We sat down with Oliver Ayres to discuss their new play I’m Ready To Talk Now, playing as part of Edinburgh Festival at the Traverse Theatre from the 30th of July to the 24th of August. Get your tickets here.
Hi Ollie, Thanks for talking to us, could you tell us a little about your upcoming Fringe show I’m Ready to Talk Now?
Hi! Thanks so much for having me. ‘I’m Ready To Talk Now’ is a one-on-one immersive piece of theatre about chronic illness and identity. This current blurb feels a little reductive – it’s a complex piece that does its very best to defy categorisation. Essentially it sits between theatre, performance art, and art installation, and blurs the boundaries between spectator and performer. It really does have to be experienced to be understood.
How are you feeling about bringing I’m Ready to Talk Now to Fringe? What are you most looking forward to?
Lots of feelings. Scared, hopeful, proud. Edinburgh Fringe has been on my bucket list for a long time now – I guess above all else I feel lucky.
It was a real moment of seeing all the work I have been doing for the better part of a decade cascade into this absolute tidal wave of good news. It’s quite an overwhelming feeling. I’m beginning to have a pavlovian response to getting emails at night as, due to the time difference, all of my most exciting moments for the past four months have been happening between midnight and three o’clock in the morning.
I’m looking forward to all of it. I’ve been to Edinburgh Fringe twice before (once as a very young performer, and once for fun), and have visited Edinburgh outside of Fringe season as well. It is truly one of my favourite cities in the world. One of my favourite things to do is walk down the mile with outstretched palms and see how many flyers I can catch, then use the randomness of that experience to plan the rest of my day.
I’m Ready to Talk Now is performed to one audience member at a time and certain aspects of the performance can be adapted to each individual. Can you tell us more about the creation process of the performance?
This project arrived in me almost totally complete – I just had to realise it. The development of the show has been happening on and off since 2019 when I first performed the proof of concept as a first year at drama school. It’s changed a lot, mostly due to funding and support, but the atmosphere and tone has stayed steady throughout the years.
The show is adaptable based on access needs, and works under the belief that all people have these needs – disabled or non-disabled. Everyone is offered the same range of options to choose from, and I think some people would be surprised to learn how many non-disabled people prefer to watch something with captions, or have a tactile tour of the space, or use the fidget devices we have in the room. It’s about how many creatively embedded avenues I can provide to give people a way to absorb the work.
What are you hoping for audiences to take away from I’m Ready to Talk Now?
A sense of connection, empathy. There are, of course, political undertones to the work, but it is very subtle. I want that 45 minutes I get with a person to change them in some way. From what I’ve seen, people tend to leave with a gentleness about them, some kind of vulnerability is exposed in almost everyone. But I don’t tell anyone how they should feel about what I give them – it’s the giving that is important.
You’ll be performing eight times a day, how are you planning to unwind after performances or on a day off? Any Tips?
I will most likely be asleep, or trying to catch whatever shows I can. My eight shows a day will be in two blocks, with a large break in between. I’m honestly planning on sleeping in shifts and splitting my day in two to keep up with the workload.
Where can audiences see your show?
At Traverse Theatre, in Traverse Above – a new venue that will host ‘I’m Ready To Talk Now’ for the entire festival.