Artistic Director Interviews, Best of 2016, Interview

Interview with Bryony Kimmings: “Be yourself. Right now I’m in joggers. And I don’t give two fucks.”

Bryony Kimmings

Bryony Kimmings is a performance artist and maker of experimental theatre. Her recent collaboration with Complicite, ‘A Pacifist’s Guide to the War on Cancer’ saw dancing tumours in the Dorfman Theatre: An all-singing show that followed the stories of a group of cancer patients.

Her piece ‘Fake it ’til you make it’ was also excellent actually.

Here is chat with La Kimmings about some things. You’re welcome.

Bryony Kimmings, what sort of woman are you?
The kind who doesn’t gender herself. And the kind that gets angry at this slightly misogynistic question. What sort of human am I? Head strong, loud, shy, caring, cunty, arty, safe, stupid and did I mention loud?!

Wow. Congratulations on A Pacifists Guide, what has been the best thing about directing that show?
Ahhhh I think working with the amazing creative team and learning from them all. The choreographer, set designer, costume, the music bods, dramaturgs. I honestly feel like it was a public baptism of fire but I finished it knowing SO MUCH. It’s kind of fast tracked me into feeling ready to do it again… Better

Does your self-image impact how you interact with other people?

Hmmm I’m not sure what the means. Do you mean does me being vaguely in the public eye affect my relationship. Nah. God no. But it means more people want to be your friend. Which often I like. I’m a social butterfly unless I’m on my period, then I’m a quivering and anxious wreck.

Can you describe your state of mind when you were making A Pacifists Guide?
Erm. Fuck it was a long process. First year: excited. Writing period: frustrated by my own incompetence. March-June 2016: completely consumed with my baby being very very ill. Directing period: manic and doubtful. Press night: proud

I get the impression that you read a lot about other artists and that your own interviews can be a lot more self-aware as a result… Is this incorrect
Nope. I don’t engage much with artists in terms of reading, in fact I rarely read. I engage with artists as piers. But to be honest I’ve been doing interviews for a decade and I know who I am and that includes not having a filter.

What do you wish someone had told you when you were starting out?
Don’t sweat the funding, the websites, the branding…. All that matters is that you get good at making art and quick.

How long have you got off for Christmas?
Two weeks. Myself and my ex partner Tim are splitting time with baby Frank so I have a week to get totally wrecked and a week to literally snuggle for England.

What ten emojis would you use to describe 2016?
⚰

What would your personalised number plate of choice be?
MC BRYAN E

What is your favourite theatre and why?
I fucking love the Purcell Room. It’s grand and great acoustically and so nice to perform to and watch in. I also have a special place in my heart for soho!

Do you have a message for the readers who have never seen a Bryony Kimmings show?
Stop being a dick and get onboard the art train of truth, desire and pleasure.

Finally, do you think the word ‘hipster’ is just used by people who don’t understand youth culture or are they genuinely a bunch of pricks with questionable facial hair?
Hipster as a term is old. It basically means young and cool. Let people alone… But for me I like individuality and creativity so the current hipster uniform is the opposite of that. Be yourself. Right now I’m in joggers. And I don’t give two fucks.