Q&A: A Room of One's Own

Naomi Wright as Virginia Woolf in A Room of One's Own. Photo by Emily Cooper.

Have you ever imagined what it would be like to step inside the pages of your favourite book? This month, Bloomsbury Collective is giving Toronto audiences the chance to meet one of the greatest writers of the 20th century, Virginia Woolf, as part of an immersive theatre experience at the historic Campbell House Museum. Directed by Sarah Rodgers, the production takes us back in time to hear Woolf speak at Girton College in 1928—a famous address that would later be expanded into her classic feminist work A Room of One's Own.

Guests are invited to a reception with live music and light refreshments where they will be encouraged to explore the college, including the library and Woolf's private quarters where her private letters and diary are kept. After the reception the audience will move to the ballroom for the live performance—Patrick Garland's stage adaptation of A Room of One's Own starring Naomi Wright as Woolf.

We caught up with Wright to find out more about her role in this out-of-the-ordinary offering.

Theatromania: Tell us about your involvement with A Room of One’s Own. What inspired this immersive production at the Campbell House Museum?

NW: I play Virginia Woolf in the show and I am one of the producers. I first encountered this amazing book and script when I was in University. My director Sarah Rodgers asked me to work on it with her as part of her Masters Degree. We have been talking about mounting a full production since then. The play itself is perfectly suited for a site specific and immersive production. The play is an amalgamation of the words that Woolf spoke at Girton in 1928, and Newnham College in 1929. The Campbell House Museum is the ideal venue for this show in Toronto. It could sit on the grounds of Girton and fit right in! We wanted to heighten the feeling and understanding that Woolf’s words were extremely personal. She was a genius of her day, and yet could not go to University because she was a woman. We hope that the newspapers will add a political and social context for how revolutionary Woolf’s words were. And it will be interesting to hear how much people think the vernacular about men and women has, or hasn’t, changed. We hope that our audiences will be transported, amused, entertained, and challenged. We hope they go away feeling that they’ve had a unique experience. 

Theatromania: You play the role of the one and only Virginia Woolf. How did you prepare yourself for this part?

NW: Great question—I don’t know!! I’ve read lots about her, I’ve poured over the script, I’ve read theories about her relationship with her husband and her love affair with Vita Sackville West. I’ve read parts of her diary and her letters. I’ve listened to the only surviving recording of her voice. And really at the end of the day, all I can do is let my brain marinate in all that information, and then tell this very powerful story as best I can.

Theatromania: Were there any particular challenges staging this piece?

NW: There are no stage directions in A Room of One’s Own, which is both challenging and freeing. The staging of the written part of the show is simple. It is about storytelling. But it’s Virginia Woolf who has written the story—so the words are pretty exceptional. The staging of the immersive part of the show will be different every night. Kayla Lorette has rehearsed parts to her performance, and some improvised parts. As does our cellist, Cheryl O. She has various pieces in her head that she will play, but she can improvise as the mood of the room changes. How much audience members want to be involved is up to them…

Theatromania: What do you hope audiences take away from it all?

NW: We want people to be moved, to think, to debate with one another, and to be entertained. We are in love with The Campbell House and just being in the house with a fire going is a fantastic way to spend a November evening.

A Room of One's Own runs from November 13 to 24 at the Campbell House Museum (160 Queen Street West). Visit aroomofownsown.ca for more information (including details about Talk Back Salons) and to buy tickets.