News Story
We caught up with co-writers Hannah Torrance and Matt Beames, whose new show Dark Tales in Winter: The Face arrives at The Nest this month. Their eerie winter offering is the perfect antidote for anyone who’s had their fill of tinsel and cheer. Discover what audiences can expect from the chilling new tale in this brand-new interview.
Dark Tales in Winter: The Face is playing in The Nest from Thu 18 - Sat 20 Dec.
These Dark Tales in Winter have been put together for a thrilling evening of entertainment, certainly a striking contrast to shows typical of the festive period
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What sparked the idea for this show?
We've always loved the Christmas tradition of telling stories round the fire and as we're both drawn to darker tales in our work, this felt like the perfect opportunity to offer something different for the season.
We're playing with what the audience may or may not see in the darker moments of the story
Matt Beames and Hannah Torrance
How did you come to write together and what is that dynamic like?
As friends we met at 14/48, the world's quickest theatre festival, both writing in the most amazing and baffling of circumstances. We felt very quickly that our writing styles complimented each other, so collaborating felt both exciting and inevitable. Even when creating our own work we have been a critical friend or someone to bounce ideas off, so it is great to bring that energy into the process as we co-write.
Can you give us a hint of the atmosphere or tone - are we in for laughter, tension, surprises, something else?
All of the above! Hester and Richard have a beautiful, playful marriage, full of one-up-manship and witty banter. Being a Dark Tale however, this idyllic life is in jeopardy right from the off. Expect to feel thoroughly unsettled, and perhaps we've got a little bit of trickery up our sleeves too...
What discoveries have come out of the writing and rehearsing of this show?
The most exciting thing is the opportunity we've had to play with light and shadow, contrasting our happy characters with their terrifying experience. Previous Dark Tales have followed someone telling you their story after the fact, reliving it with us in a more storytelling fashion; but this time we join Hester in the moment the oncoming crisis begins.
What kind of experience are you hoping people have in The Nest seeing this play?
We hope people will experience a range of emotions alongside our characters - amused, unsettled, questioning what the truth behind the story really is, and getting lost in it.
