Why should people come to see Pronoun?

FRANKY: Pronoun is a great exploration of gender and sexuality, and makes a really important point in not conflating those two things. It is an entertaining show and it portrays a really under-represented side of teenage experience, whilst staying sensitive and true to real experiences.

SOPHIE: I’ve been so impressed by all the hard work that the entirety of the cast has put into understanding the ideas that are behind the structure of the play, going further than learning just about their own parts. While it does, of course, confront complex issues, the play is truly uplifting and has been a joy to work on. The actors’ willingness to engage in productive discussions, to ask questions and not be afraid to take risks with their portrayals has led to the development of fantastic performances all round.

How was the casting process?

SOPHIE: In terms of the main role, we were lucky enough to have a few trans actors come along to auditions, one of whom, although we felt he didn’t fit the role, we also took on board as an associate director, since he was excited to be involved in that capacity instead. I actually think our casting decisions for the Mum and Dad roles have been central too. Joe Pieri and Julia Xavier-Stier have done a fabulous job jumping into their gender-bent roles, which act as a vehicle for the play’s exploration of how gender is little more than a series of performances.

FRANKY: I wanted to audition because the part struck such a chord with me, and because the show seemed like a unique perspective on trans experience in that it’s not focused so much on actual transition; rather it’s focused more on the other parts of Dean’s life – his friends, parents and boyfriend – and so he is not just ‘a trans character’, he is a character that happens to be trans.

As an actor, what are the challenges posed by Pronoun?

FRANKY: For me what has been difficult is that the play has forced me to confront parts of my life and experience that really resonate with Dean’s experience. It has brought those thoughts and feelings to the front of my mind in a very explicit way and I’ve found it interesting to interact with them. But it’s also been important for me to remember that this is Dean talking, and not just me.

Have you been able to strike a balance between approaching the subject matter with sensitivity and with boldness?

FRANKY: Sensitivity has been key, it’s a very personal and sensitive topic, which we’re hoping to present truthfully and not in a caricatured way. We’ve found it important to remember that drama does not happen in a vacuum, and forms part of wider discussions about gender, sexuality, growing up and relationships, amongst other things.

SOPHIE: I absolutely agree, I couldn’t have said it better myself. It does involve a certain level of boldness, but I think that was inherent in Evan Placey’s writing, so it was our job to then take the script and approach the scenes with maximum sensitivity.

What is your stance on trigger warnings for plays of a particularly sensitive nature?

SOPHIE: The importance of trigger warnings ultimately comes down to the emotional wellbeing and comfort of the audience. They allow people to be aware of the presence of issues that may elicit a potentially damaging emotional response. There is sometimes the sense in the theatre world that such things would be ‘spoilers,’ but I don’t think this should be a consideration when presenting potentially triggering issues. We currently have TWs and content notes on our Camdram entry, and following the wonderful work done by the team of SWALLOW earlier this term, we will also have these available from stewards for anyone who asks.

Why is it important to you to represent trans characters on stage?

FRANKY: Trans characters are rare enough in plays and films as it is, and quite often when they are present, they’re not nuanced as characters. It’s also important to have these parts played by trans actors. There’s such a glaring lack of representation of trans people and actors in the media, and it’s an experience that is very difficult to understand unless you’ve personally experienced it. So for that reason I think Pronoun is doing some good work in boosting representation, not only of trans characters, but also of trans actors, especially in trans roles.

SOPHIE: I’d also like to pick up on that idea of Dean as a nuanced character, resisting at every stage becoming in any way a representative or stereotyped persona. This issue of challenging stereotypes is one of tantamount importance, since the nature of a stereotype is that it encourages conformity to a certain societal norm, which comes to be seen as accepted through common representation of it. In turn, this means that real people’s deviations from this perceived norm, as portrayed on TV or on stage, are made 'other' in the eyes of society, limiting real trans people’s agency over their gender expression and identity.

What do you want audience members to come away with after seeing Pronoun?

FRANKY: A realisation that being trans, though often a core part of someone’s identity, does not define them and that they are more nuanced than some portrayals of trans people can suggest.

SOPHIE: We want people to be uplifted, we want them to realise that there is so much more to any individual than their gender, or sexuality, and come away with a fresh, and crucially, a positive perspective on what it means for someone to be trans, of course for that individual, but equally for those who love them.

Pronoun runs from Tuesday 7th to Saturday 11th June at 7pm at the Corpus Playroom.