An Inside Look: London’s VAULT Festival 2019
Last weekend, we went to VAULT Festival 2019, and we were lucky enough to see Balaklava Blues, Counting Sheep, and A Wake in Progress. And on our last day in London, we got to top off our experience by experiencing our first ever Silent Disco Show!
Location: London, England
Our experience at the 2019 VAULT Festival:
VAULT Festival is an arts and entertainment festival that takes place annually in Waterloo, London. They are now in their 7th year, and they are going strong. This year alone, they are hosting 400+ shows from over 2000+ artists!
What stood out to me was the way that the festival was set up. The events were scattered throughout Waterloo and put on at different venues. But most of the action was underground. What seems to be a simple door in the middle of a graffiti-filled tunnel is actually the portal to the heart of the festival.
And just inside the door is something special. The interior is similar to a movie theatre layout. As you walk down the hallway, theatre doors are everywhere. And each one comes with a schedule detailing what shows are going on that night. But just a warning – this hallway walk will bring out the “FOMO” in anyone! As I walked, I began to regret the fact that we were only there for the weekend. I wanted to see everything.
Balaklava Blues & Counting Sheep
Counting Sheep is an immersive and important piece of theatre that’s based on Mark and Marichka Marczyk’s love story and first-hand experience of the 2014 Kiev Uprising. Mark and Marichka also play a huge role in the production itself. They’re writers, creators, musicians, and actors. But they don’t play themselves in the show. Two of the other amazing cast members are the ones to tell their story.
Upon entering the theatre, the audience takes a seat surrounding a long table. Some audience members sit at the table, some sit around the table, and some sit up in the stalls. If you’re sitting in the stalls – you’re an “observer” – viewing the action from above. And if you sit at or around the table, you’re a “protester” – taking part in the action itself.
The play starts out seemingly joyful. There’s Borscht soup, snacks, liquor, dancing, and live music. We dance around the table and listen to stories while we dine. We build up a relationship to the cast before being thrown into the action – which was a beautiful decision.
But a flash of breaking news soon interrupts the dancing. And from this point on, we are a part of the revolution. We lift signs in the air, we wear helmets, and we chant. Things escalate. We help build a barricade. We’re given riot shields, we’re covered with blankets when it’s time to rest, and we’re dropped directly into the uprising.
I can’t give away more than that because this is an experience that’s best, well … experienced. But if Counting Sheep is ever anywhere near where you are – I would strongly recommend checking them out. And make sure to sign up as a protester.
After Counting Sheep, we decided to check out Balaklava Blues, which is Mark and Marichka Marczyk’s live ethno-bass set. We were already excited after seeing the show because the music in Counting Sheep was exceptional. And this couple did not disappoint.
Mark and Marichka have it all – talent, magic, and a captivating story. There’s a spark between these two that’s undeniable. After the show, they were crowded with new fans who gushed about their music.
A Wake in Progress
A Wake in Progress stood out to me from the beginning because it’s a play that openly deals with the concept of dying. In this show, the cast combines interactive elements with a serious subject matter. At the beginning, the cast explains that it’s totally okay for us to leave if we feel uncomfortable. But nobody left. It was a comfortable environment, and the room seemed to be filled with openness.
They went on to explain that they will regularly check in with the audience to grab ideas from us. And they kept their promise! They used so many sparks of audience inspiration throughout. But it was also a comfortable level of audience participation. Nobody seemed to feel bothered by it in the slightest.
Based on input from the audience, our protagonist was chosen, which means that every night is a completely different experience. From there, we learn that the protagonist is sick and only has a certain amount of time left to live.
You would think that the show gets dark from here. And to a certain extent, it does. But there is also a weight that’s lifted through the telling of this story. There’s a new sense of understanding that drifts through the audience. As the night goes on, we learn that our protagonist’s dying wish is to actually witness her funeral. She wanted to have a “funeral dress rehearsal” if you will.
And that is exactly what we as an audience experience together with her. But it’s no ordinary funeral. There’s champagne and candy (for everyone), lyric sheets (that we all sing with), poems, and party hats (for all of us, of course). It’s the most beautiful version of a funeral that you can imagine. A Wake in Progress was written by Joel Samuels. The cast consisted of Andrew David, Molly Small, Stella Taylor, Daniel Ward, and Amy Fleming, who was our host on the night we saw the show.
The Silent Disco Show
Our whole weekend was topped off with a super fun Silent Disco Show by TheProducersUK. You have probably heard of silent discos by now. But this was no ordinary silent disco. It was a silent disco party mixed with live entertainment! So throughout the night, we got to watch burlesque, hula hooping, fire eating, and other fun surprises.
