I’m tired, I’m tired of trying to play the system, I’m tired of trying to fight the system and I’m tired of feeling tired about it.”
Directed by Mary Swan, Indestructible is a highly visual and fiercely theatrical show from award-winning Proteus that questions whether we can or should, separate the art from the artist. It asks how far do the ripples of consequence spread? It runs from 16th January to 3rd of February at Omnibus theatre, Clapham Common in London.
Catherine Shaw spent the 90s shocking the art world with her provocative performance art. She’s always called herself a feminist, but looking back through the lens of #MeToo, she’s questioning how much she enabled the culture she now sees being called out. An ambitious Curator approaches her to put together an exhibition of female Artists at a major new gallery; a scandal breaks and unwittingly caught in the centre, she begins to question everything.
Can we, and should we, separate the art from the artist? How far do the ripples of consequence spread? And why is it so often women who are expected to hold the moral space?
The Artiscape spoke with Danny Charles who plays Christian in the play.
What attracted you to the script?
Charles: Well, initially there was no script, just ideas, which we workshopped whilst Mary began to shape it into the script we now have. So, I suppose what really attracted me was the thought of working again, with Mary Swan. I love the process we go through, it’s always fun and hard work too.
Can you tell us about Christian, the character you play?
Charles: Christian is the Curator of the Moca Art gallery, a very insular man. He finds the idea of human contact really difficult. He loves the Art world and has a real passion for the artist. But, he‘s also not sure where he fits in society; Public school educated, black, gay and celibate. He has a high moral compass but is happy to exploit certain situations. Who is the real Christian?
What do you look forward to in performing in this play?
Charles: I’m curious what the audience will think about the piece, it’s fun in parts and quite thought provoking in others. But the thing I’m looking forward to the most, is the idea of performing with the fantastic Mary Rose and Paul Huntley Thomas. They are both talented and generous actors.
What do you feel an audience will enjoy about this play?
Charles: As I said, the play is fun, I hope they will laugh and be moved at the same time. The theatre I love the most, has me coming out of the auditorium and wanting to ask my fellow audience member, “what do you think?” I can see that there could be a rich debate after people come to see this show and I love the thought of that.
Danny Charles previous credits with Proteus include The Little Mermaid, The Arabian Nights, Macbeth, and A Christmas Carol (UK tours) and, as a writer, Talk to me. His theatre credits include Stripy Tales (Octagon Theatre Bolton), No Worries (Polka Theatre), Nervous Break-down (Croydon Warehouse), and Sleeping Beauty (Hoxton Hall).
This play runs from 16th January to 3rd of February at Omnibus theatre, 1 Clapham Common Northside
London SW4 0QW. To book tickets visit this website.
