THESE GIRLS present Bible John, written by Caitlin McEwan. It runs at at Vault Festival – Forge, Leake St, London, SE1 7NN, from 12 — 16 Feb.
It is 1969 at the Barrowlands Ballroom in Glasgow. Three women are murdered by an Old Testament – quoting serial killer, later nicknamed Bible John. He has never been caught.
In 2019, four temps discover they share a morbid obsession with true crime, and with one podcast in particular: a reinvestigation into the Bible John murders by American journalist Carrie LaRue. As their fascination takes hold, they immerse themselves into the world of 1960s Glasgow, in an attempt to solve the case once and for all.
Partly a retelling of one of Scotland’s darkest unsolved crimes, and partly an interrogation into the ethics of true crime as entertainment, Bible John is a riotous, furious, joyful exploration into violence and gender.
The Artiscape spoke to Louise Waller about her role in the play:
Can you tell us why you wanted to be involved in this project?
Waller: I was so excited to be offered the chance to be a part of “Bible John” as I am one of those (many) people who had always been interested in true crime stories, and had always been fascinated but confused about my interest. This play allows the audience to explore the why people, particularly women, are so fascinated by true crime and how this can effect us in our every day life.
Can you tell us about the character you play?
Waller: My character is the one in the group obsessed with the facts; if its not a fact, she’s not interested! She doesn’t get swept up in the theories or speculations of the other characters. She’s articulate and thorough in her research, but definitely not afraid to have a laugh in the process!
What do you find exciting about being a part of this?
Waller: I love how fast paced the play is, and how we have been able to experiment with different styles of storytelling for each part of the story. It’s certainly been challenging at times but worth every moment for the finished product.
What do you think an audience will love about the show?
Waller: What’s so brilliant about this play is that although it explores serious themes, it’s also funny and playful. I think audiences will enjoy engaging on a lighter level but also be able to leave reflective and thoughtful on the topics raised.
