Interview: Actress Gemma Lawrence on ANYTHING IS POSSIBLE IF YOU THINK ABOUT IT HARD ENOUGH
Anything Is Possible If You Think About It Hard Enough is a play that takes us to the depth of grief to find hope, to the edge of insanity to find reason and finds humour in the most unexpected places.
Ahead of its opening at Southwark Playhouse tomorrow, we spoke to actress Gemma Lawrence (who plays Alex) about the new play and portraying such a hard hitting story surrounding stillbirth.
How are you and how does it feel to be back in a rehearsal room following the shutdown?
I’m good thank you! So happy to be back in a rehearsal room. Rehearsal rooms thrive off human contact and interaction, everything we’ve been missing over the last 18 months, so it really is so exciting. There isn’t a Zoom call in sight.
How did you find the shutdown period on both a personal and creative level?
Obviously it was really hard being so isolated from friends and family - that was definitely the hardest bit for me. I was lucky creatively as it gave me a lot of time to write. The product of that was my debut play Sunnymead Court, which followed two women who fell in love from the safety of their balconies during the first lockdown. It opened in October 2020 at the Actors Centre, before coming back to Arcola this summer.
Can you tell us a little bit about what audiences can expect from Anything Is Possible If You Think About It Hard Enough?
It is an unflinching exploration of grief and loss, but also a celebration of human resilience and hope. At its heart is the beautiful and very funny relationship of Alex and Rupert. They are so wonderfully written, I hope audiences will fall in love with them as much as I have.
Being a new play, how much creative ownership have you had over your role as Alex?
As it’s a new play, we have the writer Cordelia O’Neill in the room with us in rehearsals, so the play is constantly evolving. It really allows for a lot of collaboration and means we, as actors, can have a very active role in the process.
How do you feel appearing in a play that handles such an important subject matter as stillbirth?
1 in 200 births in England are stillborn. I had no idea about this until I started working on the show, which I think is in part due to the culture of silence around the topic. It feels hugely important to break down that silence and start having these conversations.
Does this show lean towards being for those who have very sadly been through stillbirth or is it accessible for all audiences?
It’s definitely accessible for everyone. While it deals with a very specific story, its themes of hope and resilience are universal, and I think particularly given the collective experience of the last eighteen months.
How has it been working with Huw Parmenter (who plays Rupert) on such a hard-hitting piece?
He’s great. We really get on and have a laugh, which is absolutely key when working on hard subject matter. He’s a brilliant Rupert, and such a joy to act with.
Small Things Theatre Company are known for their thought-provoking work. How important do you feel it is to tackle these issues in theatre?
So vital! Theatre is such a brilliant space to tackle difficult issues, and can often do so in a more playful, risky way than other mediums.
Are there any plans for the show to have further life beyond its Southwark Playhouse run?
Who knows… I would love there to be.
How would you encourage audiences to buy a ticket for Anything Is Possible If You Think About It Hard Enough?
Come along! It is a beautiful story of hope and grief, which I promise will make you laugh too.
Anything Is Possible If You Think About It Hard Enough runs at Southwark Playhouse from 22 September-9 October 2021. To book tickets, please click here.
