The Rise & Fall

An actor meets with theatre-maker Shireen Mula only 1 hour before the performance begins. Only then are they given any information about the solo show that they will star in.

How do we perform under pressure? When everyone is watching? Everyone is watching. Are my hands shaking or is it just in my head?

A show that questions how we physically and mentally keep on going in increasingly difficult times; how do our minds, voices and bodies respond to tiny wins as well as repeated epic failures.

The Rise & Fall was seed-commissioned by Ovalhouse, and developed with the support of Old Vic New Voices and London South Bank University’s inaugural New Digital Storytelling Research Grant.

Shireen Mula is a playwright and theatre-maker. She’s worked in London, regionally and internationally creating work for audiences of all ages. She was an Associate Artist at Ovalhouse and Playwright-on-Attachment at the Royal Court Theatre. Her plays include: Soon Until Forever (Theatre503), Same Same (Ovalhouse & fanSHEN) and Nameless (Arnolfini). Shireen is a lecturer at London South Bank University.

Image credit: Photographer Golda Rosheuvel