Keith Saha chats about 20 Stories High's Headz

Describe Headz

Headz is a collection of contemporary urban monologues. There are 11 altogether told over 4 nights and are based on the lives and stories of young adults in Liverpool.

How did Alan Bennett inspire you?

When I was a teenager I remember watching Talking Heads on the telly and being absolutely blown away. There was something in the quality and the depth of the story telling that I hadn't seen on TV before and I hadn't seen monologues on TV either – they just had a startling intimacy.

I also remember Bennet being satirised around the same time on Spitting Image as something very cosy and twee, but what I love about his writing is that he plays with our preconceptions of suburban middle England and slowly takes us to places that are much darker and tortured. I think he's a far edgier writer than people give him credit for. I also remember Talking Heads 2 in 1999 again being just as powerful and adventurous especially the one told from the perspective of the paedophile who was a park keeper.

Are there any other writers you admire who have written monologues?

I’m a big fan of Innua Ellams who is a playwright, visual artist, performer and poet. His storytelling is beautiful and epic, his language is playful and hypnotising. I love the fusion of classical influences combined with a more modern Hip-Hop flavour.

What does the piece offer newcomers to theatre?

Headz is a good night out. The stories are really different from each other but also connected, funny, moving and raw. And they hopefully shine a light on the lives of a group of people that don’t often get represented on the stage. Our ethos at 20 Stories High is "Everybody has a story to tell… and their own way of telling it…" I still think that theatre generally is too white and too middle class. Not to say that means it’s always bad theatre, I just wish it could be more diverse in its way of whose stories get told and
also more imaginative in what forms it uses. Headz is definitely trying to re-dress the balance.

What do you hope young people will take away from the experience?

For young people coming, hopefully they will see themselves, their communities and their stories being represented in new and interesting ways. And for the more traditional theatre goers hopefully a fresh insight into what it is like being a young adult in 2014.

What types of theatre get you excited?

I love all kinds of theatre… I'm a big fan. Whether it be traditional kitchen sink, big Shakespeare productions or Hip Hop theatre that plays with form and stretches conventions. But I suppose with all of these it has to make me feel as much as it
makes me think. When I leave a play, I want to be moved in some way but also engage with something that is going to stretch my thinking, whether it be a big political question or something about the human condition.

Have you seen anything lately that blew you away?

Kate Tempests’ Brand New Ancients was amazing. One poet with a band and a performance that was so committed. Dmitry Krymov Lab Opus No 7 at the Barbican was astounding exploring the persecution of soviet Jews around the time of the censorship of Shostakovich under Stalin. All this was told visually, giant puppets, video projection and 7 cast iron grand pianos all clashing into each other like bumper cars. It all sounds a bit pretentious but was an exhilarating and thought-provoking piece. Also Rubbish by Theatre Rites…a small scale piece about rubbish, and what we do with it… with amazing puppetry.

Why should people see Headz?.

If you want a really honest portrayal of young people in 2014, come and see Headz. I've had the privilege of working with young people on a weekly basis for the past 8 years…they were a part of the development of this piece, and what their input gives is an unapologetic honesty and it chronicles their struggles, fears and hopes in Britain 2014. It’s full of human stories but also hopefully a very political piece. It’s 11 different monologues over 4 nights so dip your toe in and out and see what you
fancy.

Headz is at the Liverpool Playhouse Studio from 2 – 5 July and Contact, Manchester on 10 July.