We chatted to the Producer, Director and Performer of Aside Hustle about the company’s show ‘How Do I Love Thee?’, performing as part of the Camden Fringe Festival at the Circle and Star Theatre, Hampstead on the 19th and 20th August.
What can you tell us about ‘How Do I Love Thee’?
It is an exciting new production about the extraordinary life of Elizabeth Barrett Browning
– a Victorian poet who inspired generations through her determination to have her voice
heard and create authentic, moving and influential poetry.
Beginning with Elizabeth and Robert Browning’s secret departure from England to Italy,
the production explores the events that shaped her into one of the most significant
poets of the nineteenth century. Through her poetry and the remarkable letters
exchanged between Elizabeth and Robert, audiences discover a woman who
challenged expectations, campaigned for social change and refused to let the
limitations placed upon her define her.
The production blends naturalistic storytelling with physical theatre to explore both the
external and internal journeys of Elizabeth’s life. Movement becomes a way of
expressing the emotions and experiences that words alone cannot fully capture,
reflecting Elizabeth’s own belief in the power, and limitations, of language.
At its heart, How Do I Love Thee? is a celebration of creativity, courage and the
importance of finding your voice. It is a about a cycle of inspiration that started with
Elizabeth and that we want to continue.
How did the idea for the show come about?
We began developing the show by discussing themes and stories that connected to us
as a company and that we wanted to explore. Themes of identity, coming of age, self-
expression and the power of the arts were a few of those mentioned. As our discussions developed, we realised we wanted to tell a true story, believing that grounding the
production in real events would encourage audiences to reflect more deeply on its
themes.
We then researched people and events that resonated with the themes we had
discussed. That is when we discovered the incredible life of the Victorian poet Elizabeth
Barrett Browning. The more we learned about her life – reading her poetry, exploring her
letters and delving into biographies and historical sources – the more captivated we
became. We were inspired by her story and knew it deserved to be shared.
We realised that Elizabeth’s life offered the opportunity not only to introduce audiences
to the remarkable woman behind the infamous poem How Do I Love Thee?, but also to explore themes that remain deeply relevant today: identity, female empowerment, self-
expression and the transformative power of the arts.
What do you hope that audiences will take away from ‘How Do I Love Thee’?
We hope that audiences will leave with a greater understanding of Elizabeth Barrett
Browning’s extraordinary life. We want her legacy becomes more than a love poem, but
also to inspire audiences to have the courage to find their voice and express
themselves.
We also hope audiences leave with a renewed appreciation for the power of the arts.
Elizabeth used poetry not only as a form of personal expression, but to challenge
injustice and connect with others. In many ways, theatre serves a similar purpose for us
– it allows us to explore ideas, express ourselves and create moments of connection
between people. At a time when the arts remind us of our shared humanity, of the
importance of coming together, of being moved and inspired, we aim to encourage
audiences to embrace creativity and express themselves.
Most importantly, we hope audiences leave feeling inspired. Elizabeth was part of a
powerful cycle of inspiration that has motivated generations to creatively and poignantly
express themselves, we aim to continue this.
What drew Aside Hustle’s attention to the story of Elizabeth Barrett Browning?
Through poetry, Elizabeth was able to express herself honestly and challenge the world
around her. As a group leaving school and beginning the next chapter of our lives, the
idea of finding your voice deeply resonated with all of us. It felt fitting that our first
production should be about someone discovering their voice, as we begin discovering
ours as theatre-makers.
What also struck us was Elizabeth’s legacy. Her poetry inspired generations of writers, including Emily Dickinson, and it reminded us of the extraordinary power of the arts to create change and encourage people to express themselves. Elizabeth overcame a life- threatening illness, a controlling father and societal constrictions placed upon women, to ensure that her voice was heard. Her resilience and determination were deeply
inspiring, and we felt audiences would be equally moved by her story.
It feels particularly meaningful that this is Aside Hustle’s first production. Elizabeth’s
story is ultimately one of courage, creativity and finding your own voice. As we begin our
own journey as a company, I can’t think of a more fitting story with which to begin ours.
How did Aside Hustle come about?
Theatre has always inspired me because it has the power not only to entertain, but to
encourage reflection and give voice to people and stories that deserve to be heard. In
my final year at school, I decided that I wanted to take my passion for drama beyond the
school theatre and create a production that would inspire audiences the way I have
been. So, I gathered a group of likeminded friends who shared that ambition.
Having worked together across many school productions, we wanted to continue
collaborating and challenge ourselves by creating something of our own.
We were brought together by a shared belief in the power of theatre: that it can not only
entertain, but also inspire, create change and connect people. Those values became
the foundation of Aside Hustle and shape the stories we want to tell.
Elizabeth Barrett Browning felt like the perfect starting point. Her story of finding the
courage to use her voice through art resonated deeply with us as young theatre-makers
beginning to find our own.
We hope this production marks the beginning of many more opportunities to tell stories
that inspire audiences, celebrate creativity and encourage people to find their own
voice.
To book tickets for How Do I Love Thee? visit: https://camdenfringe.com/events/how-do-i-love-thee/