Ewan James Knight has caught ip with me ahead of the Lambeth Fringe opening in a few days time to talk about his show Gut Feelings.

What was the inspiration behind your show?

The show was first inspired by one of Ewan’s students, who, while joking around in a lesson, decided to make a beat out of his stomach growling. This sparked a conversation between us about how bodily noises can be interpreted in so many different ways, evoking emotions such as humour, sympathy, disgust, or anxiety. We also realised how differently these sounds are understood across cultures and contexts: a burp shared among friends might be hilarious, but the same sound at a funeral is shameful. Our work takes this often-ignored facet of human nature and places it centre stage, blending lecture and performance with processed and recorded bodily sounds.

How long has your production been in progress?

The performance has been in development since early 2025, having so far been shown as short performances in both Riverside Studios, London and Eastside Projects, Birmingham. It has also just finished a stint as an immersive exhibition in BIRCH Studios as part of Liverpool Independents Biennial.

Where are planning on taking the play next?

The performance will next be performed in Gothenburg(Sweden) in November. In terms of development, we are hoping to have a few extra interactive surprises for the show in Lambeth!

What would you like audiences to take away from your show?

Hopefully after the show the audience would start to notice all the unique sounds the human body makes, and rather than fearing them, really start to listen and appreciate these noises are something we all make and share together.  

What are you looking forward to most about performing your show?

The unpredictability of the show is always fun, since the sound is always improvised, something new and unexpected for both of us is always both to occur.

Why did you choose your particular Fringe venue?

The Bureau of Silly Ideas seems perfect for our show, being able to perform with our collection of whacky sounds inside the arch is definitely going to be a unique experience.

Which shows at the Fringe are you planning on watching?

Bog Body and CLOUDS both sound fantastic, but will be trying to catch as much as we can!

Have you had any major hurdles to overcome to get this production on the stage?

The hardest thing we have found is actually recorded a lot of the sounds, for example you might be having a fit of sneezes but the moment you get the field recorder out to capture one suddenly your body decides to stop sneezing all together!

What other productions have you previously been involved with?

Nam Huh is a curator and doctoral researcher based in Sheffield. Her recent curatorial work includes Migration Matters Festival (Sheffield), Assembly House (Leeds), and Seoul Photo Festival.

Ewan Knight is a musician and sound designer also based in Sheffield. Alongside his solo work under the artist name brainjjus he has performed as a session musician with many artists from around Yorkshire and the UK. This is there first collaboration together.

Gut Feelings – Bureau of Silly Ideas Arch 555

https://lambethfringe.com/events/gut-feelings

Ewan @brainjjus (www.instagram.com/Brainjjus) brainjjus.com

Nam @namjoohuh (www.instagram.com/namjoohuh)