SHEEP! is a new play by Finnish theatremaker Jenni Nikinmaa. It is the strange, impactful and comedic journey back to the flock after violence, guided by the fluffy resilience of sheep. It premieres this October at Colchester Fringe. Fringe Review’s Dr.Pants interviews Nikinmaa head of the festival.
NAP: Hello Jenni! So I’ve been very excited to interview you as I’ve already seen a lot of hype for Sheep! ahead of the festival. It has had great success on the fringe circuit. Tell us: what is Sheep! about?
JN: Sheep! is a play about belonging and flocks, and the struggle of that after violence. It’s a monologue that explores both the sequence of emotions I went through after a sexual assault – but it does this with an extended and off-beat comedic metaphor of sheep – and the wider issues of belonging to a flock in a world where individualism is spiraling out of control.
NAP: So why sheep?
JN: This information is included within the play and you should come and see it to find out why I am now known as the sheep lady in Galway, and why I keep bleating in inappropriate places.
NAP: There’s a lot of shows on during the fringe. What makes your show stand out from the rest?
JN: There’s a drinking song you get to sing along with if you wish, created by Katy Perry – not the singer, one of the sheep; you’ll meet a death metal sheep; join the cult, the cult of only kind things; and all of this is woven into an extraordinary story full of vicarious resilience, provocation and unblinking kindness.
Everyone who has seen this play has felt its impact, which is like a hug at the end of a treacherous path. Also, sheep.
NAP: While the show is quite comedic, the show deals with difficult themes of sexual assault and violence, particularly violence that’s happened to you. That’s a vulnerable position to be in as a performer. What inspired you to perform this piece? How do you keep yourself safe as a performer?
JN: The assault actually happened between the first idea of the play and when I began writing it. It was always about flocks and belonging, and the experience had such a profound impact on my sense of safety which then led to me not really trusting people around me for a few years until I finally spoke about what happened. I’ve worked with sensitive personal stuff before, and besides going to therapy and working with Galway Rape Crisis Centre to get an expert outside viewpoint, I have developed a skill to speak truth with such softness and consideration that it is safe for me and the audience.
NAP: You really value accessibility in dealing with the intense subject matter. Can you tell us about the support you have in place for those who might need it?
JN: If you are nervous about attending because of the theme or audience participation, you can get to know the show beforehand via our audience guide. The guide includes details of the show and supports those who want to see the show but are worried if they can. It’s not a requirement to read to come and see Sheep! it’s just a measure of care while working on a sensitive topic! I’m also available for chats!
NAP: Why did you decide to perform at Colchester Fringe?
JN: This play is my favourite child, and I want it to find audiences with whom it resonates. People who have experienced sexual violence or violence, people who have been called crazy for their reactions, people who want to understand and support – people who have ben accused of assaulting someone who don’t understand why that happened! To this regard, I want to go to as many places as I can to find those who connect with this fierce little play that is not about you. Definitely not about you. It’s about sheep!
NAP: What has been the biggest challenge in preparing/performing your work?
JN: Sheep! has a huge flock behind it and a long journey through various forms of support and help to a point of premiere last May, but a lot of the work falls on me as the writer/performer who produced her own work and is now promoting and touring it to find its audiences. I wish I had a flock I could bring with me! But at the same time, each show of Sheep! becomes a flock of its own and I’m really looking forward to that.
NAP: What are you hopeful audiences will leave your show feeling or doing?
JN: I hope they are full of vicarious resilience, the feeling of being understood and seen if they have ever experienced any form of abuse. Or, as one of my playwright mentors said when he read the first script draft “As a heterosexual man who eats meat and drives everywhere, I feel bad in the best way possible.” Come and be impacted, I dare you!
