CHRISTBRIDE: A Medieval Coming-of-Age Comedy by Bebe Cave

CHRISTBRIDE is the comedy debut of writer and performer Bebe Cave, premiering at the Edinburgh Fringe this year. The one-woman show tells the story of Batilda Bigbum, a young maiden in a medieval village, as she tries to escape an unwanted marriage and instead pursues a life of independence and devotion. Drawing on historical figures, medieval mysticism and contemporary themes, CHRISTBRIDE examines the pressures women face - then and now - with humour and originality. Ahead of the run, Cave spoke to Hinton Magazine about the show’s concept, inspirations and what audiences can expect.

For those new to it - what’s the premise of CHRISTBRIDE, and who is Batilda?

Batilda Bigbum is a medieval young maiden who lives in a made-up village called Little Dick. She feels she is ‘not like other maidens,’ that she’s destined for adventure, and is desperate to avoid being forced into an unhappy marriage or dying in childbirth like her sister Barrimanilow. When she witnesses a mysterious nun, Sister Gismunda, delivering a prophecy at a banquet and seemingly living a life of independence, it inspires Batilda to pursue a totally different path for herself. CHRISTBRIDE is a comedy about devotion, expression and the pressures of living as a woman in the Middle Ages. If you had to decide between marrying your dead sister’s 78-year-old widow or Christ himself, who would you pick?

What drew you to the medieval world as the backdrop for a coming-of-age comedy? Was it the corsets, the mysticism… or the drama?

I think our modern interpretation of the Middle Ages is inherently funny. We imagine stupid muddy people shouting at each other over a sack of potatoes. Or princesses sighing in towers. And grand dramatic battles. And people getting their heads chopped off for no good reason. It’s silly! There is also a romance to it, maidens with long flowing hair and knights fighting for their honour. How could a delusional one-woman-show creator like myself resist such a rich backdrop to build on? I have been fascinated with female Christian mystics such as Margery Kempe, Julian of Norwich and Catherine of Siena for a while. They were visionary women with rich inner worlds, and the souls of storytellers. My last one-woman-show (The Screen Test) was all about an actress in Golden Age Hollywood, and after that project I was considering what the ancient-world equivalent to an actress would be… and then I started to connect the dots! The life of a mystic, preaching and teaching and publicly crying and performing miracles (whether real or fake), is not a far cry from the life of a modern-day actress. I decided it was time to get mystical.

The show plays with how women are expected to find purpose — in the Middle Ages and now. What modern ideas were you exploring through Batilda’s very intense spiritual crush?

I think Batilda’s pursuit of a life of devotion is in some ways thematically inspired by modern-day fandoms and parasocial relationships with celebrities. We all want to be accepted by something we deem to be higher status than us. I also think that the show is about seeking a place where you feel you belong. We all want to find our people! The mystical nuns appear to Batilda when she needs them most, when she has been kicked out by the rest of polite society. Batilda’s fear of being trapped by the expectations of marriage and motherhood, and her desire to achieve something more than just propping up a man’s existence, is something that women throughout history have felt. Though our world is certainly an easier place for women than it was hundreds of years ago, we still face limitations and inequality. Oh to have all the options we need! I found the lives of medieval mystics fascinating as they seemed to find a loophole in the social construct of the age they were living in, and were able to lead lives of somewhat independence. Women are very crafty, both then and now, so I wanted to play with the idea of a girl who was aware of this loophole. I’m not saying she’s not talking to the divine… but how would anyone know otherwise?

You describe CHRISTBRIDE as a ‘medieval coming-of-age story.’ In your eyes, what do teen girls then and now have most in common?

We feel things very deeply, and are led by our emotions for better or worse. I know this, as a twenty-seven-year-old teenage girl myself.

This is your comedy debut at the Fringe. What are you most excited - or mildly panicked - about sharing with Edinburgh audiences?

I learnt a lot doing my show The Screen Test last year, which was listed as theatre but was largely a comedy. I had such an enriching experience creating that piece of work, and the thrill of performing your own writing to such a wide array of audiences is incredible! The Fringe allows you to become the best performer you can be by the end of the month, as you learn something new about the work (and yourself) every day. Now that I’m doing a show listed as comedy, I think that I am going to aim to be as adventurous and bold as possible. Comedy is about letting go, and inviting people into the joke.

You’ve had huge online success with your period drama reels. How has that digital following shaped the way you approach live storytelling?

I think that sharp writing and keeping up the momentum are vital when creating online comedy reels, as we all have short attention spans when it comes to short-form content. That has forced me to keep the comedy punchy and quick! I am trying to incorporate that conciseness into my live work.

There’s a real cultural moment happening around medieval aesthetics — why do you think young people, especially women, are so into this era right now?

I think this current medieval cultural interest probably comes as a response to our overstimulation. We have too many options, and screens, and debit cards, and so we romanticise a simpler way of life. Our interpretation of the Middle Ages is also partly influenced by the medieval revival movement first popularized in the 1960s. Music was played with wooden instruments, and clothes were handmade and embroidered and vividly coloured, and people grew their hair very long and left it wild. It was about authenticity and, most importantly, connection. To the real world, to romance, to nature. It’s basically the polar opposite to the life young people live now — a world dictated by fast fashion, social media and overconsumption. Perhaps we are craving this aesthetic that reminds us of childhood storybooks, and want to escape our lives for a dose of nostalgia and adventure!

CHRISTBRIDE will be at Jack Dome from 30^th July – 24^th August. Tickets available HERE.