Q&A with Bryony Shanahan

Can you briefly outline the project – what you did, where you went, why?

Bitch Boxer is the story of 21-year-old, Leytonstone born and bred Chloe Jackson. She's training hard to get a coveted spot on the GB boxing team for the Olympics - the first time in history women will be allowed to compete. In the midst of all this, she's dealing with two huge life events, and realising that sometimes you have to let you guard down in life too. It's essentially a hearty coming-of-age tale full of love, laughter and also loss.

We started the project in 2012 and premiered the piece at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival as part of the Old Vic New Voices season. This was pretty amazing as we were actually performing as Nicola Adams was fighting the match to win her that famous gold medal! Since then it's been a bit of a whirl-wind journey, playing at Soho Theatre, embarking on a UK tour and then returning to Edinburgh for the 2013 Fringe but this time as part of the British Council showcase. This was an incredible experience, and allowed presenters and programmers from all over the world to see the piece. As a result, we're going to Norway, and discussing possibilities with theatres and festivals in Berlin, Auckland, Malta and Melbourne. We were also lucky enough to win the Holden Street Theatres Award which transferd the show to the Adelaide Fringe, meaning I'm writing this from sunny Australia! We're here for five weeks performing most nights within a really great programme of work at Holden Street before we head back to London to return to Soho Theatre and go on a second UK tour.

What's been the highlight of the trip?

Well apart from the beautiful beaches, BBQs and sunshine (!), it's a completely incredible experience being 10,000 miles from home bringing the work to an entirely different country and seeing how it goes down. Charlotte Josephine has written a play that is full of Londonisms and specific references to British culture, so we were intrigued to see how that would go here. So far, we've had an amazing response, and even picked up a Best Theatre Award in the first week, which is heart-warming; at the end of the day, people are people and they seem to empathise with Chloe, the central character, in exactly the same way as in Britain – love, grief, determination and dreams seem to be universal.

What did you learn? And what did you teach?

We're still processing that really, as it's been such an amazing experience and I think we'll continue to realise a few things as we go on. I think, on some level, there's something in being open to new people, ideas and ways of running things, and to embrace a change of environment pretty quickly. As I've already touched on, we've seen that matters of the heart are universal, and we're probably not as different as we think!

In terms of what we've taught... you might have to ask the people we've met! We did have one school group in of drama students, and they seemed taken aback with the level of commitment, both physical and emotional, that Holly Augustine (our actor in Bitch Boxer) puts in. She's got real guts and because we're still such a young company ourselves, and have built ourselves from the ground up, I hope we've shown that with a hell of a lot of determination and by surrounding yourselves with good people, you really can create your own opportunities. The fact that I'm in Australia writing this kind of blows my mind, and I would never have expected this to happen. You just never know what can happen and where a show can take you!

What did you do outside your performances/workshops?

We got to know the wonderful city of Adelaide. There's so much to do here, from a wildlife park to a fascinating aboriginal museum to water sports, and of course the incredible beaches and warm sea. We've tried to meet as many people as possible and see as many shows as we can, as this is such a vibrant festival, and there are performers and audiences from all over the world that come together to spend a mad month here! Holly also joined a local boxing club - the Aboriginal Sobriety Group - where she was welcomed with open arms and I managed to train with the Adelaide City Women's football club, so we've been keeping busy and trying to throw ourselves into Adelaide life.

What would you do differently next time?

 Definitely be more vigilant with my suncream! Also, I'd love to have seen more of Australia whilst we were and spent some time after the festival travelling around a bit and learning more about this amazing country. I really hope there is a next time.

What's next for you?

Well Bitch Boxer jumps straight to the Soho Theatre from 25 March so that'll be busy. I'm then going to work at the Royal Exchange Theatre in Manchester, after receiving a BBC performing arts grant, which is amazing. We're hoping to develop the next Snuff Box Theatre piece, Weald, written by the founder of the company, Daniel Foxsmith, whilst I'm there.

What would you have liked to bring home with you? 

I'd obviously like to bring back a bit of the good weather – it's been horrible hearing about the battering that Britain has been getting. Apart from that, I love the laid back nature of the city, London could occasionally do with a bit of that. Oh, and a kangeroo.

Bitch Boxer, which was an Edinburgh Showcase 2013 pick, was at the Adelaide Festival. Follow the Theatre and Dance Team on Twitter @UKTheatreDance to keep up to date with all of our news, opportunities and blogs.