‘I’m inspired by urgency, and this conversation felt urgent’, Q&A: Travis Alabanza on Burgerz, feature

——————-

 

For me, it is always about turning a personal experience into one that can be part of a wider political lesson and thought. I let the personal experience settle, I process some of it and then I think about how it fits into a wider moment of time. Although my issue was personal, the attacks and harm that goes to the trans community is not – that is structural, widespread, and growing. My experience fits into this and therefore I knew I needed to speak about it. I’m inspired by urgency, and this conversation felt urgent. Why did no one on a busy bridge stand up and protect me? Why did another friend experience something similar the week after? What will it take for people to do something? The urgency in these questions meant the theatre piece felt needed.

 

 

Although this work has lots of personal reflection, I wonder if it’s fully autobiographical. I’m very interested in creating a show that does not just retell my story, or my life, but actively looks for action from the audience. For me, that gets around the challenges I may have had with purely autobiographical work. Burgerz feels as much about you (the audience) as it does me (the performer). In fact, the lines feel pretty blurred.

 

My last theatre show of a large scale was Jubilee (Royal Exchange, Lyric Hammersmith). Although I was the lead, I had the support of a large cast to fall back on. Being on my own on stage is not a new process for me, but definitely having a smaller rehearsal room (and all eyes on me) is a new challenge. If I switch off, so does the room. If I take a break, so does the room. If I want a cigarette….so does the…room? I’ve been lucky to have performed quite a lot over the last four years, but there is something about the focus and discipline a solo show requires that has been both challenging and exciting. I love it… but I definitely am excited for a holiday soon.

 

I hope audiences will spring into action. I hope this is a show that provokes not just conversation, but a change in behaviours. I love theatre and art that makes people spill out the room bursting to talk to the person next to them, or ring a friend, or text someone, or change something – and I hope that Burgerz can do that.

 

Wow! There are so many so I will just try and name a few different people. Selina Thompson is a real mentor to me. Scottee’s show The Worst of Scottee was one of the first solo shows I saw, and showed me a lot of what making work could be like. Nando Messias (who is also the movement director on Burgerz) made a show called Shoot the Sissy which definitely has affected Burgerz. Black trans artists like Malik Nashad Sharpe and Daniel Brathwaite Shirley always push me to continue. ALOK Vaid-Menon is someone everyone should look up. 

 

I mean, we haven’t finished this one yet! I’m excited to live in the present of Burgerz and experience this fully. But in the new year, I’m looking forward to some collaborative works I have coming out with some other performance artists. I’m looking forward to what those collaborations and forms will bring!