Medieval Maidens, Mystics, and Comedy: Behind the Scenes of CHRISTBRIDE

With her new show CHRISTBRIDE, performer and writer Bebe Cave invites audiences into a whimsical, heartfelt, and hilarious world inspired by medieval mystics, flowing velvet gowns, and the strange magic of girlhood. We spoke to Bebe about the inspirations, challenges, and ideas that shaped CHRISTBRIDE, and what she hopes audiences take away from her comedic medieval dreamscape.

What first sparked the idea for CHRISTBRIDE? Was there a specific moment, story, or image that set the whole thing in motion?

It wasn’t a specific moment, it was much more of a gradual process. I tend to start creating projects with colours and costumes and general ‘vibes’ in mind. The midcentury medieval revival movement is an aesthetic I have gravitated towards for a long time and i was very intrigued by the idea of making a show with that in mind. The colours, the whimsy, the music ( I love Steeleye span). I kept thinking of paintings of medieval maidens with long flowing hair in velvet dresses. I thought it might be quite fun to have some insanely long hair extensions. I have long been interested in medieval imagery and storytelling, and I started reading about christian mystics such as Margery Kempe, Julian of Norwich and Catherine of Siena. In their stories, I found myself very drawn to the emotional relationship that these women had with the divine. It was about their senses rather than reading or writing (which a lot of women in the middle ages were not taught to do), their deeply rich interior worlds. I think I relate to having intense belief in my own inner voices. Once I decided on that for a theme of my show, I was thrilled to be able to construct a fun whimsical medieval story to surround it!

This is your debut at the Edinburgh Fringe - what made now the right time to bring CHRISTBRIDE to the festival, and how are you feeling about sharing it with Fringe audiences?

It’s not actually my debut at all - I first performed at the Edinburgh fringe in 2012 with my sister at the underbelly doing a show called Bookworm, then another show with her in 2019 called Cave Women. My first solo fringe show was a one-woman-play called “The Screen Test” which was on at the Pleasance last year. CHRISTBRIDE is my just first solo show listed as a comedy. Do your research please! Sorry I’m not trying to be rude actually, please forgive me. I am feeling very excited and grateful to be at the fringe again, it is such an artistically rich environment. You become the best version of yourself as a performer by the end, you learn something new every day.

What was it about medieval mysticism that captured your imagination - and made it feel like the right setting for this story?

I am drawn to women who have a burning desire to express themselves, searching for answers in the unknown, who are deeply emotional. Medieval mystics are storytellers! writers ! Actresses! I also had a vague idea that there could be something really funny about characters' personal relationships with the divine being very hyper specific to each person. Like… my Jesus actually has a peg-leg and a gold tooth, and you cannot tell me otherwise.

In developing CHRISTBRIDE, what was the biggest creative challenge - whether in writing, tone, or bringing Batilda’s world to life onstage?

There are lots of different characters in the show to bring the story to life, so deciding on unique voices and stage presence to differentiate them is tricky but essential! Trying to keep the correct balance of historical accuracy and plain parody has also been a challenge. I have also constructed a very unusual backdrop to portray both Little dick (Batilda’s village) and the abbey she runs off to. Some shadow puppetry and stained glass windows may also be involved…

How do you balance parody with empathy in a character who’s both hilarious and a bit heartbreaking?

I don’t know exactly, I think I’ll find that out at the fringe! But I like to think that I am trying to achieve that balance. I reckon it’s about staying true to what this character would actually be thinking/saying at each stage of the story. It’s so important to be funny and have lots of jokes, and keep the story zipping along, but it’s also vital for the audience to be aware of what the character is actually experiencing, and how they grow throughout the story. I am never going to write/perform something that is just making fun of someone or something, instead I like to create work that plays with the ridiculousness of life itself.

The show explores girlhood, ambition, and the strange magic of femininity. What kinds of ideas or feelings do you hope audiences walk away with?

I hope that everyone who leaves the show feels an intense desire to grow their hair down to their waist, throw their phone into a lake and sit by some stained glass windows. Other than that, I hope they feel connected with their own unique rich inner world that lies within.

CHRISTBRIDE will be at Jack Dome from 30^th July – 24^th August. Tickets available HERE.