Footsbarn Travelling Theatre at 50 – a tale of 'broken-down trucks, floods, near bankruptcy, missing actors and heart attacks'

Without renouncing its nomadic ways, Footsbarn had settled in the area in 1991 after buying a farm, La Chaussée. Aside from providing a home for its growing family of artists, it is also a fully equipped production centre with workshops, rehearsal space, office and studios.

La Chaussée is key to Footsbarn’s ethic, and it’s where the two founders will transfer the reins to Jemmett in November, while remaining very much involved in the transition.

“It’s a bit like being handed Excalibur in some Arthurian legend, it’s like, oh, what is this?” says Jemmett. “A crucial question had been whether to carry on, and I think finding somebody like me who understands where Footsbarn has come from was key.

“It’s a unique company that started as a very idealistic group of young people who wanted to live in a community together, not interested in ego theatre, not interested in having big-shot directors coming in, just wanting to bring theatre to local villages. They weren’t even that interested in getting paid, they just used to pass a hat around.”

‘In France, you can say I’m an artist, and that is seen as a valid job, whereas in the UK it’s like, yeah, but what do you do for money?’

Footsbarn’s trademark style derives from mask, commedia dell’arte and circus – big top and trapeze artists – a very European mix infused with multilingual delivery as well as Englishness in the form of Shakespeare, among others. “They were also all living together and on the road together,” says Jemmett. “They had a school at one point travelling with them, which is a beautiful thing because, as many actors know, it’s a life that can take you away from your family, from your kids.”

An obvious focus for Jemmett will be on bringing in a new generation for future productions. “Footsbarn was born out of young idealistic people so of course we’ll bring in new blood, while making sure there’s that awareness of where the company has come from.”

Although later companies such as Kneehigh have successfully ploughed a similar furrow in the UK, it would have been difficult for Footsbarn to grow in the way that it has, if it had stayed. “It’s hard to do anything honestly in England because of the funding landscape,” says Jemmett. “There is a lot more funding in France – there’s a tradition of funding companies. I also think the difference is that in France, you can say I’m an artist, and that is seen as a valid job, whereas in the UK it’s like, yeah, but what do you do for money?”

Things are busy post lockdown. At La Chaussée every October, the company puts on Footsbarn en Fête, where other companies, musicians, artists, comedians and acrobats are invited to perform in its big top – and this year the festival doubles as its 50th birthday party.

There’s also a fundraiser for a documentary film that will feature this year’s festival along with footage to celebrate past people and productions. Helped not only by Footsbarn’s reputation, but also the raised profile of online theatre during lockdown, the film when finished is likely be broadcast by TV networks in France.

“I hope that one of the networks in the UK will pick it up as well,” says Jemmett. “It will be interesting for many people to discover what’s happened with Footsbarn and where it is now and what it is planning to do. There’s love out there in the UK…”

Footsbarn’s international links continue with new production The Crock of Gold, based on the 1912 comic novel by Irish author James Stephens about a visit of the god Pan to Ireland. Directed by Paddy Hayter and Vincent Gracieux, the adaptation features songs by Glen Hansard, the songwriter and actor of Once, who also performs.

“Glen has been very good friends with Footsbarn for a long time, and they came up with the idea 10 years ago. He’s done some gorgeous, beautiful music for the show,” says Jemmett.

As with so many productions pre-pandemic, The Crock of Gold was ready to go but had to be shelved. This summer it managed to do a short tour of France and then a run at the Irish Cultural Centre in Paris. A tour of Ireland’s small towns, communities and festivals was planned for the same time, but didn’t happen due to the continuing pandemic uncertainty.

“We’re now hoping to do the Irish tour in summer 2022,” says Jemmett. “I also plan to start working on two new shows that could potentially tour together – one of them a family show. So we’ll soon have The Crock of Gold, which we’ll be touring, and two shows in production.”

It would be good to see The Crock of Gold in the UK, so should we mention the ‘B’ word? “We should and I think it’s very relevant because Footsbarn comes from the UK,” says Jemmett. “The company has always had connections, supporters and friends in the UK and one of the things that I want to do is to re-establish those connections and partnerships post-pandemic. Brexit of course begs the question how is that going to work now? Are they going to figure out how to deal with the whole employment issue, the barriers to touring? I hope they will.”

Footsbarn en Fête Festival runs at La Chausée, Maillet, France from October 8-17. For more information contact info.footsbarn@gmail.com or go to: footsbarn.com