This London premiere, solo show is a darkly comedic takedown of a capitalist society obsessed with attaching morality to our bodies. It is written and performed by Kate Sumpter on a spin bike. Spoiler Alert: It’s our society.
Directed by Sarah Jane Schostack, Spin runs at Arcola Theatre from 9 January – 20 January 2024.
Join an aspiring spin instructor as her enthusiastic attempts to create the perfect class are derailed by a forced journey of self-discovery. What starts as your average spin class, featuring tight lycra and sexy beats, soon gets weird(er?).
The Instructor has big questions to ask: Is the industry she loves actually helping people? Why can’t she remember that weird dream? Does anyone else hear screams of terror?
The Artiscape spoke the Sumpter about this one-woman show.
What inspired you to write this one person show?
Sumpter: During the pandemic I found myself watching a lot of exercise videos that fitness instructors were filming in their own homes. There was a positivity and drive to them but also a sadness and desperation that I found intriguing. I had the idea to film a fake exercise video in my apartment where I would play a spin instructor who, despite her best efforts at staying upbeat, slowly has a nervous breakdown over the course of the class. That idea kept evolving until it became the stage play SPIN.
You perform the entire show on a spin bike, what are the challenges in doing a performance using exercise equipment?
Sumpter: Unfortunately my drama training did not involve methods for avoiding thigh chafe which is a grievous oversight in my opinion. I also have to be careful not to get too out of breath as my character talks A LOT (an understandable hazard of the solo show).
What are you looking forward to in performing this show?
Sumpter: I’ve done some script edits since the Edinburgh Fringe Festival and I’m really excited to see how the new material plays. There are some new jokes that are particularly silly; even if no one else likes them I’ll be enjoying them very much!
What do you think an audience will take from this show?
Sumpter: I think there is a lot of unprocessed trauma in our relationships with our bodies. I hope that the show gives people an opportunity to recognise it, laugh about it, and maybe let some of it go and like they should be a bit kinder to themselves and others.
Spin runs at Arcola Theatre from 9 January – 20 January 2024.