And the whole experience was even more special because we had Darren Hart (aka Hartman)➝ as our DJ. By the way, if you are unsure of how a silent disco party works, everyone is given a pair of headphones, and you get to choose the music that you’d like to listen and dance to. There are three channels for your enjoyment.
And the coolest part? Your headphones light up with a certain color based on the channel you’re listening to, which means you always know who is listening to what music.
VAULT Festival Interviews
Interview with Mark and Marichka Marczyk (Counting Sheep)
Theatre Trip: When did you first discover your ability to make great music together?
Marichka: We didn’t know that we could sing together back when we met in 2014. We were busy on a revolution, and it wasn’t until six months after we met that we found out that our voices are very strong together. And when we decided to put our lives together, we discovered that our power would be at least twice as strong if we make music together.
Mark: I had already gone back to Canada after the peak of the revolution and decided to return to tour across the country with a project dedicated to expressing and exploring the effects of the revolution through music and writing. It was called Lemonchiki Project and it was created by the two of us on a whim as we were trying to figure out what to do next. I returned to Ukraine with a Mexican, a Breton, and a Quebecer, and we started to put together a repertoire of songs of protest from around the world. In from of a 3rd floor window in our Kiev apartment we first heard our voices fly together in the steam of two cups of tea cooling on the table.
“My only advice is to not be afraid of anything. To believe on your own power and keep telling your truth.” – Marichka Marczyk
Theatre Trip: What’s your favorite thing about working on projects together as a couple?
Mark: That the music is a direct expression of our lives together. That there is often no boundary between what we are thinking or feeling or arguing about and what we present to an audience. That it sometimes feels like we are still in that Kiev apartment sipping tea and discovering each other’s voices, even when we’re in front of hundreds of people.
Marichka: My favorite thing about working with Mark is the power. I feel like we can change the world together. Of course, we sometimes have different visions on things. But it’s our creative process. And we always find a strong compromise of what usually works.
Theatre Trip: And what has been the biggest challenge about working together?
Mark: Well, like all couples, we fight occasionally. It is inevitable and human and beautiful to be able to overcome every argument with communication, patience, understanding, and love. But f*ck— when we’re in the heat of it and need to perform, it’s not the most pleasant thing in the world.
Marichka: And when we see a reaction of audience or when we get a successful review, it inspires us to keep doing what we are doing.
“Don’t be afraid of risk. Embrace change. Own what you have created and create space for others to own it too.” – Mark Marczyk
Theatre Trip: How has Counting Sheep changed or evolved since the first show in 2015?
Marichka: In 2015 we just came back from Eastern Ukraine and decide to write a play about a revolution. We wrote a big script and started to rehearse with Mark’s band, The Lemon Bucket Orkestra. But then we realized that the best way to tell this story is through the music. Because we are musicians. So it was a folk opera with documentary video and food. The first shows were just for 30 audience members. We continued to grow, and after a big success at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe, we brought Counting Sheep to Germany, Ireland, England, and the US.
Mark: It was at heart a community project when it started. We literally approached everyone we knew to help us tell the story and it was very moving to see how many people were willing to contribute in ways big and small so that we could realize this dream and raise money for humanitarian aid to war-torn Ukraine.
It grew consistently since then. We toured the world with The Lemon Bucket Orkestra as a text-less guerrilla folk opera and won many awards and accolades. Then we met Nikolai and Natalia from Belarus Free Theatre➝ and immediately found in them kindred creative and political spirits. They really pushed us to tell our personal story and to evolve the music while bringing a greater physicality and stylized theatricality to the work— VAULT Festival is the “premiere” of this version of Counting Sheep.
Marichka: The version that we’re now presenting in London is absolutely different. It’s a totally new show. This is a story about the revolution of dignity, but based on our personal love story. It’s written by Mark in English. With other actors playing us.
Theatre Trip: Do you have any advice for those who would also like to create/produce theatre based on their own unique life experiences?
Marichka: My only advice is to not be afraid of anything. To believe on your own power and keep telling your truth.
Mark: Do it. Make it because you have to. Don’t be afraid of risk. Embrace change. Own what you have created and create space for others to own it too. Don’t underestimate empathy, but also don’t expect it. Which brings me back to making it because you have to.
Interview with Amy Fleming (A Wake in Progress):
Theatre Trip: At what point did you first discover your love for acting?
