INTERVIEW: Jack Bence and Sarah Hanly talk about ONE MINUTE at the Barn Theatre

A child goes missing, vanishes into thin air, leaving a tender, fragmentary play about the inarticulacy of grief.

One Minute follows several connected characters through their struggles with Daisy Schults’s disappearance. I caught up with Jack Bence and Sarah Hanly to find out more about the show…

For those who may not know the show One Minute, what is it about?
Sarah: One Minute tells an important story of a child that goes missing. Five lives collide in the time it takes for the disappearance to occur. The show raises awareness about missing people and the importance of police investigations and thorough processes and also how a missing persons case can affect people who are not directly involved in the case.
Jack: It’s about relationships. How five different people cope and react to a seismic event.

Can you tell me about the character you play in the show?
Sarah: I am playing the character Catherine Denham. Catherine is a 21 year old drama student who works at a bar/café ‘Panaticas’ where one of the police officers regularly visits. She develops a strange relationship with the older officer. Catherine also moves into a very posh flat with Marie Louise Burdett, who claims to have sighted the missing child. I am loving exploring Catherine, she is a hard-working, passionate and feisty young woman who is finding her feet in London. She is lonely and searching for answers whilst trying to pay her rent and deal with male hierarchy and its psychological implications.
Jack: I play Robert Evans a police officer involved in the search for Daisy Shultz. He is new to the city and the police service. He’s optimistic and impulsive.

One Minute is written by Simon Stephens who adapted The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-time for the stage. How does this play compare to some of his better known work?
Sarah: I am a huge fan of Simon Stephens. He is a prolific writer and someone I look up to as a young writer myself. I have always admired Simon’s approach to naturalism in his writing whilst tackling important social topics.
Jack: One thing that’s amazing about Simon Stevens is his ability to write such human characters and stories. One minute is no different and he really takes you on a journey.

One Minute is being performed at The Barn Theatre in Cirencester. Is it easy to get to for people based in and around London?
Sarah: I was surprised at how easy the journey is to Cirencester. I travelled on the coach which only took two hours. The coach drops you right outside the theatre and there is the most wonderful restaurant next door with lovely outdoor seating. Cirencester is beautiful and the people are friendly and kind. The charity shops have the most wonderful clothes and the restaurants and pubs are bloody brilliant! I can’t wait to explore the lakes and surrounding areas.
Jack: Yes. At the risk of sounding like I work for national express it’s very bloody easy to get to. The coach from Victoria drops you right on the doorstep of the theatre and it’s nice and comfy too.

What are some of your dream theatre roles?
Sarah: I would love to play Nora in The Plough and The Stars by Seán O’ Casey. It has been a dream come true developing my one woman show Purple Snowflakes and Titty Wanks with director, Alice Fitzgerald. The show is being produced by Emma Hall and Lexi Clare and I am looking forward to the publication of the play in the near future.
Jack: I saw Danny Boyle’s version of Frankenstein And it blew me away. If I could play anything it would be the monster in that production.

Why do you think people should come and see One Minute at The Barn Theatre?
Sarah: It is a brilliantly written piece, Simon Stephens is a genius. Iwan Lewis is a fantastic director and it has been a real honour to work with him. I am blessed to be working alongside such talented actors and a superb creative team. We have been lucky to work with movement director, Sean Hollands from Frantic Assembly which has been a real treat and has added a whole new dimension to the piece. From wardrobe to the incredible set, sound and lighting design, this show is shaping up to be a real cracker! Oh and it is funny too, it sounds very serious but there are brilliant moments of comic relief and human connection, which is a common thread between the characters in this play.
Jack: Good karma, Nudity and free cake.

Thanks for having Tea With Wilma

One Minute plays at the Barn Theatre, Cirencester 19 May 2018 – 16 June 2018

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