Jake Mace
We last caught up with performer-playwright-storyteller Lubna Kerr at Dundee Fringe in 2023, where we saw her fantastically introspective piece Tickbox 2, covering her parents’ journey from Pakistan to Glasgow, examining preconceptions of immigration and the diaspora in Scottish society through a personal lens.
Thinking outside of the box once again, her new EdFringe show will see her taking on her own childhood and schooling, a prequel to her debut piece. The show charts how her experiences of bullying as a Person of Colour have imprinted on her perceptions of how to create a kinder, more compassionate world for everyone. We caught up with Lubna for a pixelated pint ahead of the show’s arrival in Edinburgh at the end of the month.
Catch Chatterbox at Pleasance Courtyard – The Green from July 31st to August 25th (no shows on the 13th or 20th) at 16:55. Tickets are available through the EdFringe Box Office.
Jake: Hi Lubna – tell us about how Chatterbox got off the ground and the process of creating this prequel to Tickbox 2.
Lubna: The first thing was to get funding and no better place to start than Creative Scotland and their 36-page form. To be fair, the questions help solidify the thinking and reasoning behind the play. If I can’t put on paper what and why I want to do what I do then why should they or anyone else fund me?
I had to say who I would work with in the application. I knew I wanted to work with the talented Jen Mcgregor as dramaturg. I worked with Jen when I wrote my first play Tickbox. I loved the whole process working with her, that I couldn’t wait to work with her again.
The search was then on for a director, and Jen then introduced me to the fabulous Emily Ingram. However after writing two hours of material , I knew I needed an editor and again Jen came to the rescue and suggest Charity Trim, who has a lot of comedy writing commissioned work for mainstream TV.
We then brought on Adam Gibson who has worked on West End Shows and has brought the show to life with the music.
I delivered workshops with several groups consisting of women from the global majority and we discussed several issues as well as designing the set. I have self-produced and it’s something I like doing.
Jake: What’s the inspiration behind wanting to tell this story now?
Lubna: The inspiration was my life as a primary school child and the labels I was given. From the unkind names based on the colour of my skin to my ability to speak English. I was bullied for a variety of reasons. These themes are relevant to life now as they were then.
Jake: What are you hoping the audience will walk away thinking/feeling, and how do you aim to achieve this on stage?
Lubna: I hope people reflect on their behaviour as a child, did they bully someone? Were they bullied? How have they dealt with it? Do they need to get help?
Also think about what how their children might be behaving. I want them to see and understand, regardless of your skin colour we are all the same underneath. We all need love, compassion, understanding and cake.
Jake: Now that we’re gearing up for Fringe season, what are you most excited for?
Lubna: Meeting my audience and seeing their reaction when they see my characters and my comments about the themes.
Jake: Fitting with the themes of our magazine, if your show was a beverage (think cocktails, shots, beers, be creative!) what would it be?
Lubna: Definitely box shots.
Phoebe Bakker