Amy: I always loved doing school plays. But the first time I really remember falling in love with it was while auditioning for Baloo the bear in an Irish language version of The Jungle Book. I was quite a shy kid, and I just remember feeling confident and in control for the first time. I only wish I felt like that in every audition I go to now!
Theatre Trip: Can you tell us a bit more about what sparked your career transition from science into theatre?
Amy: I always knew that I wanted to be an actress, but I also knew that I didn’t have a whole lot of confidence and that I was quite sensitive. I heard lots of horror stories about drama schools knocking you down to build you up, and I didn’t feel ready for that. I always loved science in school, and all my family thought it would be good to have a back up plan in case a career in acting never happened. So I decided to go to university and study molecular medicine. Although I loved my course, I was always popping home to do plays with my youth theatre, Kildare Youth Theatre➝, throughout my degree. I eventually became part of their mother company, Crooked House Theatre Company➝, so the plan was always to end up working in theatre.
After I finished my degree, the plan was to move back home, get a job and save for drama school, but sadly it was a bad time for graduates in my town, so I didn’t end up getting that job. Instead, I ended up emigrating to London and discovering that drama school is an absolute fortune and way out of my financial reach. So I decided to work my way up instead. A much slower, harder route, but I’ve had a lot of amazing experiences and roles. So I wouldn’t trade it for the world!
“Being creative is one of the best things you can do for your brain, and immersive/interactive theatre really offers audiences a chance to be creative.”
Theatre Trip: What is it that attracts you to interactive/immersive theatre?
Amy: For me, it’s building the story with the audience and allowing them to taste even a smidgen of the joy and satisfaction I get from storytelling and performing. I think being creative is one of the best things you can do for your brain. And immersive/interactive theatre really offers audiences a chance to be creative. The best interactive/immersive shows offer audiences a true choice, and I love that you can never predict what audiences will say or do. Keeps you on your toes!
Theatre Trip: If you could give one piece of advice to those who are brand new to acting, what would it be?
Have a side job that gives you a sense of job satisfaction. There are so many gaps between acting gigs. And unless you are lucky, you may have to have two more jobs. But it can often feel like you are waiting for your career to happen while you are in those jobs. And that can really affect your mental health. As I get older, I realise that your side job should be just as rewarding to you so that you don’t feel like you are spending your life waiting for it to happen.
Interview with Darren Hart (The Silent Disco Show):
Darren is both a professional actor and an amazing DJ. He’s living proof that acting can be applied to an infinite number of disciplines and industries. If you’re juggling more than one passion in life, here are some words of wisdom.
Theatre Trip: The variety of projects that you’re working on is inspiring! At what point did you first discover your love for acting?
Darren: Thank you for saying that. I discovered my love for acting very early. Primary school in fact. Drama excited me, and I loved doing assemblies and school productions.
Theatre Trip: Would you say that your background in acting has been helpful for your DJing career?
Darren: 100%. I am a performing DJ. When you DJ, all eyes are all you! You can win or lose a crowd in seconds. The confidence I gained as an actor really helps in this arena. When you pick the right song and the dance floor goes crazy, it’s like getting your standing ovations in a show.
“There are no rules saying you must only do one thing. So if you are passionate about something, and have time to make it happen, do it.”
Theatre Trip: Do you have any pre-show rituals or ways that you pump yourself up before stepping onstage as a Silent Disco DJ?
Darren: Nothing crazy. I just like a minute to myself. To tell myself to go and do what I love to do. I just trust my gut and enjoy it. Then I pick my first tune.
Theatre Trip: Do you have any advice for those who are also interested in pursuing multiple artistic projects?
Darren: I would say not to limit yourself. A good friend of mine told me that “There are no real limits, just the limit of your own imagination. So dream big.” And I live by that thinking. There are no rules saying you must only do one thing. So if you are passionate about something, and have time to make it happen, do it.
Did you go to VAULT Festival 2019?
We’d love to hear about the shows you’ve seen in the comments below! And in the meantime, feel free to check out our blog post archive of past theatre visits for some insight on what’s going on in theaters around the world.
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* A special thanks to VAULT Festival, A Wake in Progress, Counting Sheep, and Silent Disco Party for inviting us to the shows!
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Author: Stacy Karyn
Stacy Karyn is the founder of Theatre Trip, author of The Thespian’s Bucket List, and creator of The Cast Album List. She holds a BA in theatre and a TESOL drama certificate, with experience working and interning in Broadway and Off-Broadway theaters.
