Described in quite simple terms as “just people talking about their lives, loves and longings,” Una McKevitt’s Singlehood is theatre without the theatre. To be held upstairs in the Project Arts Centre, the show explores life without a sig. other.
What’s the show about?
We interviewed fifty people and it’s essentially an exploration of what being single is like. ‘Single’ isn’t really defined. Is it that you get to sleep with anyone, or that nobody fancies you, or you don’t fancy anybody? I put the ‘-hood’ at the end because I felt there wasn’t a group think about it, I wanted there to be a sense of community.
Would you describe it as documentary theatre?
Usually I work with things that have actually happened. And I love interviewing people. This has been a funny one, I’m interviewing strangers and by the end it’s so personal you feel you really know them.
In your other work you often deal with disenfranchised individuals whose stories aren’t being told. Does that apply to single people?
Maybe. Being single is something I hadn’t thought about and that I didn’t fully understand. I wouldn’t say that I see being single as being on the frontiers. In terms of theatre, I simply don’t think there’s been anything recently that has placed being single as a focal point as this show does.
What’s the most surprising fact you’ve discovered interviewing people?
I suppose that no matter what assumptions you make about somebody – that they’re beautiful, rich, lucky, privileged, successful – every single person I’ve interviewed lacks confidence in some way that has had an impact on their relationship status. One person’s pain always seems to be really similar to somebody else’s.
Do you think it’s relevant to study ‘being single’ now because it’s mutating?
Absolutely. If you meet someone in their 70’s today, who’s never been married, you’re going to wonder why that is. But I think future generations won’t even bat an eyelid. It’s becoming so much easier. A lot of people we interviewed really championed being single.
What’s the structure of the show?
There’s nine performers telling funny/sad stories. Then there’s this comedy duo “The Guilty Folk”- they’re great musicians, take the piss and keep the show buoyant. I really want it to be a good night out. Of the people we interviewed, the vast majority of them when asked “Do you feel you’re living an interesting life?” answered “Yes” – so being single really is a positive thing we should celebrate.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6upzDQIlSHw
Words: Roisin Agnew
