- As an English speaker, you get quite lazy when it comes to learning other languages

27 November 2024

RESIDENCE: Greg Sinclair and Lu Kemp from Scotland are on a residency at Kloden theatre to work on their production Tongue Twister. During Showbox you will experience a working screening of the performance.

In Tongue Twister, Greg Sinclair tries to say difficult rhymes and rules in as many different languages as possible. At the same time, he wears absolutely incredible costumes. The only problem is that he can't really speak any of the languages. At least not properly. Can it go well?

We chatted with Greg and director and playwright Lu Kemp about the project, and what it's like to work on it. Kloden theater.

Can you tell us about Tongue Twister?

– Tongue Twister is a one-man show where I perform “tongue twisters” in different languages. The concept is inspired by the film SEASHELLS that I made a few years ago. We are at an early stage and are here in Oslo to develop the concept. In working on a piece that is about language, we are very happy to be in Norway, where we are constantly surrounded by a language that we do not understand, says Greg.

- As an English speaker, you get quite lazy when it comes to learning other languages. We want to know what it's like if we can't always speak English. And what if we found our way into foreign languages in other ways than through words? The main character in the play experiments with language beyond the concrete meaning of the words, i.e. with the musicality, with the contexts, with the communication and with how it can help you get closer to others, says Lu.

What does a residency at the University of Copenhagen mean for the project? Kloden theater?

It is very useful to have a residency at Kloden theater, and it's useful in a different way than I imagined. It's always good to have focus, time and space. In addition, being in a place where we don't understand the language gives a concrete experience of what it means to search for belonging. It feels like we're working on something bigger than what we do when we're at home.

- Greg Sinclair

- I think one of the central questions we ask in the performance is: Is it possible for us to create a piece that goes behind the words, so that you don't have to understand the language to understand the context? Can we include the language and still be international in the visuals? Is it possible? We hope so, and we believe so. We think it's exciting to develop a show where we don't know the answer, says Lu.

What can the public expect during the work display you will have at Showbox?

– An important part of the residency at Kloden theatre is and also being able to share what we create on Showbox. I showed a piece during Showbox in 2020, so I already have a relationship with the festival. It was during the pandemic, so at that time the festival was online. It feels personal and nice to be here now. We are at a very early stage with Tongue Twister, but I think the audience is going to have a good time. I think they will laugh, and feel like they are taking part in my journey and vulnerability, says Greg.

- The audience during the trial performance at Showbox itself has an important role. What is important about the development now is learning how the play works with the audience. We need them to learn how to play this game. The audience is an important part of the whole concept, adds Lu.