Interview: K. Lorrel Manning, ‘Lost..Found’
Ahead of the Edinburgh Festival Fringe 2024 we’re chatting with a range of creatives who will be heading to the city over August to find out more about their shows. Today we’re chatting with K.Lorrel Manning about his piece, Lost… Found.
Can you tell us a bit about you and your career so far..
K. Lorrel Manning is an award-winning writer, director, actor and musician. His first feature film, Happy New Year, premiered in competition at the South by Southwest Film Festival (SXSW) in 2011. The film, adapted from Manning's one-act play and award-winning short film of the same name, has screened at over two dozen film festivals around the world, and was officially released by Snag Films in 2013.Recently, he directed The Red Shoe, a short Holocaust thriller that will premiere in late 2024/early 2025. He is currently in heavy development with his second feature, Sheila & the Punk Rock, aiming for a late 2024/early 2025 shoot. As a theatre artist, Manning has worked extensively with the Barrow Group, the award-winning, NYC-based, Off-Broadway theatre company for over 20 years as an actor, playwright and director. Notable productions include a new translation of Henrik Ibsen's An Enemy of the People(co-written with co-artistic Seth Barrish), and the critically-acclaimed AWAKE, which he wrote, directed (co-directed by Christine Cirker), and starred in, along with 14 other amazing actors. After a successful workshop run at the Barrow Group, Manning's solo show,Lost...Found, directed by Lee Brock and Christine Cirker, will make its international premiere at this year's Edinburgh Fringe Festival.
What is your show about?
At the age of 6, a young boy's life is tragically thrown off course. He spends the next several decades trying to find his way out of the maze with the help of rock music, his Mom, and God.
What was the inspiration for the show and what’s the development process been to get to this stage?
The Barrow Group was putting together a program of “Restorative Stories” coming out of the pandemic. Lorrel was invited to write something. As he walked home that day, it hit him that this story was “restorative” and he could write it! After sharing it with the Barrow Group’s NYC community in January 2024—we knew we wanted to take it to Fringe. So, in preparation, we have been refining the script to fit in the 1 hour slot.
What made you want to take this to the Fringe?
Edinburgh is a magical place—and we believe this story, this personal transformation—is magic.
Apart from seeing your show, what’s your top tip for anybody heading for Edinburgh this summer?
Take in the amazing Artists—the People—local and beyond. And the energy of creativity everywhere!
Why should people book to see your show?
Stories are imperative to human connection. Now more than ever, we need to hear each other and tell our stories. We hope audiences leave ready to embrace their own personal freedoms.
When and where can people see the show?
Assembly’s ROXY: Outside, 1-Aug to 26-Aug at 13:30. No shows 13-Aug or 20-Aug
