DRAMATIC DEBUT...

Two friends who met studying drama at the University of Kent and formed their own company Accidental Collective were chosen to be the first ‘in residence’ at Canterbury’s Marlowe Theatre. The duo will be unveiling their first work at the theatre this week

“More like a collage then a painting.” That is how Daisy Orton describes the work she creates with Pablo Pakula through their theatre company Accidental Collective. The pair met studying drama at the University of Kent at Canterbury, and when their course ended, decided to stay on in the city rather than head to London with the majority of their peers. Pablo, 30, is originally from Spain, while Daisy, 29, grew up outside Leeds. “There is this idea that to be successful, you need to leave Kent. This isn’t the case,” said Daisy. “We wanted to stay and build something here, so we founded Accidental Collective. Our aim is to make experimental theatre that isn’t conventional, but is accessible to everyone. “We were both absolutely passionate that theatre did not have to be what people thought it was. It could incorporate different genres.” After founding the company in 2006, the pair have become a driving force in the local performance scene, setting up Pot Luck, a showcase and networking event held at venues around the county, and curating the Marlowe Theatre’s Scratch Night, which showcases new works by theatre companies. In 2009 they became the first associate theatre company of the University of Kent’s School of Arts, and last year won the Canterbury Culture award in the category of Cultural Pioneer. Their efforts were further rewarded earlier this year when the Marlowe Theatre chose Accidental Collective as its first resident associate company. In return for co-producing a new piece to be performed at the Marlowe Studio, the pair receive support from the theatre’s professional teams, free rehearsal space and a platform for their work to reach a larger audience. Daisy said: “We were both absolutely thrilled. It is the first time we have had a venue’s support, and we have received some great advice on areas like publicity and design. “It is fantastic to be able to draw on their expertise. We also have use of a rehearsal space, which is normally hugely expensive.” The pair have been working on their first show, Here Is Where We Meet, for the past five months, and it make its stage debut this week. Inspired by John Berger’s semiautobiographical book of the same name which sees an old man looking back at his life, it interweaves their own experiences of turning 30. Daisy, who lives in Faversham, said: “We are looking forward as he is looking back. It uses some extracts from the book, but the rest of the show was devised by the company. “Hopefully this show will be the proof of the pudding and show that high calibre works can be created outside London.”

Friends Daisy Orton and Pablo Pakula with their show Here Is Where We Meet