Theatre / The Wardrobe Ensemble
Wardrobe Ensemble duo bring their Fringe sleeper hit show home
Over the course of a single week in July 2023, Wardrobe Ensemble members Tom Brennan and James Newton decided to put together an experimental side project using a ‘back to basics’ approach.
The result: a show starkly different to their previous work together, called International House of Vape: Redefining Theatre Experience.
Centred around two vape corporation megastars in their attempt to breathe life into the theatre industry, the story is shot through with a deeper exploration of male friendship, connection and the impetus for creativity.
is needed now More than ever
The pair took the show up to Edinburgh in August 2023, where it became a sleeper hit of the Fringe, garnering generous reviews from critics for its nuanced mix of candour, humour and emotional depth.
After a one-off performance at Tobacco Factory Theatres in October, International House of Vape is set to arrive at The Wardrobe Theatre on February 20 for the first of five home shows. Ahead of the run, Newton shared some insights about the remarkable journey the show has been on to date.
How did the idea for the show first originate?
“Neither of us had made or performed anything for a long time – it’s been a really rough couple of years for the theatre industry. We were both, frankly, desperate to do something. In April, I booked onto The Wardrobe Ensemble’s Mog the Forgetful Cat tour as a stage manager and realised I’d be up at the Edinburgh Fringe in August with a lot of free time on my hands. Why not try and put something together, and why not get Tom involved?
“Within a week I’d made up a company, generated a blurb and image using AI, and hoovered us up a spare slot at Underbelly. We borrowed £1000 from a friend to cover our initial costs, booked in the week before Edinburgh to make it and that was it, we were committed. We had no idea what it would be about, but thought we’d spend the whole show in morph suits. Fortunately/unfortunately that didn’t happen.”
What has the experience taught you?
“This show has taught us the value of going ‘back-to-basics’. The show consists of a couple of props, a couple of sound and lighting cues, and us on stage. That’s it. It’s been a good reminder of the power of simplicity. By having severely limited time and resources, we had to trust our instincts and follow what we found interesting – there was no room to get caught up worrying about if our audience would like it.
“If we make anything as IHoV again, we want to keep this ‘side-hustle’ ethos. By making something with no responsibility towards funders and no other parties involved, we put together something more interesting, experimental and risky than if we’d followed that route. There’s value in not betting all your chips on one thing.”
How have the audience responses surprised you?
“We’ve been surprised at the emotional impact it’s had on our audiences, particularly those working in the arts. We thought we were going into that rehearsal room to just make a silly comedy. But while the show definitely contains loads of humour, it also speaks directly to the pressure a lot of people are feeling around making money to survive vs doing something fulfilling.
“We’re speaking from a very honest place, and I think a lot of people needed to hear it.”
Can you sum up the role Bristol has played in your emergence as creative theatremakers?
“We’d be nowhere without Bristol. It’s where we cut our teeth as theatremakers, from our teenage years at the Bristol Old Vic Young Company, to BOV’s Made in Bristol programme and beyond.
“Bristol audiences are consistently our most supportive, and the theatremaking community here is really tight. We always pictured performing this show at The Wardrobe Theatre, so we’re thrilled that’s going to happen.”
International House of Vape: Redefining Theatre Experience is at The Wardrobe Theatre on February 21-24 at 7.30pm, with an additional 2pm matinee show on Saturday. Tickets are available at www.thewardrobetheatre.com.
All photos: Ben Vardy
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