Interview: Eddie Loodmer-Elliott on FIJI at Omnibus Theatre

Inspired by real-life events, the critically-acclaimed true crime rom-com, Fiji, is back and tastier than ever. We spoke to performer and co-writer Eddie Loodmer-Elliott ahead of the show’s opening at the Omnibus Theatre tomorrow (8 March).

For those who may not know the true story that Fiji is based on, can you tell us what the play is about and a bit about your character?

So, Fiji is about two late-20-somethings who meet up for the first and ‘hopefully’ last time… It’s a very fun mix of romantic comedy and true-crime thriller, all inspired by real events that went down between Armin Meiwes (‘the Rottenburg Cannibal’) and his consenting victim, Bert Brandes, over twenty years ago. My character, Nick, adopts the Armin Meiwes role in our proceedings but I don’t think he comes across in any way like the ‘monster’ you might at first imagine. We have tried to make him seem as normal, charming and genuine as possible to disarm the entire situation. I think it’s one of the most intriguing things to explore with perceived monsters - to de-monster and see how the motive of the man is evaluated when they are themselves seemingly very nice. 

You were involved in writing the play. How does the process of co-writing work compared to writing something individually?

Yeah, it’s a very different experience, I guess. Writing individually allows you to be the judge of everything which can be a much calmer process (dependent on deadlines) but it is a fundamentally slower process too, I think. I’ve found writing collaboratively makes everything move a lot faster - I wrote my first play by myself and I’m now writing my first feature film alone and it’s taking ages. With Pedro and Evan, everything moves because our time together is finite so that’s great. Each decision has to go through the three of us so we have to find a way to reach a consensus each time, which can be pretty tricky and less calming… although of course they are both very talented so it has really been a joy to work with them. The three of us have been working together for a long time now and really get on like a house on fire. 

How does having been involved in writing a character change the way you approach playing them?

Well in the writing room, Pedro and I would find ourselves advocating for our own characters constantly, to make sure that their voices and intentions were respected (like really annoying actors in a rehearsal room who think every line is about them!) Though it meant that by the time that we got into rehearsals, a massive part of the actors’ job was done because we’d already mapped out their intentions and objectives etc. Each show, Nick definitely grows though and still surprises me. 

What has it been like to be so involved in a show about such challenging and potentially gruesome issues?

It’s been incredibly interesting, really. My Google search history looks absolutely crazy because of the amount of research we’ve all done but it is fascinating to look with a magnifying glass at this taboo issue and almost become numb to it after a while. 

What have your learned from work on Fiji?

Well, we’ve been working on the play on and off for a few years now and so truly our work together has taught me that longevity is really important and essential for growth and development with a piece. 

What has the experience of working in a smaller theatre away from West End been like?

Like with everything, there are always pros and cons. Biggest pro being that connections and lasting relationships with theatres can be made so easily. We’ve been so blessed with our relationship with the Omnibus Theatre for example, who are now co-producers of our show. Marie McCarthy, Artistic Director of the theatre, does such an unbelievable job of supporting emerging artists and trusting them to do their thing. She is outstanding and you just need to look at the volume and quality of the work that is being put on there, season after season, to see that. 

Why should people come to see Fiji and what can they expect from the show?

This show really has something for everyone, even if you’re squeamish. The reason this play has grown and grown is due to the fact there is a hell of a lot of meat on these bones - pardon the pun. So if you want to laugh, gasp or cry - it’s all within reach, we promise.

Fiji runs at the Omnibus Theatre from 8-25 March, with tickets available here.