Isles theatre graduate preparing for Fringe debut
LAURA Bisset first gained theatre experience treading the boards in Shetland pantomimes and youth drama – but now she is set to perform at the Edinburgh Fringe.
She will be making her Edinburgh Festival Fringe debut in a show about “connection in an artificial world”.
Bisset, originally from Shetland and now living in Glasgow, will perform in a production called Romeo and I, which she co-wrote as part of her ToyHorse Theatre group.
It is taking place at The Space at Venue 45 from 24 – 29 August.
Bisset recently graduated from the MA Philosophy and Theatre Studies course at the University of Glasgow.
“I did all of the pantos growing up and all of the various Shetland youth theatres,” she told Shetland News as she spoke about her theatre background.
“It was always something that I really enjoyed.”
Romeo and I is described as a new piece focusing on the relationship between human beings and artificial intelligence (AI).
“The performance follows a politician named Jane, whose life crumbles when she becomes the victim of deepfaked porn,” the show’s blurb says.
“This causes Jane to isolate herself from the world, taking comfort in an AI chatbot – who she affectionately names Romeo.
“The performance focuses on the progression of their relationship as it takes on a more romantic nature, and confronts the risk of replacing human connection with AI.
“Eventually Jane is forced to choose between her real life and her new, idealised virtual life.”
Bisset said although the Fringe has historically been associated with comedy, the show is “definitely not a comedy – but I think it will definitely have its audience”.
“AI is something that is on everyone’s minds at the moment.”
Also involved in ToyHorse Theatre is university friend Katie Gray.
The pair have performed two plays in the past, but the Fringe show will be the first they have put together separate to their university course.
Their company is getting assistance from arts organisation theSpaceUK, which provides support in areas like marketing.
Bisset said they were “quite lucky” to see their application approved for the Fringe, given it was their first shot.
“It’s quite exciting,” she said. “It’s one of those things that growing up you think ‘maybe one day I’ll do this’.
“It’ll be an amazing experience.”
Tickets for Romeo and I are available online.
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