As another addition to the VAULT Festival line up, Rosalie Minnitt is bringing her show, Clementine to the table. The one-woman musical ties together comedy, a bit of history, and an exploration of life being single (with Sylvanian Families, and other eclectic pop culture references)- it promises to be lots of fun.
As writer and performer of the piece, Rosalie has been able to tell us about its origins and more.
How would you summarise Clementine, where did the name come from, and what was the inspiration for writing it?
I can't actually remember exactly where the name came from. I originally came up with the character after finding this old book in a charity shop which was a kind of Edwardian manual for women. I started flicking through it and some of the advice inside was truly so deranged, I just had to do something with it. One of my all-time favourite nuggets of gold from this book is, ‘If you dream of a cow, there is a treacherous woman in your midst and you must take immediate action.’
Was it always going to be a piece for you to star in, and how have you found the task of finding that character in yourself?
I think because it’s a comedy and a really silly show, it’s easier to play with the character and push yourself as a performer. I never really intended to give the show over to a cast and director; it was just a great excuse to get back on stage, force an audience to watch and be utterly ridiculous for an hour. Something, I think, I’ve definitely succeeded in doing.
How was the writing process, and how did you work on linking the storytelling with comedy, and the music featured?
I actually found piecing together any kind of coherent storyline out of the madness I had originally splurged onto the page much harder than I had anticipated. I kept getting ideas and throwing new elements into the mix, like movement, songs and about a thousand props, and haven’t really stopped adding things. If I kept going I think the show would be about 9 hours long.
What makes the piece an 'ode to womanhood', and what effect does setting the show at an unknown past time have?
I think of this as a very elaborate love letter to anyone and everyone trying to navigate this tricky world as a woman. It doesn’t make any grand gestures or political points, but it's a fun hour-long reminder to take life, and especially romantic relationships, a little less seriously. Although I’m a massive history nerd, I think historical inaccuracy can be really funny and allows you to construct your own little comedy universe.
Why did you decide to target Gen Z when choosing to make your piece relatable, and with pop culture references aimed at them specifically?
I think I spent too much time on TikTok and wanted something to show for it. I think there’s something so nihilistic and dark about internet culture at the moment that I really wanted to tap into.
With this being your largest project so far, where do you hope to take your career next?
I'm currently working in children’s TV so I would love to continue doing more comedy writing. I'm currently working on a couple of different scripts with some super talented writers which is really exciting, and putting together a new character comedy show that I’ll be developing throughout the year. It’s so easy to get lost in the rat race, particularly when it comes to the creative industry, so I also want to take some time to take stock and celebrate how far I’ve come too!
So lovely to hear from Rosalie about her show- huge thanks for sharing! Wishing you all the very best for the run.
Get tickets here:
Aren't these just some of the most beautiful promo shots you've ever seen?
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