London Grilling: Katharine Arnold, Aerialist & Choreographer, Sophie’s Surprise 29th, Underbelly Boulevard
In this London Grilling, Katharine Arnold from Sophie's Surprise 29th at Underbelly Boulevard invites us on a captivating journey into the realm of acrobatics. From her beginnings as a dancer and actor, to her exhilarating experiences touring with Cirque Du Soleil and working on Disney's Dumbo with Tim Burton, Katharine shares the fascinating twists and turns that have shaped her career.
Read on to find out about the electrifying world of circus and entertainment, the highlights of Katharine's diverse career, the inspiration behind her latest production, Sophie's Surprise 29th, and what makes performing in London's vibrant cabaret scene so special.
Could you share with us your journey into the world of circus and aerial arts? What initially sparked your interest in this field?
I started as a dancer and actor, and whilst doing my degree in Performing Arts, I worked with a physical theatre company who introduced me to trapeze. It was love at first swing, so to speak! I then started training with a flying trapeze company called The Flying Dudes, who were the most passionate and romantic humans I had ever met. We toured a show called The Flying Dudes Rock’n’roll Circus where we all played live instruments and threw ourselves around and that was my circus fate sealed.
You've had a diverse career, working across live events, cabaret, theatre, film, and TV. How has your experience in these different mediums influenced your approach to circus performance?
I think for all three of us in the company, our diverse careers have led to our desire to incorporate all elements of performance into our shows, including comedy, character work, text and musicality as well as the technical circus skill stuff. We have encountered so many different types of audiences that we wanted to create something that could appeal to everyone, entertain everyone, and feel original and fresh.
As an aerialist, choreographer, and circus consultant, you've worked on various projects, including touring with Cirque Du Soleil and working on Disney's Dumbo with Tim Burton. What have been some of the most memorable moments or highlights of your career so far?
Working on Dumbo with Tim Burton and Eva Green was an incredible experience, and I learnt so much about film (whilst working my way through the endlessly delicious catering options). But I have discovered that my heart really lies in live performance, and although working with companies like Cirque Du Soleil and Take That (who I toured with for years) in huge venues on large scale productions has been amazing, my ultimate favourite shows are those in spiegeltents or smaller spaces where you can feel the audience right there with you and look them in the eye (in a non-creepy way. Mostly). That’s why I am so excited for our shows at The Boulevard as the theatre feels so intimate and connected.
Sophie's Surprise 29th has been described as a thrilling party filled with world-renowned circus acts and spellbinding performances. What can audiences expect from the show, and what drew you to be a part of it?
When the three of us created the show, we really wanted to find a new pathway for circus. There are so many fantastic contemporary circus shows with a certain aesthetic, and a bunch of great, slick, line up cabaret shows, but we felt there was a gap in the middle for something that had the pure entertainment value and sparkiness of cabaret but with the ensemble feel of contemporary acrobatic circus companies…and then with added comedy and character progression and also (in a very non Brexity way!) Britishness, as we felt there was a bit of a hole in British circus compared to the outputs of eg Australia, Canada and France.
In terms of what audiences can expect…let’s just say, a wild ride!
The show incorporates elements of circus, comedy, and chaos, creating a unique and immersive experience. How do you balance these different elements while maintaining the energy and excitement of the performance?
These elements are what, to us, create the energy and excitement. Having a stand up comedy bit halfway through a death-defying skating routine, or juxtaposing total idiocy with completely graceful aerial movement, are what gives the show its USP and in our minds make it extremely balanced in the sense that the audience get a bit of everything.
As one of the co-producers of Sophie's Surprise 29th, what inspired the concept behind the show, and what are your goals for its London run at Underbelly Boulevard?
We came up with the show concept in a Joe and the Juice, slurping overpriced smoothies whilst lamenting the lack of strong, original, technically skilled yet funny and irreverent British circus companies. The idea went through a couple of incarnations until we realised a house party gave us the scope to do everything we wanted, and once we’d decided on it, the ideas just kept rolling out…we are still having them! Our goal for London (as well as giving the audience the time of their life) is to keep developing, creating, refining and perfecting the show…a never-ending objective.
Could you tell us more about your role in Sophie's Surprise 29th and the specific acts or performances you'll be showcasing?
I play Ugly Girl, the loser at the party who then has a Sandy-from-Grease-esque morph moment. We leant heavily into the idea of 90s/2000s movie character tropes and pop culture archetypes, with a heavy dose of meta and satire. I perform a rope act as the (metaphorical) caterpillar, and aerial hoop once I’ve butterflied (butterflown?!). It has been a lot of fun to explore totally different movement qualities for the respective acts, from a timid, introverted dweeb on a rope, to a glossy, self assured badass on the hoop. Oops, spoiler alert…
You've performed on prestigious stages like Le Lido in Paris and toured with Take That for over a decade. How does performing in a theatrical production like Sophie's Surprise 29th differ from other performance settings?
The thing I love most about this show is that we created it, it’s ours, and so I feel extra invested in making it the best show ever. It’s a chance to put all the things I’ve ever learnt about performance and audience interaction into one production, and as I mentioned before, the intimacy of the venue, coupled with the immersive aspect of having our audience as guests at the party, means that everyone feels part of this wild and fun experience in a way that’s more removed when you’re one of thousands of spectators in a large venue. That’s not to say I won’t miss the champagne riders…but really who cares when you’ve got a crate of WKD and some Wotsits in your dressing room!
The show invites audience participation, with a different audience member playing the role of Sophie at each performance. How does this interactive element add to the overall experience, and how do you adapt to working with a new "Sophie" each night?
We do a lot of pre show animation where we make friends with our audience, chat them up, play with them and figure out who our Sophie will be. We have very definite criteria and methods for choosing, but if I told you what they were I’d have to kill you…
Looking ahead, what are your aspirations and projects on the horizon? Are there any new creative ventures or collaborations you're particularly excited about?
We travel to Montreal the day after we finish at Underbelly’s Boulevard to perform at the Complètement Cirque festival, with a couple of brand new characters to add to the party. From there we are hoping to do Edinburgh Fringe again after our successful run last year, and after that…global domination! We purposely created Sophie’s with a view to the future, so you can expect to see Sophie’s Hen Party, Sophie’s Halloween Party, Sophie’s Christmas Do etc, with a host of ever changing party guests and show characters, new idiotic ideas and mind-blowing circus skills.
You’ve worked extensively in London’s cabaret scene and are now part of Sophie’s Surprise 29th, which is set in the heart of Soho. How has London influenced your career and creative journey, and what do you love most about being a performer in this vibrant city?
I am a born Londoner, so it is my literal as well as spiritual home. As much as I love travelling and have had amazing opportunities to perform all over the world, it’s London where I feel truly in my element and we really wanted to encapsulate the coolness, dynamism and spiritedness of British culture in our show. London is still the city where anything can happen, and we wanted to capture that very specific vibe, bottle it, and serve it in pint glasses to our audience.
BOOKING INFO FOR SOPHIE’S SURPRISE 29TH:
11th April-28th June
Various times, 90 mins including interval
Underbelly Boulevard
Prices from £25.00
