July 2023
When it comes to friendship, Andrea Holland and Giovanna Koyama have plenty to say, and they’ve made a show to share their thoughts with audiences this August. “Queendom” is a physical comedy described as “a crossover between a modern fairy tale and a sitcom about flatmates” which incorporates their Latin and Spanish personas as well as plenty of slapstick and silliness. The show be at the Rosemary Branch Theatre from 23rd-24th August and here, Andrea and Giovanna chat about the show, the importance and friendship, and what gives them the giggles…
So tell me about “Queendom” – what got the ball rolling for this show?
AH: This is a show about two Queens
GK: and two best friends!
AH: we always say this… It’s also a show that puts female friendship in the spotlight.
GK: It’s a mix between a Modern crazy Fairytale and a sitcom about flatmates.
So how did this production come to be – the who, the what, the where and the why?
A:This production has us as its core: two female very physical actors, creators, best friends and flatmates.
G: We met back in 2018 in a Physical Theatre Summer School in Berlin, we said bye and we never ever would have imagined life would bring us back together.
A: But then, in 2020, when we were both coincidentally living in London, after many failed attempts of meeting up, we finally met on International Women’s Day, a sign? We like to think that it was.
G: And we became flatmates over lockdown and also best friends (it was either that or enemies really).
A: We created and were part of various projects including turning our flat in South London into an ongoing artistic residency. We participated in the movement based short-film “Silence” with Cia Lamina from Brazil…
G: …we led an International Feminist Creative project “Mulheres Que Sangran” …
A: and we created an experimental short film for International’s Women’s Day called “A Performative Manifest of Two Women Creators”.
A: We loved all of these projects to bits, but we always knew we wanted to create a play about ourselves, a play about how intense and serious we were but also how silly and annoying.
G: So in 2022 we started our creative journey. And after many devising sessions, mainly in our hall, our neighbours seem to love it (well, sort of), Queendom was born.
A: We wanted to depict a female friendship in a fun and healthy way and to share our story.
G: And through these Queens we could break female stereotypes and defy the Fairy tale narrative.
What’s the most important thing you want people to know about this show and its intentions?
G: That it came from a very genuine and true place. This show was built to share why female friendships are important and how this connection can help you feel at home. And we want everyone just to have a good time with their friends and remember their silly moments.
As a comedy, your show has big laughs to deliver. How would you characterise the brand or style of the comedy in your show?
A: Our comedy style is definitely on the silly side. Super energetic and physical too! We are both quite intense and bubbly (or so we have been told), so our comedy is definitely very over the top vibes.
No spoilers, obviously, but can you give us a taste of the show – a highlight you find yourself drawn to?
A: I think what I love about this show is its authenticity, it shows a real friendship but always with a silly and absurd touch to it. It kind of shows how silly and absurd life actually is. Sometimes it’s shit, others you feel you are trapped in your own fairytale.
G: I love the absurd and silly things this show has and how we can re-write some facts of reality that bother us as women in society through the magic of theatre.
Quick-fire round now! Your first experience of theatre/ live performance?
A: My first professional experience was when I was 9 years old. I played a Modern version of Little Red Riding Hood, in Asturian, which is my region’s dialect. Little Red Riding Hood was a total rebel in this version! It’s kind of crazy that my first role ever was also defying the Fairy Tale Narrative! The full circle I guess haha.
G: My one was back in 2016, when I first started assisting directing after graduating from Drama School in Brazil, then as a performer I did “Evas” a feminist devised show about violence against women at Teatro do Ator, Praça Roosevelt in São Paulo.
Best show you’ve seen this year?
A: Uuh, hard to choose one. I would say two shows that I saw at VAULT Festival this year: Haste Theatre’s “My Name Is” and Vandens Kartab Ensemble’s “The Cathedral”. Super fun and thought provoking female-led shows.
G: The understudy performance of “The Streetcar Named Desire” at the Phoenix Theatre.
A performance or backstage highlight, “the show must go on”-style?
A: When I was a kid I was in this show that revolved all around this mint leaf, I was the character meant to give this magical mint leaf to the protagonist at the end and I forgot it backstage… What a disaster! I took off a little ornament from one of my props and gave him that instead. I was very proud of my problem solving, my teacher wasn’t that impressed haha…
G: When I was in drama school, we were divided into groups to perform an exercise and I was watching the group that had the performance about the fire. They were playing with a lighter in a very ritualistic way, and one of the guys put the lighter too close to his hair. His hair immediately caught fire and I screamed so loudly “Everrrrtonnnnn, your hair is on fire!”. But he just tapped his hair and put the fire out. Meanwhile, no one stopped performing, everyone was super still in character, while telling each other the news about the hair on fire on stage.
Best advice you’ve ever been given when it comes to theatre-making?
A: “Create on your feet not with your head.” “Enjoy the process”, (hehe this one is tricky sometimes). “Don’t get too attached to anything, nothing is precious.” And just enjoy everything you do on stage, the audience can really tell! There’s something magical and hypnotising about seeing someone doing something they are really into.
G: Find the people you work well with and delve into experimentation to find out what type of theatre-making works for you. Effective communication and honesty are essential in building a strong foundation for your theater-making group, as creative clashes are inevitable. And please don’t forget to look after yourself! This is essential on this challenging journey.
In one line or less, why should audiences come along to see your show this August?
A: Because you’ll laugh your knickers off! And hopefully it will connect you to friends in your life that, like Giovanna to me, have become family, (we love a cheesy line).
G: Because it’s silly and it’s very genuine. There’s no better way to celebrate true friendships than having a laugh and watching something that will remind you how important your connection is!
So there you have it! You can catch in “Queendom” at the Rosemary Branch Theatre from 23rd-24th August 2023 as part of the Camden Fringe. More information and tickets can be found here.
Always Time For Theatre 
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