Q&A: 00:45:00

Hello Katie, thank you for joining us. I’m going to plunge in by saying that because 00:45:00 is a thriller, we are going to be careful how much we can discuss without giving away spoilers. But we can say that the title refers to 45 minutes of time – 45 minutes of real time, in How much of the premise can you tell our readers what that 45 minutes of time relates to?

Well, do you have 45 minutes? Just kidding 🙂 Here’s what I can tell you:

Five people walk into a room, and 45 minutes later, only one of them will make it out alive.

DUN DUN DUUUN!!

00:45:00 is an experiment that plays out in real time through the lens of a scientist pursuing an answer to the philosophical question: is one person’s life more valuable than another’s, and how can anyone make that decision?

OKAY… THAT’S ALL I CAN TELL YOU FOR NOW!

There seems to be a lot of theatre currently that deploys a countdown or a time limit of sorts at the core of the production. Famously, 2:22: A Ghost Story is one example; I recently also saw a Hamlet that was counting down to the point where the iceberg hit the Titanic! As a writer, how have you been influenced by such works? And what is it about a time limit that injects such jeopardy for an audience?

I love all kinds of countdowns (ie. the one in 2:22: A Ghost Story and the countdown in High School Musical when they’re waiting for the New Years Eve ball to drop), so I’ve definitely taken a lot of inspiration from other stories that utilize a time element!

I recently saw a production of Oedipus (heads up – it’s an awkward show to see with your family), and they used a countdown clock in the background throughout the entire show. Something I learned from watching this production was how to keep the clock and the time element present in the background, while still ensuring that the characters and their relationships/dynamics hold the main focus in the foreground of the story. I think it’s really important to be intentional about when to draw the audience’s attention to the countdown, without letting that element completely overtake the story.

I also LOVE horror movies, so I really like how countdowns can create this undeniable sense of dread in those subjected to them. It feels impossible to watch a timer tick down and not obsess over what’s going to happen when the time finally runs out.

Underpinning 00:45:00 are seriously weighty issues such as morality, personal responsibility, groupthink, life and death – but it’s not presented in a way that feels There’s no hiding behind a proscenium arch – this is immersive and engages with the audience. Can you explain how that interaction with the public works within the show?

Well, to be totally honest, we’re still working it out! We’ve had a few public performances, but our script has changed a bit since then, and we know the audience dynamic will be very different at the Fringe! Our play begins with a scientist speaking directly to the audience about the experiment. Dr. Wilison acts as the bridge between the audience and the participants, asking them for access to their thoughts, opinions, and empathy while the clinical trial plays out. The audience assumes the role of active participants by being continually included and prodded to take action by the main character. I’m hoping that our Fringe audiences will be all-in on the immersive elements! There are a lot of twists and turns throughout the play that should catch our audiences pretty off guard, but if you want to find out more, you’ll just have to come see the show!!