Interview: Actor Rosa Amos on FLIES at Shoreditch Town Hall

Following the critical success of Josephine’s trail-blazing I, Joan, the acclaimed writer once again disrupts the narrative with their brave reimagining of the classic novel Lord of the Flies. We spoke to Rosa Amos who is making her professional debut in Flies at Shoreditch Town Hall.

What is Flies about and how does it respond to the classic text, Lord of the Flies? 

Flies is about girls growing up in the male gaze and what comes with that. It explores how it affects people in different ways and shows their different reactions. The group empower themselves through movement and learning from one another. I would say that it is somewhat of a response to Lord of the Flies but I don’t want to give too much away in the way that we do this. 

Do audiences need to have read Lord of the Flies to appreciate this play? 

In my opinion, no, they don't have to. For the people who have, they might understand parts of the play a bit more but it's definitely not important to read it. Flies is its own story and if anything, I would suggest not knowing the story if you don't already. 

Can you tell us a bit about your character and your process in creating them? 

We are still in the early stages of working out the play and I'm still getting to know my character, Girl 2. I think one of the most interesting parts for me so far has been trying to understand Girl 2 and making connections throughout the play about my character. Right now, I'm in the process of building Girl 2’s journeys through the play and building their relationships with the rest of the characters. 

This is your professional debut. What is it like to be working on a new play as your first professional one? 

I feel so grateful that my professional debut is with Boundless Theatre as their work centres around young people and their investment in this play has made me feel so secure. I'm working with people who are in the same boat as me and I'm working on a play that I feel passionate about and connected to. Flies is so exciting to me and so are the people I get to work with. I'm feeling very fortunate to be having this as my first experience working on a professional show and with it being a new play text, there's so much freedom with how we approach it.

What did you learn during the rehearsal process? 

I've learnt about keeping yourself safe in a rehearsal room. For example, how to leave the work we do in the room so that we don’t carry it with us as actors . The topics that we are discussing are heavy so it's really important that you learn how to switch off and disconnect from it when it's the right time. 

One thing I loved with this rehearsal process is that we had so much space to play and try all our options out and another thing that I learnt is that it's totally fine for nothing to work and it not to be perfection straight away. 

Why is this play so important in the current political and social climate? 

It's so important because throughout the play we discuss topics and issues that universally people will relate and connect to. The characters say things that people think about and they say things that people want to say but don't have the space to say it. There are still so many problems that need changing and this will take time. I also think this play is so important for the younger generation as this is the kind of stuff I wish I could have seen a group of young performers play when I was 12. 

What do you hope audiences will learn and take away with them from this play? 

I hope it would make people evaluate what they say and the way it may come across, in order to change the way we treat each other. Each audience member will have a different play and have a unique experience which gives them the opportunity to take away what they need. I hope it gives them the space to start to reflect and understand what needs to happen going forward. I also really hope that it empowers people and makes them feel recognised. For those who it resonates with, let this play be a piece that empowers you and makes you feel recognised.

Flies plays at Shoreditch Town Hall until 11 March, with further information here.