Anne Chmelewsky is a London-based composer and writer, who trained at the Guildhall School of Music and Drama and the Royal College of Music. She specialises in Film / TV Music... and operettas.
Her latest piece ‘The Looking Screen’, is a one-woman comedy-opera about social networking, which Anne has composed and written. After selling out its previews across London, the show was premiered at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival in August 2012, and has since been performed at the Bush Theatre as part of Radar Festival.
Anne chats to West End Frame about The Looking Screen’s next performance on 31st January 2013 at the Kings Place in London.
When did you first have the idea to write The Looking Screen?
I wrote The Looking Screen with Clare Presland in mind for the role, as I’d seen her perform in various operas while we lived together a few years ago. I knew she had good comic timing, and bucket-loads of stage presence: she was ideal for a solo show. As a freelancer, I always thought I knew everything there was to know about technology and social media, but it wasn’t until I started working part-time in recruitment to make ends meet that I saw a completely different side to it. I saw how people could become obsessed with onscreen personae and rely entirely on what’s merely an augmented reality. This gave me the idea for Annabel Clark’s character, a girl who puts all her trust in social networks to find love, and avoids ‘real life’ as much as possible.
The show premiered in Edinburgh last year, were you pleased with how it went?
Edinburgh was a blast, I’d never even been to Scotland before! I don’t think anything could have prepared us for the madness and intensity of the festival! It was tough trying to pitch a one-woman comedy opera to punters, but I was really pleased with how it went. We had a great response from our audiences.
Are you excited to be bringing the show to the Kings Place later this month?
I'm thrilled about bringing the show to the Kings Place, there’ll be some new material which we’re rehearsing at the moment, and it will be our biggest venue to date, so it’s a little daunting, but of course very exciting!
What can audiences expect from the show?
Audiences can expect to laugh out loud at Annabel’s online quest for love - but also reflect on their own social networking habits. They’ll also be wowed by Clare Presland’s stunning voice and Elisabeth Challenger’s beautiful piano playing.
What makes the show stand out from the rest?
This is an easy one to answer... There’s no other one woman comedy opera out there, so it’s certainly unique! It’s a digital tale of love, but told in an analogue art form, which leads to a very unusual show. It’s been a lot of our audiences’ first operatic experience, and they’ve loved it. Similarly we’ve had older audiences typically less familiar with social networking who have also loved the piece.
What are the rest of the team like to work with?
Clare Presland (who plays Annabel Clark), Elizabeth Challenger (the pianist) and I have known each other for over 8 years, so rehearsals are always a reminder of the old music college days. We always start with a cup of tea and a catch up - the danger being that it sometimes takes over the whole rehearsal, so we do have to try and be quite disciplined with our time! Clare is an incredibly bright performer, and always strives for excellence. As a result all her performances are unique, which is very exciting. Elizabeth is a fantastic pianist, and makes even the simplest lines of music I write sound amazing, so I’m incredibly fortunate to be working with such talented musicians.
What does the future hold for The Looking Screen?
More shows across London, and hopefully internationally, and who knows maybe a sequel one day?!
What else are you up to at the moment?
I'm currently outlining the story for my next opera, a political satire. I’m also finishing writing a sitcom, and scoring a couple of short films, so I’ve got my hands full!
Finally, what would you like to say to everyone who has supported you throughout your career?
I can’t thank the people that have supported me over the years enough. I certainly wouldn’t have achieved as much as I have if it wasn’t for my friends and mentors who virtually held my hand throughout the highs and lows that a career in the creative industry inevitably holds. I really hope that I can one day be even half as helpful to each and every single one of them, as they’ve been to me.
Please visit www.lookingscreen.net or www.kingsplace.co.uk for more information and to book tickets.
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