Interview: Lani Calvert, ‘The Room Upstairs’

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 Lani Calvert about The Room Upstairs.

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

Like the majority of people in our industry, my love for performance started at a young age. My debut role was playing the show-stealing ‘lost’ sheep in our church’s Christmas nativity at the age of 2 when I decided that staying on my mark didn’t really suit my character. A bemusing sub-plot ensued. Would she ever find her flock again? Is she supposed to be looking in the manger? Where is she going?

I studied theatre and performance all throughout school, and whilst I studied language at university, I spent all my time in the theatre societies there too.
After graduating from Mountview I’ve been lucky enough to have worked in theatre, film, voice over, cabaret and cruise productions. A large majority of my work has been in Fringe theatre and sketch comedy which has built up my confidence to write my own show. 

What is your show about?

The Room Upstairs is a dark comedy that uses a mother-daughter relationship to explore an invisible illness, ME. It’s got puppetry, an original score, silly jokes, biscuits and might even make you cry a bit - what more could you want?

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

This show is based on my experience of growing up as a young carer for a mum who developed ME. It’s a subject I’ve wanted to write a show about for years as I wanted to challenge the stigma and lack of support available, but wasn’t quite sure how to present it. 

I’ve got a draft of a play I started in 2017 that was based around the idea of a ballerina (thank goodness that didn’t get past the first paragraph because no one would pay any money to watch me plié). It wasn’t until I did my dissertation project for my master’s at drama school where  I was studying Derrida’s theories about ghosts and translation when I thought about how much could be said on stage without actually showing it. It all clicked into place and I suddenly knew how I wanted to tackle the idea of invisible illness in performance. On the last day of drama school I remember sitting on the bleachers telling Marissa (the director) about my idea, and she said if I ever wrote it, she’d love to direct it. 

Cut to 4 years later, countless redrafts and living room rehearsals, we now have a full show with an original soundtrack composed by Marissa!

What made you want to take this to the Fringe?

Last September we were fortunate enough to do a short run of The Room Upstairs  at Wanstead Fringe in East London where we received wonderful feedback from the audience. As we were packing the props away after the final show, we both said how we weren’t ready to let it go yet. We both absolutely love the Fringe and what it represents in terms of exciting new theatre and shedding light on unheard stories, making it the perfect next step in the life of The Room Upstairs.

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

I have heard whispers of an ice cream shop that changes its flavours every week. I am going to make it my mission to find it and frequent it - and I believe it is important everyone else does too!

Why should people book to see your show? 

Because it’s a comedy with a lot of heart. It gives you a peek into a situation you may not have personally experienced, but the themes of family and resilience and silliness are universal!

Also, I wear a ridiculous costume and sing a very stupid song at one point so you should buy a ticket just for that. 

When and where can people see the show?

The Pleasance, Venue 33, The Cellar

31st July - 26th August 12:30pm (no shows on the 13th and 20th).