We sat down with Holly Freeman, one of the performers in the electro-folk musical Precipice. Playing at New Diorama Theatre (NDT), marking the bold debut production from boundary-blurring new company Timelapse, this show is developed through a uniquely collaborative creative process.
Centuries apart, the residents of a towering high-rise arrive at a crossroads, taking shelter along the riverbank in Greenwich – the place where time begins and the world ends. In the near present, a biomedical emergency drives a young couple to confront their own complicity in the face of impending catastrophe.
Tickets here.
Holly, congratulations on being part of the world premiere of Precipice! What first excited you about this project?
Thank you so much ! I am so excited to be a part of this show for so many reasons – the entire team consists of geniuses who are at the heart of why this project is going to be excellent. I’m incredibly excited to be in a room where the project is transforming everyday, as there’s a certain freedom you’re afforded with new writing where you can really make a piece and a character your own. The New Diorama is such a champion of new voices, and it’s a privilege to get to be working here.
You play Emily—can you tell us a little about her and what drew you to this character?
Emily felt tangible to me from the moment I received the sides; she’s someone who wants to contribute to the world she lives in, and wants to make it a better place, which sometimes costs her more than just hard graft. What drew me to her was that whilst her situation with her partner and what they experience is extremely specific and unique, I think everyone in the audience will find a moment where they relate to her (whether they like it or not!)
The cast is made up of multi-talented actor-musicians. How has it been working in such a collaborative environment?
This cast is absolutely incredible – not only do we have wonderfully talented actors in our midst, but the level of musical expertise is off the charts. There is nothing more exciting than music being played live, and the feeling when every instrument is at work is electric. It has been the most open and free rehearsal room I’ve been a part of; we have a very playful and supportive dynamic, which I think are key ingredients for making work from the heart.
You’ve worked across stage and screen, from Coram Boy to My Lady Jane and Call the Midwife. What feels different about stepping into a brand-new musical like this?
Stepping into a brand new musical (and my first ever musical!) feels a little bit like suspending myself off of a cliff with just a rope to hang on to – it’s exciting and terrifying all at the same time. I’m so fortunate that no two jobs have asked the same from me as an actor, so this feels like it’s going to allow me to grow even more, which is such a cool place to be in. I trained in musical theatre decades ago, and never felt like there was a place for me in that world, and so I left it. Adam’s world of musical theatre feels very much like somewhere I belong – it’s fresh and rule breaking and mind bending.
What do you hope audiences take away when they leave the theatre after Precipice?
I’d love for someone to leave and feel like they were represented in some way: whether that’s through the means of Emily and Ash, or the thoughts we all have about the fear of what the future of our planet might look like. I’d love for it to springboard conversations both about the state of our world and environment, and about our everyday relationships; how we love each other and navigate the pressures of the outside world from inside our homes. Thirdly, it would be amazing if people came in and just let themselves be amongst it all – it’s one of those pieces that you just have to surrender to I think. It’s going to be a brilliant show, if I say so myself – so come and see us!