60 Seconds With… Ariel of ‘How to Believe in Anything’

Briefly introduce yourself/your company…
My name is Ariel Slack, I’m a theatre artist who mostly works as a set/props designer. I’m a Studio 58 grad (2018) who grew up reading a lot of sci-fi, which is finally (FINALLY) being put to use. This “company” was dreamed up around the same time as this show dropped into my head. Dreamphase (dreamphase productions) is the stage in which a lot of my ideas die or get stuck in; I can never quite get them out of the dream phase and into the action phase. The other folks involved in this show are all amazing artists who have no problems turning ideas into actions. I give all the credit to them as being the reason this show exists and isn’t still a dream.

What is it that makes your work/company unique
Instead of answering the “what makes your company unique” question I’m going to explain what my favourite part about this group of people is: It’s the mind-reading powers everybody has. I’m a big believer in a holistic-vision-style collaborative process when it comes to creating theatre and that’s been such a natural fit with these folks. Most of us have worked together in the past and it means that half the time we don’t need to say anything, we just pick up on what the other person is thinking/wanting and adjust. Everybody’s so aligned when it comes to the vision of this thing that it’s been seamless bringing it all together.

What kind of experience do you hope audiences will have during your show?
An out-of-this-world (and maybe out-of-body) experience.

Without spoilers, tell us what you think audiences will remember most about your show?
Aliens wipe your brain after you see them, so I’m not sure they’ll be able to remember anything about this show unfortunately. Just kidding! I hope the audience remembers the story, and keeps thinking about what it means to be caught in a cycle.

What do you think is the best thing about the Fringe?
The best thing about Fringeing is the surprise factor, on stage and off. I love being able to flip open the schedule and say “okay, I’ve got an hour to fill, what can I see”. You end up going on these incredible adventures that can sometimes be life-changing. Plus the people you meet every year are always a beautiful part of the festival. Fringe Friends are the people you run into again and again in line for different shows, and the artists you keep running into year after year. Love them!

What is the most important thing you hope audiences will take away from your show?
The most important thing I hope audiences will take away is how it feels to be a witness to something you cannot stop, and how to listen when someone really, really needs to tell you their secret.