Interview: Kimberly Prentice, ‘Unseen’

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 Kimberly Prentice about Unseen.

Kimberly Prentice in Unseen. Photo by Tim Fuchs

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

I grew up outside of Los Angeles and started ballet classes at age 4. By the time I hit grade 6, I was fully into musical theatre and doing all the shows throughout high school. Once I hit college, I studied modern dance and then danced with a company afterwards for 2 years.  However, I missed musical theatre. So, I jumped right back in and ended up traveling the world as a performer. Once I moved to NYC, I continued performing as well as becoming a Broadway dresser to pay the bills. During my 25 years in this town, I have run a theatre company, founded a retreat centre for theatre artists, and written two solo shows, the latter winning "Best One Woman Show" at the United Solo Festival. I have also just finished working as a dresser on my 35th Broadway show.

What is your show about? 

My show is a behind-the-scenes look at life backstage on Broadway and what it takes to survive.

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

Inside the theatre, Dressers are expected to be silent and invisible backstage. Outside of the theatre, women, especially those who are not in their 20's, are also often invisible. And that can become quite heavy. So, I wanted to write a piece about the subject of being unheard and unseen using the backdrop of Broadway’s backstage. This piece took seven years of writer's workshops, writer's residencies, writer's groups, and several stagings to get it where it is today. And, as I am writing this, I just finished one more edit.

What made you want to take UNSEEN to the Fringe?

I’ve always heard such wonderful things about the Fringe. The excitement of performers from all over the world descending upon this magical city to do their art is a dream. You can get pretty jaded working on Broadway. So, the opportunity to be in community with all of these amazing artists and to resuscitate my passion was something I could not miss. 

What’s your top tip for anybody heading for Edinburgh this summer besides seeing UNSEEN? 

I’ve never been, so my guess is to see as many shows in as many genres as possible. And to drink beer with the artists.

Why should people book UNSEEN? 

If you’ve ever wondered what happens backstage on Broadway while you are watching a show, this is for you! You are going to see all the inter-workings of the machine that produces the magic on stage. Also, if you’ve ever felt unseen yourself, you will be able to relate to the main character of “Pam” and others in her world repeatedly.

When and where can people see UNSEEN? 

UNSEEN is on at ZOO Playground 1, Venue 186, 2 - 25 August at 15:15 (except 12 & 19 August)