The Untold Fable of Fritz opens Sunday 16th August at the Rosemary Branch Theatre, with three actors playing a range of roles within the 50 minutes! Learn more about what you can expect:
1: Where did the idea for The Untold Fable of Fritz first come from?
As a new cast member, it’s been really exciting to learn about the origins of The Untold Fable of Fritz. The original tale was inspired by Philip Pullman’s short story Clockwork, and I can definitely still see sparks of that original idea throughout the piece. What it’s evolved into now is something even richer, it’s become such an exciting, imaginative, and emotionally layered piece of theatre.
2: The show balances humour and darkness. How did you find that balance?
One of the things that really drew me to this script was its balance. I think great theatre needs both light and shade to truly reflect the human experience. You want the audience to recognise themselves in the characters, and there’s as much truth in laughter as there is in tears. It has a little bit of Monty Python, a little bit of Horrible Histories, but alongside that it explores family, trauma and grief. That’s such a powerful combination, not just for children, but for adults too.
3: Why was the fairy-tale setting the right way to explore these ideas?
Fairy tales are one of the oldest ways we’ve communicated with each other. They’re how we’ve passed on morals, lessons and warnings through generations, so they feel like the perfect way to tell this story. They were used to warn your neighbours, scare your kids straight, and make sense of the world. Even though they’re often fantastical and silly, they’re always rooted in something deeply human, and that’s what makes The Untold Fable of Fritz so timeless. Dr Feldgeister really does feel like playing a classic fairytale character, and it’s been a joy to play with that.
4: What do you want audiences to remember most about the show?
As an actor I always hope that people leave feeling something; whether that’s joy, sadness, hope, or catharsis. This show has so much humour and silliness, but it also carries a huge amount of heart. It opens a window into a story that feels a little bit like all of us. I think we’ve all been Fritz at some point in our lives, so if an audience leaves feeling they see themselves in him and his story, then I think we’ve done our job.
5: Why was puppetry the right medium for telling this story?
Children communicate in such an honest and open way, and puppets naturally have that same honesty, so Fritz as a puppet feels so right. They can say so much without speaking a single word. I love that everyone in the audience can hear Fritz in their own voice and project their own emotions onto him. He never tells the audience how to feel, he just feels it. There’s something really extraordinary about watching a tiny flick of his head or a single step.
6: What has been the most enjoyable part about creating The Untold Fable of Fritz?
Joining this team has been really exciting because the show has already had such an incredible journey before I came into the cast. It’s been wonderful to honour everything that’s come before while also having the freedom to bring my own ideas and put my own spin on characters that have evolved so much over time. It’s such a joy to work with a creative team that genuinely welcomes collaboration and encourages you to explore and play.
The Untold Fable of Fritz opens Sunday 16th August at the Rosemary Branch Theatre. Many thanks to Emma Read for answering our questions. Book your tickets here!
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