The second show of Nottingham New Theatre’s 2015 Autumn season is underway and promises to be full of everything a student a student should love – gossip and sex! Impact Arts interviews producer Anna Scholes, and director Will Berrington in his directorial debut of Anna Longaretti’s newest play.
First, what’s Sex Cells about?
WB: The play centres on the four employees of Aphrodite – a call centre selling sex toys – as they all traverse through the constantly dramatic world of motherhood.
AS: But all these women experience motherhood in different ways which causes emotional clashes and reflection on what it really means to be a mother.
Traditionally, the theatre produces shows that are dramatic and dark, what made you chose a comedy?
AS: For that precise reason! It’s a refreshing change to see something light on the New Theatre stage, while not ruling out room for meaningful messages and emotion. A comedy is also so much fun to produce, and it gives actors a chance to work on something that NNT doesn’t do often.
WB: Realistically, dark theatre is just one part of the massive spectrum of theatre that exists. Sometimes you just want to go to the theatre and leave not in deep thought, but instead with a massive grin on your face – and this is how I reckon we’ll leave you.
With the four female characters all being older women, has this caused any problems for the student actors?
WB: We’ve got such a fantastic cast, and they’ve all really thrown themselves into the roles. I don’t think it’s caused any problems as such, more that they are raring to have interesting roles to sink their teeth into!
AS: It was a lot to ask, but it was nothing our cast couldn’t handle. Our actors have been fantastic at really getting into the style and character of each of their roles.
What appeal does the play have to students?
AS: Everyone loves a good laugh, and everyone has a mother! Moving away from home and leaving our parents properly for the first time can really make us miss our parents and make us realise how much they do for us. The emotions discussed in the play are ones we can all relate to.
WB: Mothers, whether they’re there or not, have a massive effect on our lives. It’s a pretty universally applicable theme, and one every single person in the audience will be able to relate to in some way.
To end, sum up your play in a sentence.
AS: A touching depiction of parenthood, heartbreak, loyalty, and responsibility.
WB: Motherhood, sex, cake, motherhood, love, loss, marriage, relationships, motherhood, babies, motherhood…that’s not really a sentence, is it?
Jessica Millott
Sex Cells is running at Nottingham New Theatre until Saturday 7th November.
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