Amy Ingram
Over the course of the last year one constant, love, has kept us all sane as we persevere through the toughest year many of us have ever experienced. Throughout the past 12 months, we have learned that "things may go wrong but at the end of the day we only have each other to lean on" in order to survive and thrive. Speaking with Amy Ingram, the co-creator of the theatre show I Want To Know What Love Is, we discussed the importance of love and how learning more about love helped shaped the show which will be taking to the Darlinghurst Theatre stage this month.
Acclaimed Queensland performance collective The Good Room created I Want To Know What Love Is as the second instalment of a triptych of shows which were designed to have a very strong connection with the audience. Rather than following the "traditional you come, you sit down, you watch and then you go home" delivery of theatre, Ingram and The Good Room team wanted to explore new forms of theatre and methods for engaging the audience, and hence the incorporation of public submissions.
"We realised that there was a missing link and that we wanted to celebrate the everyday person and their extraordinary lives," explained Ingram. This series of shows then became a "snowball" which saw them exploring a non-linear performance structure that is very visually appealing and also very physical. Ultimately though Ingram credits the "generosity of people with their stories" as the major inspiration.
"The whole show takes you through the entire experience of love from Point A to Point B and everything in between," said Ingram. "You'll always get the urge to call someone after the show, whether that be your mum or your lover."
Creating a show about love will obviously appeal to a female demographic but Ingram also encourages men to see this show by saying, "Come for the comedy, the physical performance and come to see what the world thinks about love. Compare that with your own notes and think about it as an experiment into research and what to expect."
On a broad level though Ingram said everyone needs to see this show and do so with a loved one.
"Bring a friend, bring a lover, bring a family member, bring anyone. This is a show that you really want to experience with other people."
May 19-22. Darlinghurst Theatre, 39 Burton St, Darlinghurst. $52-$62+b.f. Tickets & Info: www.darlinghursttheatre.com
If you would like to submit your own love story and maybe have it included in the show, visit: www.wewantyourlove.com
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