Emily Woof brings her one-woman show BLIZZARD to the Soho Theatre following its hit run at the Edinburgh Fringe prior to its run at New York’s 59East59 Theatre.
Blizzard marks Emily’s return to solo stage work since her landmark trilogy of plays Sex II, Sex III and Revolver. Since then she has enjoyed a successful career as both a writer and a performer.
Emily Woof will be at Soho Theatre with BLIZZARD 7th to 25th May 2024.
You’re bringing Blizzard to Soho Theatre, what can you tell us about the show?
It’s a comic and poetical adventure for the mind and the soul! The premise of the story is simple. A neuroscientist falls ill just before an important conference in Switzerland, where he is supposed to give a keynote lecture. He asks his partner to attend the conference on his behalf, even though she has no knowledge of his research and dislikes public speaking.
Despite her reluctance, she agrees to go. When she reaches Switzerland, things start to unravel in strange and surreal ways. I don’t want to spoil the story, but she goes on a journey of discovery involving dance, sex, the philosopher Friedrich Nietzsche, loss, and natural disaster.
What first inspired you to write it?
I received Research Council funding to write a new novel using dance. During my research I discovered that the philosopher Friedrich Nietzsche loved dancing. He said “any day without dance is a day wasted”. I became fascinated with him and felt I’d found a kindred spirit. His life and work was the initial inspiration for the show.
It was a big success in Edinburgh and is also headed to New York, why do you think audiences related so well to it?
The show isn’t afraid to ask questions but it does so in a light and deceptive way. It’s very funny and people love to laugh. It takes you on a journey you don’t expect to go on. The audience feels in good hands. They trust me and the writing. Once I have their trust we go on the journey together.
You also perform the show, what do you enjoy most about performing your own work?
I like the immediacy of it. I’ve spent a long time writing novels squirrelled away in my study, so it feels great to be out there, with an audience, to feel their presence and the interact with them. It makes me feel alive.
And what’s the biggest challenge bringing a show like this to the stage?
It can be challenging staging your own work but I’ve been incredibly lucky to have great support from Conrad Lynch and Shared Experience. The show is now being produced by Soho Theatre which is fantastic. I love the venue, the people there, and how it’s run. It’s vibrant and enterprising and teeming with new ideas and new work. It feels like a great home for the work.
What would you say to anyone thinking of booking to see Blizzard?
Come! You’ll have a funny and thought-provoking time. And hopefully it will also touch your heart.
