Interview: ‘Ripper’, Out of Office Theatre

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 the Out of Office Theatre Company about their play Ripper.

Can you tell us a bit about you and your career so far..

Director Victoria Hadel and producer Griffin Jenkins are both American theatre practitioners based in London. 

Victoria received her BFA in Musical Theatre from Western Carolina University. After graduating Victoria moved to China where she spent two years directing children theatre and performing as a stand-up comedian on the Shanghai Comedy Circuit. Victoria received her MFA in Theatre Directing from the University of East London. She is the founder of the London based theatre company Prudencia Productions, a female led theatre company that amplifies female voices and creates theatre that, whilst not shying away from dark themes, is entertaining and joyous.

Griffin studies music at the University of Auckland and Mountview Academy of Theatre Arts. In addition to his production work, he is a multi-award winning musical director. He focuses in new writing and frequently works in accessible theatre practice. 

After the success of Ripper in 2023, Victoria and Griffin partnered with producer Robin McManus (MovieShaker Ltd) to create Out of Office Theatre, a new production venture.

What is your show about?

Ripper is a story that blends true crime, thriller, historical drama, and a bit of fantasy. It follows some of the true women involved in the Jack the Ripper case through the eyes of a new character. Gillian Spender is desperate to make a name for herself as the first named female reporter at the London Central News Agency. This compelling story asks how far she'll go to accomplish her aim?

What was the inspiration for Ripper and what’s the development process been to get to this stage?

Director Victoria Hadel has been involved with a collective of New York playwrights for several years. In 2022, she premiered The Brontës (with Griffin Jenkins MDing) and was shortly thereafter sent the script for Ripper by Jacob Marx Rice. We had the European debut of Ripper in 2023. Following its warm reception, we couldn't give the show up, so we decided to bring it back to wider audience at the Camden and Edinburgh Fringe Festivals. We worked with Jacob on retooling the script for Fringe. Griffin and Victoria also met actor/producer Robin McManus, and along with stage manager Tina Sucila, formed Out of Office Theatre to begin a fruitful collaboration beginning with Ripper in 2024. 

Fringe is larger (and more expensive) than ever. While no strangers to the Camden Fringe and London theatre scenes, this is the team's first Edinburgh Festival. We have been learning from the ground up and relying on instinct and experience. 

What made you want to take Ripper to the Fringe?

We are big believers in not letting a good idea (or a show in this case) die. True crime is bigger than ever. There are dozens of people every day on Jack the Ripper tours around London's east end. This show is very topical.

Apart from seeing Ripper, what’s your top tip for anybody heading for Edinburgh this summer?

For the production team, this is our first time at Edinburgh Fringe! We're just as excited to learn about the festival and the city as everyone else. 

Why should people book Ripper?

Ripper is a mystery, a thriller, a historical drama, and a feminist take on the real women involved in this case. If you've seen a Ripper film or documentary, or if you've read any of the books (or even if you don't know much about the case and want to come in with an open mind), this is the show for you. 

When and where can people see Ripper?

Ripper will be playing at Edinburgh Fringe - C Aquila (Temple), 5-11 August, 2:35pm.