Interview with David Pinner and Anthony Shrubsall, Writer and Director of Edred the Vampyre

We chat with the writer and director of Edred, the Vampyre, performing at the London Horror Festival 2019.

Interview with David Pinner and Anthony Shrubsall, Writer and Director of Edred the Vampyre

David Pinner (DP), and Anthony Shrubsall (AS), are the respective writer and director of Edred, the Vampyre, performing at the Old Red Lion theatre during the London Horror Festival. 

Could you first introduce yourself to the reader? 

DP: My name is David Pinner, I trained as an actor before becoming a writer of plays, novels and poems. One of my most notable works is RITUAL which inspired the cult movie, The Wicker Man.

AS: I’m Anthony Shrubsall - Director of Edred The Vampyre.

Describe your work “Edred, the Vampyre” in three words 

DP: "Edred, the vampire"! Or perhaps "haunting, startling and revelatory"

What is the premise of “Edred, the Vampyre” and what inspired this work? 

DP: Edred is a thousand-year-old-bisexual vampire who slept with Shakespeare but didn’t bite him. He is inspired by the Anglo Saxon King Edred who died prematurely because he could only suck the blood out of meat. I have been influenced primarily by Shakespeare and Chekhov.

What do you hope the impact of this show will be? 

DP: I hope everyone will have a good laugh and the odd tremble.

What does your job involve? Give us the typical outline of a day? 

AS: Rehearsals - this means bringing the script into theatrical life by working with the actors on the play from 10-5pm. After this will be production meetings and phone calls regarding all the additional things that go along with a fringe theatre production.

What’s great about your job? 

AS: Although marketing and publicity can be dull, I love working with actors and theatre creatives.

What are the highlights of your career to date? 

AS: Taking a show to Japan - the first UK show to go to Shizuoka Performing Arts Centre.

How did you get into an arts job?  Have you also worked outside the arts? 

AS: I did an MA in Theatre with a Directing option. Yes, as a special education professional and teacher.

Can you describe your biggest challenge so far in your career? How did you overcome it?

AS: Every day provides its own challenges so you just have to take each production forward to the best of your ability. 

You’ve been granted the ability to send a message to 16-year-old you. What do you say? 

AS: Work! Be professional and positive. 

Do you have any advice for young people interested in doing your kind of job? 

AS: It’s a lifestyle choice so be prepared!!

DP: Always be ready to go on a journey to explore the violent paradoxes of life.

How can people find out more? 

DP:  There is a great deal about my work on the internet and my plays are published Oberon Books. You can find out more about our world premiere here: 

https://www.oldredliontheatre.co.uk/edred-the-vampyre.html

Header Image Credit: Bruce Wang

Author

Sienna James

Sienna James Voice Team

Formerly Assistant Editor, Sienna now studies History of Art at the University of Cambridge and loves to write about the intersection of politics, history and visual art. Sienna is author of the Creative Education and Instaviews series.

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