The Very Grey Matter of Edward Blank

I performed and wrote the music for The Very Grey Matter of Edward Blank, devised by Familia de la Noche for Assembly Festival at the Edinburgh Fringe 2015.

An exceptional literary talent and ghost writer, Edward Blank has the ability to change Mills and Boon into James Joyce before breakfast. His radical rewrites and astounding editing mean that demand for his work is so great the letterbox clatters non-stop with tapes for transcription and Edward never leaves the solitude of his tiny magnolia flat.

But Edward is far from alone. Emerging from his fractured conscience is an anarchic family of imagined characters, each with a hook in Edward’s life that pulls him deeper into fantasy. His raucous companions use their tall tales and bawdy talents to charm him and entertain him but also to cultivate his fear and disconnect him from the outside world. Edward’s mind is broken.

Each day the circus begins anew and Edward seems happy in his ordinary-extraordinary existence until, one day, a voice on an audio tape changes everything. Visions of his forgotten life and love begin to creep in, challenging how far he will go to protect his fragile reality. 

In a time before our lives became saturated with social media and virtual interactions The Very Grey Matter of  Edward Blank  explores our perceptions of reality, relationships and the line we tread between the imaginary than the tangible. Using their signature style of dark comedy, clowning, live music and storytelling  Familia de la Noche  tell this tale of a shattered lonely life, contrasting the devastating reality with vivid imagination and their mischievous sense of humour. 

Tune written and performed on a zither

Rehearsal sax

Rehearsal fun

Mr Net

Cast : Melissa Sirol, Jean Goubert, Rebecca Cox, Sam Redway, Malik Ibheis

Director : Conrad Sharp

Musical Director : Jean Goubert

Design : Lily Pink

Technician : Abi Toghill