LAURA COONEY

Interview with our director Laura Cooney

Hi Laura, how are you?

Really good thanks. We have almost locked down the whole show which is excellent this early on into the rehearsal period!

Laura you specialize in children’s theatre don’t you?

Yes I do. I think it is important to specialize.

What attracted you to Children’s Theatre?

Well part of it is my own personal history. I have 9 brothers and sisters and I have always been around children.

I also love the honesty of children’s theatre. If they love it they will tell you, and if they hate it they will also tell you. The will literally yell out what they think from their seats. So if they think its boring they will yell “boring”! It’s great because it means it’s always all about the audience.

Working in children’s theatre has also changed me as a person. It makes me a happier person I am always asking myself, ‘if I was a child what would I see’? I see things differently now.

I really want to change the perception of children’s theatre as secondary to adult theatre. I am passionate about it and there are about 400 other people around the world who feel the same. All of these people will start talking fast, the way I do when you get them onto the topic. I guess in way it’s my mission.

Do you have set views on how children’s theatre should be?

I used too, but since The Twits I have decided that it is presumptuous to say that you know what children want. I mean, the ideas that I put into practice for The Twits were definitely sound, but I would like to add to what we did. In The Twits there was a very clear line between good and bad. The Characters in James and the Giant Peach are more developed. James is a lot gutsier than the monkeys were for example.

Is there one binding idea that runs through the play?

Yes I think so. The idea that when something bad happens, things more often than not work out fine. You know, there is opportunity that emerges from it. Every bad thing can lead to good. This is important for children to know. This story is much more about magic and fantasy than The Twits.

I really love the energy transfer that takes place in children’s theatre. As soon as you learn it, it is like an addiction. A lot of actors have said to me they have had to unlearn everything they learnt at drama school to do this.

Great well we are all very excited. Good luck!

Thanks!