Anna Jennings (Varsity): Why did you take on the endeavour of writing a play?

Beatriz Santos: We all got together and threw some ideas around about what to put on, and eventually came up with the idea of adapting three fairytales, with a darker twist. We were really interested in the idea of fusion and interweaving, and that’s how the script gradually began to develop.

AJ: Have you done anything like this before?

BS: Nope! This is the first time I’ve written for the stage, which posed some problems because it’s not like writing a poem or prose – you have to be very clear about where the dramatic action is happening, and when. I had to go over things to make them more explicit. There are new opportunities for playing and mucking around on stage, which hopefully is going to be fun. I think for me the hardest part has been writing the second act - we were pushed for time for me to finish the script, and it’s difficult working with fairytales. Everyone knows how they begin, but how they end, especially in our version, was a bit of a conundrum. Bringing it to a climax and a satisfactory ending was quite tricky for me.

AJ: What’s it been like letting someone direct your play?

BS: It’s been terrifying, but also really great; Josh is a fantastic director and I feel confident in his hands, but handing it over was a huge leap of faith! I was hoping the actors would ‘get’ the characters that I had written because before they were all just in my head. I think for me one of the most nerve-wracking aspects is hoping that everyone gets the lines right and that the text is delivered well. As it’s written in verse, if the actors speed up, or don’t quite take their time, it might be difficult to grasp. There are also a few crazy and ridiculous plot twists, so I’m hoping the audience will really get into it and enjoy it.

AJ: How would you describe your working relationship?

Josh Cleary: Beatriz is really great to work with! I have really loved this process: getting new scenes, reading through them and trying to get somewhere close to imagining the crazy world which she created. One of the things I love about the script is the verse it’s written in - it’s a really nice device. It really is the driving force behind the play. So much of the production has been really smooth. We have a brilliant team of actors, and the production team is great. Alex, our producer, has done a fantastic job of getting everyone together and making sure that everything happens so that I’ve had less to worry about.

AJ: What’s been the hardest part of your job?

JC: One of the main problems is that we are using Clare Cellars, which is a great place to be because it’s not like a usual theatre, and the audience are laid out in a very different way. However, this is challenging, especially for the actors, who have to act in a new way as there are audience members on both sides. They’re always under the spotlight, constantly on display. One of the problems I had early on was trying to figure out all the entrances and exits, because it’s a long strip and you don’t want the staging to become monotonous. We’ve tried to use the space more creatively and have some entrances from peculiar locations.

AJ: What has kept you sane throughout the process?

JC: I don’t drink coffee, so that can’t be my answer! I guess it’s all about making sure that everyone is on the same page, but also knowing when to stop thinking about it. With a production like this it’s really easy to spend every moment thinking about all the details and worrying about everything not coming together, but sometimes you just have to take a step back, wait until the next rehearsal and try not to think about it too much.

AJ: Finally, can you sum up why people should come and see the play?

JC: Because, it’s unique, it’s fun, it’s exciting, and I can’t remember the last time I saw a play like it. It’s mad. Completely mad - in such a brilliant way!

BS: I have tried to make it fresh, even when working with these fairytales which we all know off by heart. It’s a crazy adventure down the rabbit hole, and it is literally down in Clare Cellars, so I hope everyone has the courage to pop in – it’ll be great!

The Forest Grimm is on in Clare Cellars, 24th-26th January at 8pm.
Tickets can be booked now at www.adcticketing.com