Jack Nurse on bringing ‘The Events’ to Cumbernauld

Tonight, at Lanternhouse in Cumbernauld, a modern Scottish classic will take the stage once more. Leading ‘The Events’ from the Director’s chair is Jack Nurse of community theatre champions, Wonder Fools. First staged in 2013, David Grieg’s hit play went from the Fringe to the Young Vic in the same year. A deeply personal story tracking a lone shooter’s devastating impact upon a local community and their pastor, it’s not an undertaking for the weak of heart.

So, how is Jack finding his time in charge of someone else’s text? We sat down for a chat a few days ago…

“It was about this time last year,” Jack tells me, ” that I discovered that Cumbernauld was doing a new production of the play. I was well aware of ‘The Events’, it’s sat on my bookshelf for years. I didn’t catch it when it opened, but the talk was immense. When I heard it was in the pipeline, I reached out immediately!

I was always struck by its thematic richness, and the unique form: one actor playing a single character, the minister, whilst the other plays everyone else. It’s not style for style’s sake, and it’s not remotely superficial.

When you throw in the chance to build and involve a community choir – well it was right up my street and ticked every box!”

Is it all Jack hoped it would be?

“Yeah! It’s really exciting, and the first play in a while that I haven’t written myself or with Robbie (Gordon – the other leading figure of Wonder Fools), or someone else.

It’s the first time in a while I’ve directed an existing text. You can take off the dramaturg hat, and look at things differently. It’s more about interpretation.”

“When I heard it was in the pipeline, I reached out immediately!”

Where does Jack’s interpretation begin?…

“Well, it begins solid and natural but slips towards the abstract as it continues. Choices have to be made, as a director, to keep it coherent, but also exciting and theatrical. It’s a rewarding challenge to direct and experience – I hope!

I say the Community Choir aspect sounds like prime Wonder Fools stuff…when I spoke to Robbie before he took the stage in their excellent Fringe show, Oran, he was already waxing lyrical…

“It’s been a real joy to sort the choir. Our desire was to create a new group from scratch, so we could try and represent Cumbernauld and North Lanark in its breadth and depth. We wanted to bring people together who wouldn’t necessarily know each otherwise – and we’ve really achieved this.

We’ve been working on a weekly basis, having such a brilliant time getting to know everyone, their heart and commitment. The positive energy they bring to the process is fundamental to what the show is.

Some shots from the ‘The Events’ rehearsal room – © Sartorial Pictures

They are on stage the whole time! They don’t just have songs to sing, they are a fundamental part, and witness to the show in every way.

Why, I ask, does Jack think the play has remained so relevant?

“It’s only gained in significance since it was first staged. The headlines have been awful of late: riots, the rise of the far right along with controversial figures like Andrew Tate. The pernicious effect on young men has been particularly bad. We may not suffer from the same degree of gun violence in this country, but we have the same root causes at play out there. It really feels like the play is speaking to the world right now.

In terms of theatre, it’s a very thematically urgent piece, whilst still being exciting to an audience. It’s thrilling, and that thrill drives the experience. It’s just brilliant.

Talking of entertaining the audience, how has it been working with Claire Lamont who plays minister Claire, and Sam Stopford who plays The Boy?

Claire and Sam are such brilliant actors first and foremost. It’s a technical challenge for both: a real emotional arc for Claire, and a hat changing challenge for Sam. He has such a range of people to represent, but what he does cleverly is to keep his performances rooted in this place of believability: there’s clarity and a sense of reflection of place in character.

They are lovely, brilliant people to work with. It’s a challenging text, but they’ve been incredibly generous collaborators. We’ve only just begun to bring the choir into rehearsals and the results have been electric.

“It’s thrilling, and that thrill drives the experience. It’s just brilliant.”

I finish by asking what Jack feels this new production brings to the text…

“One of the things about the original production is that it wasn’t designed for one venue. Our production is solely intended for Lanternhouse, we only have one choir. The integration has offered us so many more opportunities in terms of what the play can be.

I also think that Sam brings something unique to his representation of The Boy. Yes, he’s the villain, but we see the human as well, and how a young man can reach that point. It feels very important to speak about it, really right.

Claire, in response, offers a true sense of values, community and hope. They and the whole production have been everything and more than I hoped for. It’s been one of the more relaxed productions I’ve been involved with. The quality of the entire team has made a rich and challenging experience out of something that could have been totally overwhelming. It’ll be nice to get back to writing with Robbie after, of course, but this experience will doubtlessly inform what I produce hereafter.”

Featured Image: provided by show PR.

The Events is a Cumbernauld Theatre production in association with Wonder Fools