Seeing take rimbaud at Buddies in Bad Times this season opened my mind to the wild and wondrous world of Susanna Fournier’s writing. Her latest work, Ghosts of My House, is coming to Here For Now Theatre in Stratford this summer, promising more unique and intriguing takes on Greek mythology. I got to ask Susanna about this new show, her writing process, and what audiences can expect from Ghosts of My House.
- Could you please introduce yourself to my readers and tell us a bit about your role with Ghosts of My House?
Hi, I’m Susanna Fournier and I’m the playwright of Ghosts of My House. Like many in the theatre, I originally trained as an actor but quickly learned that acting alone wasn’t going to satisfy my appetite for storytelling. Especially as a female bodied person, the range of roles on offer weren’t as great as those for men. I started writing to create roles I actually wanted to play – even though I’ve ended up not really acting in my own work. Figuring out how to craft performances as a writer also expanded into directing. I became obsessed with experimenting with every aspect of theatre and I think that’s what gives my writing voice its distinct quality. I don’t just write plot and dialogue, but compose with aspects of theatrical form as well. Like all my work, Ghosts of My House really challenges what we think a ‘play’ can be and how we might experience story.
- What about the story of Agamemnon drew you to creating this play?
I was really drawn to the characters of Clytemnestra and Iphigenia in the story of Agamemnon. Iphigenia is Clytemnestra and Agamemnon’s daughter and is killed by her father as a sacrifice so he can “get the wind” needed for his boats to sail to Troy, where he’s launching an invasion. While he’s away for ten years warring and pillaging, Clytemnestra plots her revenge. I was drawn to how both these women are remembered – the sacrificing daughter (she was murdered) and the vengeful murderous wife (her husband killed their child). Neither woman is remembered for who she is outside of the actions of a man in her life – a man she should be able to trust. Both archetypes are disturbing to me. I am tired of stories that applaud women for their sacrifices and punish women for their rage. These stories help perpetuate the limits we place on women’s lives and actions, and yet they are still as active as ever. Women are still be applauded for sacrificing themselves – to their kids, their partners, their families, their jobs, and they are still being punished for their rage at a system which is engineered to exclude and devalue them.
- Do you have a specific process or routine for when you’re writing a new work?
My routine always changes because I am always working in new ways! But something that is important to me is keeping movement and physicality alive in my writing practice. Sitting at a desk all day can make all the energy rush up into my head. My ideas really get swirling then and hours can go by before I realize I haven’t moved or stretched in a long time. I like to balance writing sessions with biking, walking, dancing, and jumping around a space to music to help keep me connected to my body, to impulses, and sensations. This way I can really feel my way into the story and characters and rhythm of the language.
- Do you have a favourite scene or moment in Ghosts of My House?
I have so many, but they would all be spoilers! There is a scene called “A Moment” where something unexpected happens. One of the characters leaves and comes back with something entirely different as a proposal. I am really excited to see what audiences make of this big shift!
- What can audiences expect from your new play?
To be surprised, I think. I love combining big ideas with the personal interactions of characters. This play offers deep, nuanced moments between a family struggling with many conflicting emergencies, as well as larger philosophical themes and social critiques. I think audiences can expect to think big, feel deeply, and find moments of extreme humour within very painful topics and situations. I hope audiences come away feeling like anything is possible in theatre, in life, and in their own stories as people no matter how challenging life can feel at times.
I want to thank Susanna for taking the time to answer my questions. Ghosts of My House runs at Here For Now Theatre from July 8 – 19. For more information and tickets, visit: https://www.herefornowtheatre.com/ghosts-of-my-house
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