INTERVIEW | Linus Karp, Awkward Productions

The legal battle between a Utah optometrist and Holly A-lister Gwyneth Paltrow has provided us with a lot of memes and bizarre headlines but now there’s a new production for us to also sink our teeth into from Awkward Productions.

The harbingers of queer chaos will transform London’s Pleasance Theatre into Deer Valley Ski Resort from 13 December in a brand new show this Christmas. Gwyneth Goes Skiing sounds brilliant and ahead of its opening we spoke with Linus Karp to find out more about it.

First it was Princess Diana, now it's Gwyneth Paltrow getting the whole treatment in your new production ‘Gwyneth Goes Skiing’ - what draws you to creating work around women, specifically those with some kind of relationship with mainstream media?

We are queer men living for pop culture. The list of famous iconic women we’re obsessing over is endless. We want to create work that is positive and celebrate what we love - which very much includes these women.

Where did you begin in your creative process of developing this work?

The trial was so ridiculous and dramatic - we very much thought there was a show in it as it was all playing out. Gwyneth ending it all with the “I wish you well” whisper - just incredible. We were gooped.

What have been the challenges of creating this work, especially when there are just two of you in the company? Do you also have to adapt and change anything when there’s obviously news reports on the subject matter whilst you are maybe in development?

There are always challenges being a small, queer, independent duo creating theatre. It’s been amazing to have the support of The Pleasance behind us and that’s taken a lot of the weight off. I think by now we’ve got very good at delivering big ideas on small budgets, and it’s incredible what you can do with a cast of two when you have some imagination…

What can audiences expect from Gwyneth Goes Skiing if they haven’t experienced your work before?

A wild ride. We make live theatre where live is the key word - you don’t just watch the show, you become part of it. 

As a creative, what is your favourite part of creating work like Gwyneth Goes Skiing? 

The work we make is ridiculous but still full of heart. We are laughing together everyday - it’s actually unreal that doing things like this is our lives! 

You’ve got music in this production from RuPaul’s Drag Race’s Leland, how has this influenced the storyline and what’s it been like working alongside them in this project?

Leland is incredible and we are so delighted to have him on board. It was a bit daunting working with someone so established - but when we chatted and heard his ideas we quickly realised we were on the same page and it’s been a true joy. He is very silly and so very talented - he makes even our stupidest lines sound fantastic.

You’ve been nominated for awards and also won The Laura Award at this year’s Edinburgh Fringe - has that really influenced how you take your work moving forward?

It adds a bit of credibility I guess - in what can be a tricky climate it’s very nice to see work like ours being awarded: self produced, self funded, very queer and very stupid. It’s nice to show that work that is comedic and ridiculous can also be impactful and have meaning.

What makes your production different to anything else available to see during the festive period?

Because we are the only show running this Christmas that is not A Christmas Carol. 

Finally, why should people come and see Gwyneth Goes Skiing?

Because it will have you screaming, laughing and feeling warm inside - like you’ve just steamed your vagina.

At Pleasance from 13 - 23 December 2023.