Caitlin Cook talks toilet graffiti in new show ’The Writing on the Stall’

Toilet stall graffiti, whether you call it high art or lowbrow vandalism, has been around since the 1st century AD. Ranging from crude depictions of the human anatomy to uplifting words of wisdom, it’s a universal phenomenon that we’ve all been exposed to. Caitlin Cook takes the theme and runs with it in her new Edinburgh Fringe show, The Writing on the Stall. The funny, poetic and confessional show is a sing-along journey through the exploration feminism, sexuality, anxiety and fear via bathroom graffiti.

We caught up with Caitlin to find out more about the show and why this piece of graffiti had such a huge impact on her: “Since writing on toilet walls is done neither for critical acclaim nor financial reward, it is the purest form of art. Discuss.”

What was it about that specific piece of bathroom graffiti in Chicago that resonated with you so much that you felt compelled to write The Writing on the Stall?

That specific piece of bathroom graffiti struck a chord with me because it asked a very highbrow academic question using an often presumed lowbrow form of art. I love the juxtaposition of high art vs. low art – to quote myself in the show: why is one work of art better than another just because it's hung in a gallery rather than carved into a toilet seat? There's something so delicious about taking unserious things seriously and vice versa.

How do you balance humour with heartfelt moments? Is the aim to leave audiences both entertained and moved? 

I love a good comedy show, but the ones that really stick with me aren't just an hour of jokes – they are really authentic, well-crafted, human stories that make you laugh and then cry and then laugh again. I want my audiences to have that experience and then some. I want them to build the world of the show with me, to have an actual ladies' bathroom experience – gossiping and trauma-dumping and bonding and swapping stories with me and everyone else in the audience. And I want them to look a little closer at all the art around them, bathroom graffiti or otherwise. One of my favourite and most frequent compliments that I receive from audience members is, "I will never go to the bathroom the same way again."

How has collaborating with AJ Holmes (one of the earliest Elder Cunningham’s in Book of Mormon) influenced the direction and execution of the show? 

The Writing on the Stall would not be the show that it is without AJ. He is an incredibly intuitive and supportive director, and not only that – he also continues to rework and punch-up the script while running all my tech (500+ slides of bathroom graffiti), driving us from show to show on tour, and lugging toilets all around the world with me (fun fact: he also recorded all the piano on the studio album). We have collaborated for many years, writing songs together, punching-up each other's scripts, and directing each other's shows. I can't wait until the roles are reversed, and I can support him and whatever show we write next just as much as he has supported me and my show.

Does bathroom graffiti in the USA differ much from bathroom graffiti in the UK?

A bit! I find that bathroom graffiti in the UK is a bit more poetic or aimed to make you think, whereas bathroom graffiti in the USA can be a bit more obscene or aimed to make you laugh.

What’s the funniest piece of bathroom graffiti you’ve ever come across? 

Ooh, that's a tough one. Most recently, I saw one that said, "Your tits are huge. Never kill yourself." Which made me laugh quite a bit.

Caitlin Cook: The Writing on the Stall will be performed at 21:50 at Pleasance Dome (10 Dome) from 14th-25th AugustBooking

Link: https://www.pleasance.co.uk/event/caitlin-cook-writing-stall