Yep, this is definitely a blog post for me to rave about one of my favourite TV shows, indulge in political ‘analysis’ and generally share a moment of personal joy. Trigger warnings, this has spoilers of Celebrity Traitors, politics and mentions of genocide in practice, like right now (embracing my inner James Acaster, that was a very subtle joke of that nobody will probably get but we must not offend anyone… right? See that’s actually a really witty comment you see, because it’s always ‘The Right’ that uses freedom of speech… just watch the clip later, you’ll get it eventually)… I might also get round to my practise. In my defence, my collaborative process has human emotions and the tragedy of the human condition as a core pillar stone, and as lots of writers, performers and actors will tell you, most of our research and preparation comes from observing people. This includes ourselves, and I was struck by how much hope and joy I have felt in this moment of T.V.
From Acaster to Ed Gamble make sure you watch episode nine of series two of Celebrity Traitors before reading on… Or just read on if you couldn’t care less about anything that happens on the BBC these days… I’m on a scale between those two extremes, I think…
So, first thing to say, The Traitors as a concept, it is based on a game played millions of times in the drama/theatre studio – all the good things are. I know it as Werewolf, with a less complicated and easier format to initiate Wink Wink Murder. For a group of about 10-30, a select number of players are made werewolves and they have to kill or convert the innocents (or I guess we have to call them faithful now). The Joker/facilitator/group leader begins a tale of a quiet farming town beset by a terrible curse, where werewolves turned into murderous beasts every night. Once this opening has been set, everyone closes their eyes and the werewolves pick a victim. The next time everyone ‘awakens’, someone acts out a spectacular and often very funny dying moment, then the group has to banish someone, hoping it is a werewolf. Scatter in characters like Peeping Poppy, who can keep one eye open and Romeo and Juliet (if one dies the other one, goes shortly after) and you have an amazing, fun, skilled and narrative based drama game – where the rules can shift and the community picks how the game will go.
Traitors is this but ten-fold – played over a series of weeks in an abandoned castle, prize money, Claudia Winkleman being Claudia Winkleman, epic challenges, a beautiful punk/goth/horror film mis-mash aesthetic and loads more besides.. The prize money becomes something different in the celebrity version and it’s a lot more about the play and the banter of winning and loosing. This is why I wanted to write this blog and talk about that sheer emotion of hope which resulted in tears on my face. Not the first time I have reflected on my reactions to the T.V. in a blog – check out my Ps about the latest Doctor Who here.
The spoiler bit……
Michael Sheen, the legend and the myth, went full Shakespearean and Holmes method training when he declared an armageddon for the Traitors to come. During the round table, Sheen puts together a series of questionable facts and giant leaps of logic, and after an epic story-telling finale, he pointed the finger at stand-up comedian James Acaster. Acaster was cruising through the game and could have easily detected what could only be described as guess work with theatrical flare that only someone like Sheen could pull off (and a nod and a tear here for Sir Patrick Stewart, RIP… if he was in the castle, it would be game set and match from day one). … but, remarkably Acaster didn’t!
Political trigger warning, at this point, when Acaster held his hand up and said “you got me… I am a reluctant Traitor” I cried out at the T.V. “The Left still has a chance!!!” – much to the bafflement of our cat and my Mum. I just felt an enormous amount of hope and optimism, in that moment. This guy just wanted to play by the rules and wanted a fair game. For many of the celebrities on the show, and indeed people in wider society, just want to do the right thing. I used the phrase ‘Left’ here, naturally around the political compass, but also a general term for truth over lies, honesty over self and profit, solidarity for people you might well never meet, dignity and doing the right thing… whatever that means. This is not a morality test or a rally to ‘The Left, I just wanted to share the power of T.V. and the arts in general to evoke a sense of this is what matters: playing life’s game with a spirit of fairness and finding your own identity when that may feel impossible.
Acaster has always been an artist, through stand up and comedy, to tell stories of oppression, discriminations and unfairness. Here he is reminding us how cringe it is when post-colonised people ask for their culture and history back, and are then refused: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x73PkUvArJY
Here he undermines so called ‘comedians’ for making money for battering some of the most vulnerable communities in our society: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UHqma3rx-xI (Adult humour - the ultimate oxymoron)
And then just him being really funny and silly… and human: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ewTIDd90uZY
His past work and activism paints Acaster as a genuine individual, who stands up for injustice and challenges the status quo. Of course, all these examples, including the reality show Celebrity Traitors, are well choreographed and edited. And this is by no means me celebrating the BBC. Their editing choices when it comes to the genocide in Gaza and Westbank, is unforgiveable (in my opinion). Not to mention the time taken up on primetime news, by very rich people trying to pretend the Atlantic slave trade is something that we don’t need to apologise for, rather than reporting on something like, I don’t know… the horrendous loss of life in Sudan… I could go on, and indeed the amazing and tireless efforts of Owen Jones journalism does.
No, my outburst of sheer joy and hope at the T.V. when someone breaks the rule, not for their own gain, but for their own sense of what is right to do. With this knowledge of Acaster’s previous work, I saw a true ally in the moment and a growing belief that truth and dignity always finds a way. That there is a way of willing that doesn’t include silencing the people behind you but doing things according to your own moral compass.
It being a positive couple of weeks for ‘The Left’, given the terrifying arts of violence all over the globe and the rise of authoritarian figures like Farage and Trump. Amazing wins in Brazil and Serbia are glimmers of light in a climate that is breaking down. But this very choreographed and low-stakes moment on T.V. spoke to me and I wanted to speak to you about what that felt like.
Shrinking right back, a general update on my practise. We have been busy behind the scenes contacting exciting venues like BOLD Theatre, London; Exeter Phoenix and loads of spaces in Bristol… because there are loads of amazing venues in Bristol! We are very much set on bringing Boxed! back, and thinking outside said box, we want to create a tour that is informed by experimentation, risk taking, access and process. Our ultimate goal is to perform this promenade performance with escape room vibes to a wider audience, but this needs to be held with a sense of mutual curiosity and commitment to access by the partners we work with. Exciting times ahead… And, I think Maya had it in the bag!!!