Edinburgh Fringe: Unconditional - What it's like performing a play as a mother daughter duo
Josie Dale-Jones and Stefanie Mueller, who co-wrote and perform Unconditional, reveal their working life at the Fringe
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Your support makes all the difference.Stefanie Mueller (Mother)
Tell us a bit about your show...
It's about reaching a new point in the mother-daughter relationship where we are both equals in the world. It’s about how we now both look at the world and wonder how to live in it as it seems to be spiralling towards disaster.
Who came up with the idea of performing together – and how did the other react?
About five years ago, I asked Josie jokingly if she’d like to make a show with me. It was far too early to take such a proposition seriously - ‘hanging with mum’ was not exactly on the ‘to do list’ for a 19/20-year-old. The joke however remained between the two of us until one day Josie challenged me by asking: ‘Are we actually going to do this?’
What does it feel like, performing with a relative?
We did a very early scratch-performance at the Arts Depot in London. We had to produce 10 minutes worth of performance - and we had only five hours to rehearse. The aim of this was simply to see if we could actually find each other as equals in the rehearsal room and on stage. We laughed a lot, and being in front of an audience with Josie, under these circumstances, was a delight. Despite the fragile nature of this seedling of a piece, I felt safe on stage. We discovered that we could trust one another to get out of trouble in front of an audience.
Has anything proved difficult?
Maybe the actual committing to anything definite was a challenge. Every time we met, we had fun ‘playing’ but struggled to find and commit to a back-bone for the play. This wasn't helped by our disjointed time-schedules which only allowed us to dip in and out of the work space every few months, and by the ever changing world events that occurred in-between these meetings. Then again, this exact struggle became our structure.
Have there been any surprises? Have you learnt anything new about each other?
No, not from my side, but I guess Josie discovered what a wuss I can be when it comes to certain tasks.
Do you manage a professional working relationship at all – or does it always feel very parent-child?
Definitely professional. I’d say she’s the boss.
Has it changed how you are with each other outside of the show?
Since Josie founded her Theatre Company and is making her own shows, we’ve been developing a professional vocabulary. Besides, Josie has been around theatre since she was tiny and has always been a tough critic. And for a little while now, we’ve been sharing some professional acquaintances. So no, not really.
The fringe can be one long, intense month. What are your respective approaches to getting the most out of it, and to looking after yourselves?
We both have done many Edinburgh Festivals. I tend to seek out galleries and walks, while Josie - who has two shows up here as a performer and producer - soaks up its spirit to the full. She runs around like a busy bee while I drift gently through the Festival. But we both know that good food and sleep, when you can get it, are vital.
Are you living together in Edinburgh? Do you spend much time outside of the performance together?
Yes, we are living together - Josie has another show up here and we are sharing the flat with the cast and crew of that show. We share it with Shôn, Josie’s father, who is also performing up here.
What do you do when you need a break?
I take one; I walk up Arthur’s Seat.
Josie Dale-Jones (Daughter)
Tell us a bit about your show...
UNCONDITIONAL is about the world being a total s***storm. It is about my mum and I trying to make a show in and about the s***storm, finally finishing it, waiting in the wings to perform it, and it being interrupted; the world and its s***storm coming into the theatre. But, amongst all of that, having each other.
Who came up with the idea of performing together – and how did the other react?
People have always said we should do it. Then we started joking around about doing it, and then we did it.
What does it feel like, performing with a relative?
I am used to making work with close friends, and the relationships outside of the show often seep into the narrative itself. In the rehearsal room and on stage though, it is a professional relationship. We meet as equals.
Has anything proved difficult?
Oh! Well… Making a show is really really difficult. I think this one felt difficult because there is a certain level of expectation that we also expected the audience to come to the show with. Something autobiographical, something twee, something ThisEgg or something Hoipolloi. The balance of playing with and against this was hard.
Have there been any surprises? Have you learnt anything new about each other?
No huge surprises! I guess as with making any show you get closer to your colleagues. We did start to hang out more as friends and equals (as well as of course still being mother and daughter).
Do you manage a professional working relationship at all – or does it always feel very parent-child?
Professional! I don't think it would be the same show if it was parent-child.
Has it changed how you are with each other outside of the show?
Not really, no. I have always been around mum in her job - touring as a baby and being up at the Fringe with her. Maybe now she is the one reminding me to put things in perspective rather than the other way around.
The Fringe can be one long, intense month. What are your respective approaches to getting the most out of it, and to looking after yourselves?
We have both done the Fringe a lot. This year, the flat we are staying in includes me, my mum, my dad, Lucy (lighting designer and technician for ThisEgg aka my rock) and three of my best friends (here because I have made and am performing dressed. with them). There is a ready-built support network there.
What do you do when you need a break?
I don't actually break much at the festival. I love it here. I guess cooking is my way of switching off wherever I am.
UNCONDITIONAL is at Pleasance Courtyard until 26 August. https://tickets.edfringe.com/whats-on/unconditional
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