Gabrielle MacPherson’s debut production of Outside enjoys it’s premiere at The Space this weekend, opening on 18 February, and running until 20 February.
The production follows Willa who hasn’t ever left her house until now. For 30 years, each moment of her life has been controlled, and she spent every night locked in her room. Now, she finds herself in a witness questioning suite, searching for evidence of her existence. She has slipped through the cracks of society and her only reality outside the house exists between the pages of the books her semi-absent father publishes.
But she can’t be hidden away anymore. A dark secret is about to come to light. Willa’s attempt at freedom can lead to nothing but more horrific revelations. Can revenge ever be justified?
The Artiscape spoke with Gabrielle MacPherson about the upcoming play.
MacPherson is a writer, performer and a co-founder of Degenerate Fox Theatre. As a writer she has been shortlisted for The Charlie Harthill Special Reserve Fund. Her credits as an actor include Fokin’ Bring It On Lads (Vault Festival), The Dirty Thirty (Rosemary Branch Theatre), What’s In The Box?, Our Time (Haringay Shed) and The Beasts (Courtyard Theatre).
You wrote a piece about someone who hasn’t been outside in 30 years, what inspired you to write this?
MacPherson: Haha, the irony is not lost on me! I started writing Outside in February last year with no idea of what was about to happen. The complete change of our lives and experiencing lockdowns has definitely helped me to understand what our protagonist, Willa, must have gone through for those 30 years.
The difference is it feels like normality to her because its all she has ever known.
Can you tell us what Outside is about?
MacPherson: Outside is about a woman who hasn’t ever been out of the house by herself before. We meet Willa as she suddenly finds herself in a witness protection suite looking for evidence of her existence.
We slowly start to learn why she finally left the house and why she is where is she.
How do you feel an audience in lockdown will relate to your character in these times?
MacPherson: Willa loves reading and crafts. I think they’ll relate to her finding things to entertain herself when she can’t go out!
Willa is wonderfully strange and definitely an individual. As she hasn’t been out on her own for 30 years, she has interesting techniques to pass the time. Although not all of them are good ones!
What were the challenges for you in creating this piece?
MacPherson: It has been a new experience for me to workshop a piece over Zoom. I have only ever performed rehearsed readings of Outside over video calls.
Willa loves running and dancing and jumping so I can’t wait to explore that with her. It’ll be exciting to get to walk as well as talk as Willa!
What do you feel are the challenges of performing a one-woman piece for a livestreamed audience compared to a stage performance?
MacPherson: The team working on Outside are brilliant, they are experienced in both film and theatre so when facing the difference in creating theatre for a livestreamed audience we are paying close attention to the hybrid of theatre for a screen.
Although I am on stage on my own I am in very good hands, the whole team are so talented. We are really committed to creating the world of Outside and making sure it works in a theatre space and translates to screen.
Outside opens tomorrow, running until 20 February. For more information visit https://space.org.uk/whats-on/
