Coming up

Meet Medea Electronica’s leading lady

Tue 5 Mar 2019

As part of an international tour, Edinburgh Fringe smash-hit Medea Electronica brings its unique and primal energy to Lakeside Theatre this Thursday 7 March, 7.30pm.
We catch up with creator and leading lady, Mella Faye…

Mella Faye

What or who got you interested theatre? 

The first piece of theatre that really had an impact on me was an early performance of The Red Shoes by Kneehigh Theatre Company. I was about 12 years old. It was staged outside in a beautiful park, and it was raining, and we were sat under umbrellas. I fell in love with the world they created, and the commitment from each one of the performers. It was hugely impactful.

Are your family involved in theatre?

Our parents weren’t in theatre, but 3 out of 6 siblings are professional theatre makers. We often work together, which is always so much fun, and reminds me of all the antics we used to get up to as children! I’m the oldest and so was quite often the director, and somewhere there are a bunch of home videos that include some pure family gold.

What formal training have you done?

I’ve got a diploma in Jazz studies and a Post Grad Diploma in Arts Policy and Management. My performance training has come from workshopping. I’ve done a lot of clowning training (not that you’d guess it from this show!) and also workshopped with Gecko theatre.

Do you have any specialist skills that you work into your repertoire?

I’m a musician and toured extensively in my early 20’s. The work I make with Pecho Mama is music driven. We are a band and a theatre company, and I set up the company in order to re-engage with music making.

Which experience/role do you regard as the highlight of your career to date?

The highlight is always the last thing I’ve done, and Medea Electronica is my most recent work. Taking it to Edinburgh was a definite highlight – playing to crowds that are so hungry for theatre was exhilarating.

What has been your most embarrassing moment on stage?

I was 20 years old and there was a group of us performer friends living in Mexico. We were invited to create something for an international production in a giant water park. There were thousands of people watching…

We had devised this Scottish dance and were all wearing kilts. Our chief Scot, began to lose his kilt during the dance, it just kept slipping lower and lower. I got the giggles uncontrollably, to the point where I lost control of my bladder. I was paralysed on stage, crying my eyes out laughing and squeezing my knees together to stop the flow. It still makes me laugh out loud remembering it.

What role would you most like to play and why?

Louise in the stage play of Thelma and Louise.

Big plans for the future?

The day after our performance at Lakeside Theatre we are off to perform in Peru!

The one piece of advice you wish someone had given you when you were a student…

The more you practice something the better you’ll get at it.

Summarise the show in 3 words.

Electrifying, powerhouse, gig-theatre. (Is that cheating?)

See Pecho Mama reinvigorate this classic greek tragedy in this gig-theatre performance with original soundtrack.
BOOK YOUR TICKET HERE.

 

Comments are closed.