Interview with Dan Jemmett

Q: Please describe yourself in 10 words?

 DJ: An English theatre director living in Paris.

 

Q: Tell us the premise of your play ‘The Notes’ that is coming to Beziers sortieOuest?

DJ:  A director gives notes to his actors on stage after a performance of Macbeth. He talks to the audience as if they were the actors. The performance lies somewhere between theatre, stand up and conference.

 

Q: The publicity states that The Notes is an adaptation of Macbeth. Why the Scottish play this time, what drew you to it?

DJ: I wanted a play that I knew well, that a decent percentage of the public would also know, and I had long harboured a desire to direct Macbeth.

 

Q: You have previous form in taking ‘classics’ or non theatre pieces and rejigging them to your vision with (almost always) great success? What can we expect from the ‘Jemmett’ version of Macbeth?

DJ: Well, it's a new and different way of peeking inside this classic text. It's a spin on Macbeth, I suppose.

 

Q:  You have a reputation for improvising, even allowing actors to do so during performances. The French have a reputation as conservative with a small ‘c’.  Why do you think you are so successful here?

DJ:  I have no idea. Maybe there is a government quota for the amount of foreign directors allowed into the country at a given time. Or perhaps their notion of English comedy is just confused. No one really likes Benny Hill, do they?

 

Q:  Does being foreign in France in your profession give you a freedom you don’t have in the UK or elsewhere?

DJ: To begin with, yes. After 15 years it gets more complicated . . .

Q: In your opinion, which country is currently the best for theatre?

DJ: Poland.

Q: Do you think that the UK theatre scene is now money based instead of art? And France is a little more balanced?

DJ: That's a complicated question, and has much to do with the different levels of arts funding. France still pours massive amounts of public money into theatre funding. The UK does not. The French model obviously allows for what we might perceive to be the luxury of art.

 

Q:  The Anglophone community in France (in general) do not embrace theatre as there is a belief that it will be very dark or language specific. Do you agree with this and if not how do we encourage more people to go to the theatre?

DJ: More than possible on both counts. Learn to speak really good French and try to appreciate it as a French cultural experience. Then go home and watch an episode of the Mighty Boosh. You'll feel confused, but in a good way.

 

Q:  And The Notes, what would you say to encourage a person whose mother tongue is not French to attend?

DJ:  Yes, because although you might not understand all of it, you will certainly get some of the language. And how else will you improve your level of French and integrate yourself into the society here if you don't get out there and do French stuff?

 

Q:  A colleague in Paris commented that you were the Tarantino of theatre? Is this good, bad or right?

DJ: Tarantino made some great films. Theatre is a completely different medium. 

 

Q: Is there a contemporary soundtrack in The Notes? If yes, I may call you Quentin!

DJ: There's no music at all!

 

Q: What do you think of Theatre in France outside of Paris?

DJ: There's good and bad, like everywhere else.

 

Q: Who is your closest friend in theatre?

DJ: A ventriloquist dummy I own called Sir Andrew.

 

The Notes (Macbeth)

Based on Macbeth by William Shakespeare
Directed and adapted by Dan Jemmett.

With David Ayala.
Production Cie Des Petites Heures and Le Comité des Fêtes.

Wednesday 15th January, 19h, Thursday 16th January, 19h, Friday 17th January, 21h

 

Venue: Théâtre sortieOuest

Domaine départemental d’art et de culture de Bayssan
Scène conventionnée pour les écritures contemporaines
Domaine de Bayssan le Haut, 34500 Béziers 04.67.28.37.32 www.sortieouest.fr

Tickets: 16 € /13 € / 11€/ 6€

To book, telephone 04 67 28 37 32 or buy on line: www.sortieouest.fr.

Access to sortieOuest :
Autoroute A9 : exit 36 « Béziers Ouest »
Bus n°213, Béziers/Vendres, Monday to Saturday (except for public holidays)