Brighton Fringe: A Self Help Guide To Being In Love With Jeremy Corbyn

The Warren Theatre Box, Brighton

Today until May 13

THE world of politics is certainly interesting at the moment. To say it is entertaining may be an understatement. And now politics fan Jess Green is hoping her new show will ignite people’s passion for politics, and help combat her “love-hate” relationship with the Labour Party. Jamie Walker speaks to her about it.

Is this your first Brighton Fringe?

It is.

What are you looking forward to most about the experience?

I love Brighton.

I brought my play, Burning Books to the NUT national conference in April last year and really enjoyed being near the sea, the friendly people, the shops and bars.

I’m looking forward to exploring the city more.

In terms of fringe festivals I’ve only been to Edinburgh so it will be interesting to see how it works in a different place.

I’m looking forward to bringing the show to a new audience as well.

Tell me about your show.

A Self Help Guide is a powerful and funny spoken word show about my love/hate relationship with the Labour Party, the division of the left and asks how will we ever win a general election again when the party is so divided.

It is a show which is constantly changing.

If something happens in politics that day, it will be reflected in the show that evening.

What was the inspiration behind the show?

I’ve been a Labour member since I was 18 and grew up in a house of Labour Party activists.

I’ve always written about politics and I think we’re living through fascinating times politically.

People have never been so engaged in politics.

I wanted to explore and reflect that in this show.

What do you hope people take away from the show?

Hope. Fire in their bellies.

That there is more to UK politics than Brexit.

That while we are watching the Brexit carnival Rome is burning and we cannot ignore that.

Why is this the show to see this Fringe?

Because it’s about now and every performance is different depending on what’s happened that day.

People have never been so engaged with politics because politics hasn’t had such high stakes for generations.

It all means so much to people – Brexit, the NHS, Universal Credit, education.

It’s a show which explores these things and tries to find solutions to the great rifts which have opened up in politics and society – but with a few jokes thrown in as well.