→ AFTER YOU
SEE THE
SHOW
THEN
COLLECTING STORIES
EARLY IMAGINING
Yve Blake collects stories from strangers and
makes them into art. Visit her website to see
how she does it. Perhaps share a story of your
own. . . .
“Making a solo show is like setting off for a trek
in the wilderness. It can be exhausting, lonely,
and you can get lost - so I make sure that before
I set off on my journey, I have lots of inspiration
and ideas saved up for the journey - these are
my metaphorical trail snacks. Literal snacks are
important too. When starting to make a show I
make LOTS of lists”
YVE BLAKE
I make a list of every question that has recently
bugged me, that I think an audience might be
interested in for example:
- Is anyone else self conscious about their toenails?
- Do we see our past selves as an entirely different
person?
- What is the definition of loneliness?
→ THINK about the types of questions Yve
asks to get her stories. How do you frame a
question to get the most interesting response?
Is it better to ask:
Questions are why we come to the theatre, so I
need lots of these saved up for when I need to refill
my curiosity tank.
Tell me about when you were young?
OR
How many years have you been alive? Pick a
number smaller than that number - now think,
what were you like at that age. What did you want,
what did you have? Maybe a different idea of the
world? An awkward crush? An obsession with hair
gel? Describe to me the person you used to be.
→ YOU HAVE A GO
Have a go at writing your own questions to
elicit an interesting story from a stranger.
Yve Blake likes to start her process with lists.
Write a list of all the things you often wonder
about - that you think audiences might be
interested in. Think of this as an ongoing task.
Take a full week to make your list. You may think
of a question while on the bus, while brushing
your teeth, while playing sport. Collect as many
random questions as you possibly can.