Zoe West talks on her role in new play ‘Out of Water’

“… And we are watching the huge grey waves crashing and this is the moment when I say I have to tell you something…”

Zoe Cooper’s new play, Out of Water, tells the story of a lesbian couple expecting a baby. Claire and her wife Kit have moved from the confines of London to the wide open coasts of South Shields, to be nearer family, to be nearer the sea and to put down roots.

Claire’s new job at the local school is a step up, and she wants to make a real difference, but she soon discovers that she has as much to learn from her students as they have from her…

An Orange Tree Theatre production in association with the Royal Shakespeare Company, Out of Water, runs from 27th April to the 1st of June. Lucy Briggs-Owen, Zoe West and Tilda Wickham star in the new play.

The Artiscape spoke with Zoe West on her role in the play.

We asked West, what attracted her to her role in the play?

“I was so excited when I read Out of Water for the first time, to find the play filled with parts that felt particularly poignant to me” says West. “I grew up in the North East of England, so being able to reconnect with my roots was really attractive, as well as the opportunity to play a Queer woman in a play which so delicately investigates gender roles.”

The play she explains “involves many characters, shared between 3 actors, which makes it a great opportunity to be really playful and bold with the choices we’re making. Though the pièce de résistance is, of course, getting to play a policewoman, I’m still waiting for ‘The Bill’ to ring.”

How would she describe the character she plays?
“Kit is a kind, loveable local bobby, who despite her best efforts to always please her wife, seems to end up falling short every now and again. She’s less articulate than she’d like to be (or perhaps she thinks she is), but has a quick wit and will never fail to make you smile. It’s a pleasure playing someone with such a passion for the traditions of the North East; eating a Gregg’s sausage roll every lunchtime and flirting with people old enough to be her Nan” says West.

 
What is West most looking forward to in taking part in the play?
“I’m thrilled to be working on such a colourful production, made by a group of heartful, creative, Queer people,” she tells us. “It’s a pleasure to be in the company of these artists and get to explore Zoe Cooper’s wonderful new play together, under Guy Jones’ gorgeous direction. The play also feels incredibly nostalgic to me, and every day in rehearsal feels like a brisk walk along the North East sea front – not always the easiest trip, but more rewarding than imaginable”.

Finally, we asked West, what she felt the audience will like about this production?

“Out of Water is bound to make people laugh, wince, scratch their heads, and fall in love – sometimes all at once,” she tells us. “It’s a playful piece of theatre-centred around characters we will all recognise from our own experiences, and it highlights people’s faults and flaws so delicately whilst still honouring their humanity. The play dives head first into Queer culture, the education system, and our relationships with the places we choose to call home.”

Zoe Cooper’s new play follows her hit play Jess and Joe Forever, which played at the Orange Tree in 2016 and Traverse in 2017 in a co-production with Farnham Maltings. Guy Jones (Joe White’s Mayfly) directs this joint commission between the OT and the Royal Shakespeare Company. The production is designed by Camilla Clarke, the lighting designer is Jess Bernberg, the Sound Designer & Composer is Helen Skiera and Casting Director is Matthew Dewsberry.

A  tender play about gender, wild swimming, and how we define who we are,Out of Water runs from 27 April 2019 — 1 June 2019 at the Orange Theatre Richmond.