Rosana Cade and Ivor MacAskil return to BAC’s Grand Hall with The Making Of Pinocchio following a successful international tour.
Artists and lovers Cade and MacAskill have been creating The Making of Pinocchio since 2018, alongside and in response to Ivor’s gender transition. Responding creatively to the changes happening in their relationship, they became excited about the imaginative potential of working with the story of Pinocchio to reframe trans narratives and ways that they could use the story of a lying puppet who wants to be a ‘real boy’, to explore ideas around authenticity, shifting truths, and what it means to be seen as ‘real.’
A true tale of love and transition told through the story of Pinocchio but set in a fictional film studio. Audiences are invited to go behind the scenes of Rosana Cade and Ivor MacAskill’s creative process as well as their relationship, questioning what it takes to tell your truth.
The Making of Pinocchio runs 1 – 10 November as part of BAC’s Autumn 2023 Season. More information can be found here.
The Making of Pinocchio is coming to Battersea Arts Centre, what can you tell us about the show?
The Making of Pinocchio is a spectacular cinematic and theatrical performance, which we took 4 years to make in response to our experience of gender transition as a couple.
It’s set in a fictional film studio, and we invite the audience behind the scenes of our creative process and our relationship, and question what it takes to tell your truth. Audiences get to see the mechanics of what is really happening live on stage at the same time as the fantastical images which are created through the camera’s lens and projected on a large screen. It’s a bit like watching a beautiful film at the cinema whilst also watching it being made behind the screen!
Using the story of Pinocchio (a lying puppet who wants to be a ‘real boy’) as an imperfect trans narrative, the piece deals with what it means to make autobiographical work and to put queer/trans bodies ‘in the frame’, as well as celebrating the importance of fantasy and imagination in queer world making. It’s been called ‘the queer love story of the year’; ‘Unmissable’; ‘Breath-taking’; ‘Full of humour and tenderness’.
What inspired you to create it?
We’ve been together as a couple for nearly 10 years and have made performance work about our queer identities during this time. When Ivor came out as trans in 2018 we knew this would have an impact on our relationship so we wanted to explore this creatively. Up until that point we had identified as lesbians.
We were searching around for other representations of couples going through transition but found that it was so often presented as a drama, with the couple splitting up, we felt compelled to make something that felt more true to our experience, and that centres queer joy, pleasure, and love.
Why did you think the story of Pinocchio fitted so well with what was happening in your own lives?
Using the story of Pinocchio, the lying puppet who wants to be a real boy, we were able to open up questions around what it means to be seen as real, and to have to prove your legitimacy to others. It gave us a playful framework to exploit ideas of truth and authenticity onstage.
Also, Pinocchio is full of imaginative imagery and fantastical transformations, it helped us to bring a sense of magic and possibility to our stories.
The show has toured internationally, how have audiences responded and what are you looking forward to about bringing it to London?
We’ve had hugely positive responses from audiences across the world. The work is experienced on different levels – sometimes people find it very moving or surprising, and in some places the humour shines through more strongly.
We’re excited about bringing it back to London where we believe there is a connection to our sense of humour, as well as an understanding of the importance of telling positive trans stories. Also, we feel connected to the queer community in London, and have both friends and family in the area so it will feel special to play for this crowd.
We Presented it at Battersea Arts Centre in 2022 as part of London International Festival of Theatre and we already know it looks absolutely stunning in the Grand Hall, so it will be a visual treat!
What will be the biggest challenge for you with this show?
The Making of Pinocchio is a piece that at its heart celebrates trans joy and the glorious potential of transformation. But, sometimes it’s hard to hold onto that when in the UK particularly, trans lives are being weaponised in the political culture wars and we know that a lot of our siblings are really struggling. And as the makers and performers it can feel vulnerable to put ourselves out there and articulate our experiences.
But that’s why we know it’s more important than ever to share work like this that is positive, moving and affirming. And we know that audiences appreciate this generosity and are ready for a good night out at the theatre.
What would you say to anyone thinking of booking to see The Making of Pinocchio?
Book now! It’s a show unlike any other being performed in a beautiful space at BAC. It’s warm, funny, empathetic and romantic and if you’ve forgotten why you love live performance it will remind you as we revel in the magic of the theatre.
Also, we’ve worked hard to make the show as accessible as possible. Every performance is a relaxed performance – so you’re welcome to come as you need to and move around. There are specially designed integrated creative captions. There is a wellbeing practitioner present on some evenings, and a chill out space available.
The Making of Pinocchio is at Battersea Arts Centre 1-10 November, to book go to: https://bac.org.uk/whats-on/the-making-of-pinocchio-2023/
