We are delighted to welcome James Mannion, writer, actor and singer in The Manifestation of Trim Tab Jim, as a guest blogger for FringeReview. Here, James shares the one-page manifesto that sits at the heart of this mind-bending political sci-fi musical theatre show. The Manifestation of Trim Tab Jim plays throughout May/June in the Brighton Fringe 2018; see flyer for dates or click the link for tickets.
A message from Trim Tab
Have you ever had the feeling that the world might not be real? That the universe might be a computer simulation? I think it makes more sense than anything else. I think life is a strategy game, and that the aim of the game is to stop humanity from destroying itself. Anyway, I should probably introduce myself.
My name is Trim Tab and I don’t know who I am.
I’m writing this from my room at the Queen Elizabeth hospital in Greenwich. Two months ago, I awoke from a coma. Apparently I’d been in a hit and run. I have something called ‘total retrograde amnesia’. This means I don’t have any memories from before the accident. Also, when I was admitted to the hospital I didn’t have any ID on me. So the doctors don’t know who I am either.
I do remember one thing though. When I was in the coma, I met the Angel of Death. I liked her. I promised her that I’d dedicate the rest of my life to worthwhile causes, but for the life of me I can’t remember what they are.
The Angel of Death gave me a name: Trim Tab. I looked it up. It’s the name for a tiny rudder that can change the course of a vast ocean liner. I think she was trying to tell me that even though a person is really small, you can change the world if you set your mind to it.
My psychiatrist is called Dr Fuller. She has lots of time for me – sometimes, I wonder if she’s a bit too interested in me. She took me out for the day last week, and we ended up on a protest march – the May Day march for worker’s rights. It didn’t make sense to me – there were so many different causes on display, I couldn’t tell what people were protesting against – or what they wanted to happen instead.
Dr Fuller told me I should write a manifesto, so I did. Here it is. What do you think of it?
I have to leave the hospital soon because they need the bed. Apparently, I’m going to stay in a hostel. It doesn’t sound very nice. I’m not sure what I’ll do with myself. If you want to find out what happens to me – and whether the world is real – come along to St Nicholas’ Church in the Brighton Fringe. I’ll be there telling my story throughout May.
A bit of background
We debuted our first show, The Reincarnation of Trim Tab Jim, at the Brighton Fringe in 2015. It received some fantastic reviews – not least from within the pages of Fringe Review – and sold out the Old Court Room theatre on the final night of the run. We went on to perform the show at the Old Market in Hove, and Union Chapel in London. This year we’re returning to the Brighton Fringe with our new show – we can’t wait to hear what people think of it.
Visit the show’s web site here.
Follow us on Twitter here.
Buy tickets here.
