We sat down for an exclusive interview with Chanel McKenzie, writer of The Institution of Failed Artists, part of Theatre Peckham’s Young, Gifted and Black season.
This show runs from 23-24th October at Theatre Peckham – Tickets here
The Institution of Failed Artists turns creative failure into a dystopian spectacle — what inspired you to reimagine the artist’s struggle in such a visceral, high-stakes world?
Drawing on the competitive nature of the creative industry, my key theatrical interests are escapism and concepts that are non naturalistic. I wanted to create a world where the heightened nature of auditions and creative endeavours are represented, the black and white nature of yes’s and no’s and the all or nothing culture of success, the world created in the play allows us to question the systems in place and who is responsible for artists exposure and career path. Many people refer to industry difficulties or sporting sectors as “the game”. I wanted to create a game-like feel and give the audience an insight into what it’s like to play and how tough you have to be to survive.
The play’s concept of a “militant institution for failing artists” feels both satirical and terrifying — what truths about the creative industry were you hoping to expose or exaggerate?
The play shines a light on the emotional pressure cooker people can go through trying to achieve success. It represents and exaggerates the gatekeepers and the power that they have, it also highlights herd mentality and how much other people’s opinions can be imperative for success, we as a collective have the power to empower artists and celebrate them, this show highlights the thousands that struggle and go unnoticed.
How does Rubes’ journey reflect your own experiences navigating rejection, ambition, and survival as an artist?
As an artist myself from a working class background, I’ve had my fair share of navigating rejection and working several jobs to survive, I relate deeply to those hustling, grinding, and doing their best to pursue their dreams in oversaturated industries, the show highlights Rubes’s determination, sacrifice and belief which is unwavering, though it leaves us questioning what is important in life and how success is measured, should we aim for what society encourages or do we question what really makes us happy? How much should we have to sacrifice for our goals and how can systems and institutions make this more balanced for us all.
The piece sits at the crossroads of music, theatre, and rebellion — how did you approach blending those forms to tell this story?
I love music and I love rap, I wanted the show to feel dynamic and distinct. We worked on blending songs that felt fun, free and told a story, enjoying creativity and the fluidity of creation, the music and the time spent making and writing should represent the positive parts of artistry, the stage before people put their work out and it becomes for others, it was important to me to show the essence of why people do what they do.
As the institution grows more dangerous, the story mirrors the pressure many artists feel to “make it” — what message do you hope resonates most with audiences?
I hope the audience reflects on the difficulties of artists that haven’t been on a linear journey, recognising the emphasis on public opinion. I hope they feel empathy and take into account every artist has a different story, race, socio economic background, family circumstances, these factors can become barriers and systems in place of their goals. I hope the audience feels inspired by the determination and the grit and finds compassion for anyone that has a dream and is trying to pursue it.
The Institution of Failed Artists feels timely in an era of constant self-promotion and burnout — what do you think it says about the cost of creating art today?
In this era of self promotion, the demands of selling yourself as an artist are extremely high. You’re encouraged to have content on all social media platforms and that the only way to be seen is to put yourself out there as much as possible. The cost of creating art can be time consuming and often costs money, in a country where we’re struggling with the cost of living crisis, the resources required to thrive seem at an incredibly high price, burnout is very common in our creative fields and we all need to continue to look after ourselves as much as possible.