Here at LittlePod, we’re proud to be supporting the local arts in East Devon in 2024. To mark the Farringdon Society of Arts’ 20th year, we’re lending our backing to a series of cultural events, which will take place in the village this autumn. Kicking things off on September 16th will be a performance of The Magical Screentest of Isobel Jeffery by Philip Kingslan John and his Four of Swords Theatre Group at the Springs Gallery. Keen to find out more, Paul gave Philip a call. These are his words:

I’m delighted to be returning to Farringdon, more than 15 years since I first met Janet. I always say that I was dubiously inveigled into the FSA’s production of The Burial at Thebes. But I’ve always felt immensely grateful. These early experiences with the FSA first opened the door for me to the world of theatre making and propelled me into what has become a career. I did very little acting at school. Looking back on my university years, and given the rich tradition of Footlights and drama at Cambridge, it seems ridiculous that I didn’t make more of the opportunities on offer there. But I wasn’t the same person as I am now. I was still finding myself.

Having graduated from Cambridge, I left the UK to work and travel in Japan, China and Mongolia. I later returned to train as a teacher. But I had a love-hate relationship with teaching and attempted to run away from the profession. I really wanted to be an artist, but I hadn’t made it happen. I sought work as a graphic designer and photographer. In the midst of this endeavour, a friend of my parents suggested that I should meet Janet, who was well connected in the local arts scene. I arranged to visit. When I left her house later, I hadn’t even opened my portfolio, but I had accepted a part in her play! The rest is history.

Flying by the seat of my pants…

My first love, arts-wise, was comic books, but theatre soon became my main artistic focus. I took a job at a school in London, but returned regularly to Devon for various community theatre adventures. For the first time since I was at school, I acted – in Thebes in 2008 – and the following year, I directed Alcestis for the FSA. This was the catalyst that propelled me towards where I am now. I remember driving to Dartington with Janet and suggesting that the FSA follow up Thebes with another Greek play. She said, “Well, why don’t you direct it?” I hadn’t even considered that as a possibility. It was an intense process. I was flying by the seat of my pants!

The FSA sponsored me to attend the Yeats Society’s summer school in Sligo. I hadn’t been to Ireland before and it was an awesome experience. I got to meet Seamus Heaney, some cool young Yeatsians and artists from all around the world. That summer, I met and worked with Joan and Sam McCready, which was just fabulous. We worked together on an interpretation of Dreaming of the Bones, which is a wistful, melancholic ghost story, inspired by Noh Theatre. It strikes me now that The Tale of Trista ‘Heb Skovam’ – the play that we’ve been touring with this summer – owes a debt to Yeats. I still use the games and activities that I learnt from Joan and Sam today.

Wacky, wonderful and not at all heavy…

‘Magical Screentest’ is a disarmingly-honest self portrait of aspiring actor Isobel Jeffery. This is an heroic, inspiring tale of how Isobel overcomes learning disabilities and health problems, fighting to transcend other people’s ideas of what she might be capable of. The show tells the true story of how Isobel struggled in her teenage years with misdiagnosed epilepsy, the consequences of this for her heath and lifestyle, and how she is fighting to realise her dream of becoming an actor. It sounds a bit heavy, but it isn’t. Taking the form of a conversation between Isobel and the cartoonish film producer Mr Hollywood Big Bucks, their interview is punctuated with demonstrations of the tactics Isobel has developed to learn scripts, a mind-bending quiz on world mythology and some short films of skits and sketches, all created from the wonderfully-wacky imagination of Isobel Jeffery!

Four of Swords was founded in 2012. We’ve been creating relentlessly visceral, vibrant and immersive theatre, film and art projects across the South West ever since. It was whilst working on a Grand Guignol show with Exeter Alternative Theatre that I met Sarah White, my business partner and Four of Swords co-founder. We were both dissatisfied with our day jobs and decided to kick them to the kerb and embrace a life of artistic gratification and financial instability! These days, we specialise in provocative site-responsive productions. We have created 13 public shows and engaged more than 16,000 people through our performances and workshops. Four of Swords is small, but we create big, unforgettable experiences.

Delighted to be involved this autumn…

I lost touch with Janet for a while after Alcestis. In 2018, we were doing a show at Beer Caves and I was driving back and forth past Farringdon. I thought I should pop in and say hello. Earlier this year, I visited again and enjoyed a wonderful lunch with Janet and Dave. I was interested to hear about Janet’s Japanese adventures, to see the wonderful painted flower decorations in the church again and to have a tour of LittlePod HQ. Janet and the FSA are singly responsible for igniting my passion for theatre and setting me on this path. I’m delighted to be involved this September and to help celebrate everything that Janet, the FSA and LittlePod have accomplished.

Local arts organisations are so important for creating forums and platforms for people to pursue and develop their artistic inclinations. The individuals behind these organisations are even more important. Janet has an amazing track record of personally investing in people, and supporting and creating opportunities for them. Large scale, established arts enterprises have a stranglehold on dictating what art is. But small, local arts companies can think outside these limitations and listen to what communities want. It is through creating and experiencing art that we access unique spaces within the human condition. Please come and see us in September and support your local arts scene!

• Phil and Four of Swords will perform at the Springs Gallery in Farringdon on Monday, September 16th. Tickets are £7 and all proceeds will go to Four of Swords. Like to find out more / reserve a place? Visit the FSA for details, email sales@littlepod.co.uk or call 01395 232022.

• Like to find out more about our events and how LittlePod is supporting the arts in East Devon? Please read our blog. Find further details about Four of Swords here.