At the press launch of the Pulse Festival 2014 I was fortunate enough to meet up with Naomi Westerman, Artistic Director of Little but Fierce Theatre whose performance, Tortoise: Redux is scheduled as part of Scratch Day. Here’s what she had to say:

‘Little But Fierce was formed in 2103, and Tortoise: Redux is my second play. It is a work in progress, and so I look forward to the engagement and feedback from showing my work at the New Wolsey Theatre in helping me to take my work forward. My first play was A Shakespearean Christmas Carol which debuted at the Royal Shakespeare Company as part of their Christmas Stage Festival last year, which was a really exciting time for me.’

‘I have been acting since I was a child, and studied ballet, before getting involved in youth theatre and undertaking chorus work. All of this reinforced my desire to take up acting professionally, which happened when I was seventeen when I was lucky enough to receive a part in Twelfth Night. My pain passion is Shakespeare. I first performed at the Royal Shakespeare Company several years ago, when I played an Ensemble role in the production Handbag which ran over December 2010, and my dream is to play Shakespearean roles there.

As well as stage Naomi has also a background of working in film and TV, with parts in Eaten by the Wolves (2012-2014) and a small part in War Horse, in a scene with Tom Hiddleston. Most recently Naomi has been working on The Secret Service, staring Colin Firth, which is due for public release in the USA late 2014. But it is the stage that is Naomi’s passion. ‘I love the immediacy of live performance, the reaction that you get from the audience, and the opportunity to improvise.’

Tortoise: Redux tells the story of a group of women psychiatric patients at Christmas time, and explores issues that are often considered taboo in today’s society. Using the tortoise as a metaphor for being boxed-in, the play considers the challenges faced by some women with mental health needs. Naomi hope that the audience will appreciate that the subject of the play is presented in a light-hearted, humorous way, and that it opens up a different understanding of how mental health is often perceived, and how attitudes can change.

This was Naomi’s first time of applying to be part of the Pulse Festival, although it is not her first visit to the New Wolsey Theatre. Naomi visited the New Wolsey Theatre in 2012 when she came to see Top Girls.

‘I am really excited to be coming to the New Wolsey Theatre again, and can’t quite believe that this time I’ll be on the stage! The application process was quite lengthy, and it really made me think about the work I am doing. The play will be a part-performance, about 20 minutes of the full length play. I am really keen to get feedback from the audience, and to gauge their reactions during the performance. All of this will enable me to develop the play further, and help to refine and shape the final piece.’

Naomi is keen to meet with the audience after the performance, when she will be able to discuss the performance, and is particularly keen to talk to young people who are keen to enter acting. ‘My advice to young people who have a passion for acting is Go For It! Apply for everything – be positive. I think that if you have a good story people will listen. Know what your story is and learn to tell it well.’

Tortoise: Redux is showing at New Wolsey Theatre on Saturday 1st June. To book your ticket for Tortoise: Redux or to view the full programme of performances within the Pulse Festival 2014 click here.