We’re always delighted to hear of OEs working in the arts and theatre world, but the fact that two OEs, who are very close contemporaries, have teamed up together on a new project really caught our eye.
Fran Cattaneo (OE2008-15) and Pip Williams (OE2007-14) are both working on Felt – currently still in the development stages but due to be previewed at the VAULTS Fringe Futures Festival on 5th June. The show is sold out, but Fran and Pip hope that after receiving an Arts Council England grant to research and develop the script, it will lead to further performances later in the year.
The play, written by Pip and produced by Fran, is a two-hander which deals with the toxic relationship between two children’s television puppeteers. Find out more at https://vaultfestival.com/whats-on/felt/
Both Fran and Pip are fondly remembered at Emanuel as fine actors who attended the school during a period where there were many excellent, edgy and ambitious productions. Fran first appeared in the chorus of Oliver in 2010 and later featured in Les Miserables, The Ashgirl, Buddy and Trojan Women at the Edinburgh Fringe. Coincidentally, Fran also controlled the ‘Pod 3’ puppet in The Little Shop of Horrors where she gained a very early taste of puppeteering! Pip appeared in Oliver, had a star turn in Les Miserables and featured in a host of other productions including A Christmas Carol, Antigone, Punk Rock, Skellig, Fiddler on the Roof and Smile. He later returned to Emanuel to work as a Drama Assistant and his responsibilities included Assistant Director for Twelfth Night and writer/director of the 2018 Year 7 play Illuminous.
Above: Pip as Drama Assistant at Emanuel (left) and Fran in Buddy, pictured far right.
We caught up with Fran and what she had been up to since leaving Emanuel:
“I went to Warwick University to study English Literature and Theatre. I got involved in producing and stage managing productions at the Warwick Arts Centre and became the Co-President of the Warwick University Drama Society. After graduating I first worked for WhatsOnStage and later the Edinburgh Fringe, where I ran a ‘Pay What You Can Scheme’ for emerging companies for production photography. Then Covid-19 hit, and I concentrated on my photography, becoming a freelance headshot photographer for actors in London, and at the start of the year moved into casting for film, television, commercials and music videos.”
Fran also filled us in on the origins of Felt:
“The project started when I saw a scratch version of the piece at Katzpace (before Covid), in London Bridge. I loved it and knew I had to produce it. Over lockdown, we created a team (of myself, Pip, a Director and Puppetry/Movement Director) and submitted a successful Arts Council England funding grant. After ten days of research and development with the two chosen actors, Pip is now in rewrites of the fourth draft for our performance at VAULTS. We are currently applying for more programming opportunities and hope to tour the show when we have secured more funding.”
After leaving Emanuel, Pip studied Drama and English at the University of East Anglia and trained further with the National Youth Theatre. He is the co-artistic director of ‘We Talk Of Horses Theatre Company’. Their show Where Is Ban Ki-moon? had a successful tour in 2019. He has written and directed work at the Southwark Playhouse (for Swings and Roundabouts Theatre) and has extensive experience in fringe and student theatre.
Both Fran and Pip shared the Hampden Hall stage in Les Miserables (2014) in one of Emanuel’s most successful productions and it is wonderful to hear of OEs reconnecting years down the line and working together, even in these tough Covid-19 days which have been particularly difficult for the arts.
Good luck preparing for the sold out show of Felt on 5th June and we hope it returns for a longer run later in the year.
Mr Jones (Senior Librarian & Archivist)
