We sat down for a quick chat with Olivia Lindsay ahead of her latest project, Conversations After Sex
As the artistic director of Ye You Productions, what drew you to Conversations After Sex for the company’s debut production, and how do you see it resonating with London audiences?
I was drawn to Conversations After Sex for its raw, honest exploration of relationships, intimacy, and human connection. The play’s witty yet poignant dialogue struck a chord with me, as it reveals the complexities of emotions and the vulnerability we often try to hide as men and women.
For London audiences, I see this play being incredibly impactful because it speaks to the modern-day experience of navigating relationships in an ever-changing world. London is such a diverse and dynamic city, and Conversations After Sex provides a fresh lens through which to explore the intricate layers of human interaction—whether it’s through humour or the more introspective moments. The play’s candid nature and its ability to address deep emotional truths make it both relatable and thought-provoking.
The play explores themes of grief, loneliness, and intimacy in a very raw and unfiltered way. As both a producer and actor in the production, how do you navigate the emotional depth of the role while shaping the broader vision for the show?
This has been both extremely challenging and rewarding. As an actor, I’ve had to dive deep into the emotional landscape of the character, allowing myself to be vulnerable and present in each moment. It’s important to honour the complexity of the emotions while staying true to the honesty of the script.
At the same time, as a producer, my role is to ensure the broader vision of the show is cohesive guiding the team to create a space where those raw emotions can come to life authentically. Balancing the emotional intensity of the role with the responsibility of overseeing the production means I have to stay grounded in both aspects: deeply connecting with my character while keeping a clear eye on the larger picture of the storytelling and the audience’s experience. This dual perspective allows me to create a performance that feels not only genuine but also serves the collective vision of the production
Your stage career spans a wide range of roles, from Yerma to Eigengrau and The Least We Could Do. How does your experience in those productions inform your approach to playing ‘She’ in Conversations After Sex?
All those roles have deeply shaped my approach to playing ‘She’ in CAS.
They have given me a stronger understanding of how to embody vulnerability and truth on stage. ‘She’ is a character who exists in a deeply intimate and emotionally charged space, navigating desire, grief, and self-discovery.
Having explored such a range of emotions in my past work, I feel more equipped to bring authenticity and nuance to this role. I’ve learned how to balance restraint with emotional release, which is crucial in portraying ‘She’s’ journey. It’s also vital, to have fun with her, she is silly and sexy and extremely witty.
I find, the rehearsal period is just as sacred as opening night. So, it’s important to keep exploring and trying new things up until the end of the run.
The play has already received critical acclaim in Ireland and Off-Broadway. With this new London production, are there any fresh creative directions or interpretations that you and director Jess Edwards are bringing to the piece?
Jess and I were keen to honour the importance of working with an Irish script. We’ve found a perfect balance between preserving its rich cultural essence and ensuring it resonates deeply with this new setting.
While the heart of the play remains the same, our key focus has been on refining the intimacy and realism of the piece, ensuring that every moment feels deeply authentic.
We’ve also taken a slightly different approach to the staging and pacing, allowing for more space in certain moments to let the silence and subtext speak volumes. The text is profoundly truthful and rooted in naturalism. We’re curious to introduce more expressive storytelling in the transitions between scenes – creating a satisfying tension between the naturalistic and the expressive.
Jess has a brilliant eye for uncovering new layers in the text, and together we’ve been finding nuances that bring a fresh perspective to the character dynamics.
Additionally, we’ve been working very closely with the design team to create an atmosphere that feels both intimate and cinematic. I can’t wait for the audience to experience what we have in store.
You can find more about this performance here.