We sat down for an exclusive interview with Martha Geelan, director of In The Land of Eagles. Performing at The Pleasance during EdFringe this sweeping story unveils the legacy of Albania and the self determination of its people, whilst subtly highlighting contemporary themes of national identity, resistance against oppression and the complexities of power.
What resonated most deeply with you on a personal level when you first read Alex Reynolds’ script for In the Land of Eagles?
This is a piece about family. It’s about a young woman trying to understand her place in the world. It’s about the complex intersection of history and geography and identity. And most of all, it’s a love letter to the people who have come before us; the power of that, the discomfort of it, the ongoing internal quest to understand who we are and where we come from.
How did you approach directing a story that blends intimate family memory with a lesser-known national history like Albania’s?
One of the things I love most about this piece is that we, the audience, learn about Albania as the character does. She knows no more or less than us as her journey of discovery begins. The character’s intention to understand Albania is so intertwined with her want to understand herself that, in that sense, the family memory and the national history feel one and the same.
Were there any moments in the rehearsal room where the emotional truth of the play surprised even you?
Lots! The piece is full of surprises, I think, emotional and otherwise.
How do you balance theatrical poetry and humour with the underlying themes of loss and identity in your direction of the piece?
My taste, and Alex’s too, is that humour and lightness of touch can be fundamental in accessing and dealing with difficult themes. This is a character trying to process huge feelings of loss and grief and identity – but she’s also just a person. And in this context, she’s our friend. We are hers. She needs us to go with her on her journey and a crucial part of that is making us like her, charming us, finding ways to divert and cope conversationally with the discomfort of what she’s trying to confront.
What conversations do you hope this story will spark between generations who come to see it together?
I hope this will remind people how special and exciting and emotional it can be to think about where we’ve all come from. I hope this will remind people how much there is to be learned from what came before us. I hope this will remind someone to call their grandpa. It reminded me.
As a director, what was the most challenging—and most rewarding—element of bringing such a deeply personal and culturally specific story to life for a Fringe audience?
Being entrusted with this story has been a real honour. Being a part of Alex’s journey of discovery into her history and her identity has been such a joy. My job is to make sure audiences feel that too. And with the incredible team we have assembled, with Alex’s engaging, captivating performance of her own words, I have absolutely no doubt they will.
In the Land of Eagles by Alex Reynolds is presented by Natalie Allison Productions and directed by Martha Geelan. The production will premiere at Edinburgh Fringe 2025, 15:00 at Pleasance Courtyard, Baby Grand, 30 July – Monday 25 August.
https://www.pleasance.co.uk/event/land-eagles