Aristotle “Telly” Kousakis is the director of the Edinburgh Festival Fringe show, RUGBURN. He’s been in TV for over 10 years, on shows like Glee, Scream Queens, and 9-1-1, in roles ranging from Set Assistant to Writer. Theatre is his first love. We caught up with him to fin out more.
How would you pitch RUGBURN to fans of celebrity drama?
Ever wonder what it’s really like to cater to every whim of a Hollywood celebrity? We’re dishing on the demanding, egotistical, maniacal underbelly of stardom.
And how would you pitch it to someone who is into slasher movies?
You know that unsettling feeling when everything is not what it seems, like the rug can be pulled out from under you at any moment? RUGBURN is all about the choices we make when our back is against the wall.
What is the line between drama and gossip?
Drama is crisis, it’s conflict, and there are lessons to be learned. Gossip is shit we tell people
about others to feel better about ourselves.
What do you mean by confessional fever dream?
Mat has put a lot of himself on that stage. I wanted to recreate the feeling you get when he pulls you aside at a party to tell you the about his latest design emergency, his recap of the party the night before, the outrageous stories of his Floridian past. In RUGBURN we layer all those stories on top of each other, shifting from one reality to the next. You never know what’s coming next.
What’s the zaniest thing you’ve done to get this show made?
Oh, probably donning a furry panda mask and custom balloons while flyering on the streets of Edinburgh.
Why the Edinburgh Fringe?
Mat leads with bravado and ambition. This is the greatest performing arts festival in the world. When he pitched the show to me, we knew we had to aim for the top, bring this creation to the highest possible echelon, with a global audience.
How similar is this to other projects you’ve worked on?
Not very. In TV and Film, the crews are hundreds of people, one person for every possible job — costumers, grips, set dressers, caterers, accountants. And everyone’s required to stay in their lane. If it’s outside your purview you step back and let the machine do its work. At Full Spiral, we’re a team of four, so the overlap is major. One moment you’re blocking a scene, the next you’re ordering delivery for the team as you rig a projector, then you’re decorating props and operating the follow spot. We’ve each brought every skills in our toolbox to to this production. It’s a lot more work, but a lot more rewarding.
What is your favourite moment in the show?
Our Finale gets me every time! I can’t help but grin from ear to ear with pure elation. Our great love is musical theatre, and we pulled from so many references to create our own Rugburn Follies. We really let the theatrics take over by the end, and put on the dreamy, fantastical, feathered song and dance of our dreams.
What’s next?
In developing Rugburn, we founded Full Spiral Productions. I am so excited to see what we can begin to produce in LA with such a successful show under our belts. Becoming an incubator for solo shows, staging our old favorites We’ve found a lot of our audience giving the word Rugburn new meaning – “That’s so Rugburn.” “This is my Rugburn.” Maybe we’ll franchise, and help others develop their tales of generational trauma and escapism. And then, of course, an overall at Netflix.
Monsters or Mazes?
Mazes. I have an excellent sense of direction.
Fortune or Glory?
Glory often comes with fortune, but as so many of the rich have proven, fortune doesn’t always bring glory. I’ll take the Glory.
Truth or Beauty?
Truth. No matter how ugly, the truth will always set you free.
You can book tickets for RUGBURN here, and you can check out future shows here.
