other as they struggle to understand, and survive, a world that doesn’t seem to want them.
What inspired you to write it?
The Lake District is just an inspiring place, isn’t it. I remember going camping with mates when I was about 15 and loving the freedom but being also slightly in awe of the place. I remember feeling so grown up – being allowed to just plan our own routes and days – and at the same time feeling so small. I remember being unsure of what my mates were thinking or feeling and steering well clear of anything that could be loosely described as ‘emotions’ so when I thought about writing a play around two lads on the cusp of adulthood those thoughts and memories came back to me. With the benefit of hindsight, that juxtaposition of adolescence and the mutability of the landscape seemed made for each other.
What’s it been like working with director Janys Chambers?
Although the play is about two boys (and I never hear the end of that from my two daughters who are both actors!) ‘fell’ owes its theatrical life to two brilliant women, director Janys Chambers and producer, Deborah Dickinson. They picked up the script, after it came runner-up in the national new writing prize run by Bolton Octagon, and enthused and cajoled and pushed until we got an Arts Council Grant to work with the play and get it to performance. Without their faith and genius and expertise it just would not have happened, and I will be forever grateful to them both.
Janys is forensic when it comes to the script, going through line by line with me to ensure she understood what I wanted to achieve; vigorously questioning and probing so that when it came to the rehearsal room she was the script’s (my) champion and ambassador. The whole process has been both validating and humbling.
And tell us a little about the cast that will perform fell?
So this is slightly previous since we haven’t started rehearsals with this cast but …
It was such a tough ask to cast this play. A cast of a (nearly) 15 year old and a 17 year old carrying the whole thing so, perhaps too big of an ask for very young actors and, yet, if we cast too old then somehow the dynamics would be slightly ‘off’. What we have in Tom and Ned is a cast that’s experienced, trained in the schools of drama AND life, a northern sensibility and a bravery in their work. I’m in awe of both of them.
After London the play will tour, what are you looking forward to most about taking it out on the road?
We did a pilot tour just before lockdown in Cumbria and the North West and what was most satisfying about that experience, apart from it being a sell-out, was that nearly 50% of our audiences had never seen a play before or never been in a theatre before. We’re touring some pretty iconic theatres when we leave London and that’s a huge privilege but we’re also going to a bunch of village halls in the Lakes and Northumberland and I’m hoping we will attract new audiences again alongside those passionate theatre supporters.
What would you say to anyone thinking of booking to see fell?
It’s a two-hander, it’s 75min packed with drama, comedy and weather, it’s about growing up and all that that involves (everything) and it’s moving and sweet and it’s brilliantly acted. I hope it will leave you smiling, and I hope it stays with you.
fell opens at the Barons Court Theatre in London from 2-7 Oct- https://www.baronscourttheatre.com/fell-by-chris-saltfrom – and It then tours till 29 October. https://www.edgewaysproductions.co.uk/fell
