Playwright and director Andrew Upton has transitioned into fiction with his debut novel, Krank Fuss, an allegorical fable centered on a disfigured chicken. The project, which explores themes of systemic powerlessness and war, was inspired by Upton’s own experience keeping poultry and his reflections on the anxieties about wars in Europe and generally, according to his interview with The Guardian.
The Origin of a Fable
The concept for Krank Fuss—German for “sick foot”—began two years ago when Upton visited a pullet breeder. Watching a young worker move birds into a box, Upton found himself wondering how the animals interpreted their sudden displacement. He initially drafted a 10-page short story, but set it aside, fearing it was too “fanciful.”
Upton’s creative process thrives in the early morning, often beginning at 5 a.m. while his wife, actor and producer Cate Blanchett, manages the morning school run. He notes that for an idea to survive, it must be “seductive” enough to compete with his professional obligations at their film company, Dirty Films, and his domestic life in East Sussex.
Did you know?
Andrew Upton spent a decade as the co-artistic director of the Sydney Theatre Company, where he adapted works by Chekhov and Ibsen. He credits these playwrights with influencing his literary worldview and the layered structure of his fiction.
Literary Influences and Narrative Structure
The novel is structured as a story-within-a-story. It purports to be a manuscript written by a First World War veteran named Rudi, discovered in a leather satchel by his grandson following the death of Rudi’s daughter. Milne, specifically the way Milne used innocence to process the trauma of the Great War.
However, Krank Fuss diverges from the gentle tone of Winnie-the-Pooh. The narrative depicts a farm during the rise of Nazi Germany, where anthropomorphized animals struggle under a brutal hierarchy. The book contains moments of graphic violence, serving as an allegory for the powerlessness of those trapped within systems they cannot fully comprehend.
Comparing Artistic Perspectives
Upton’s approach to fiction reflects his background in theater and adaptation. While his previous work focused on the “hyper-naturalistic” understanding of characters found in Ibsen, Krank Fuss leans into an inventive, fantastical genre. His initial draft was vetted by a select group of readers, including Blanchett, director Kip Williams, and his son, Dashiell. All three urged him to stop labeling the work as “weird.”
Frequently Asked Questions
- What is the premise of Krank Fuss?
The novel follows a disfigured chicken on a German farm during the onset of the Second World War, framed as a fable written by a WWI veteran. - Where did the idea for the novel come from?
Upton was inspired by observing chickens being sorted by a breeder, prompting him to imagine their internal perspective. - Is the book suitable for children?
While written in the spirit of a fable, Upton describes the book as containing literary savagery and violence, suggesting it is intended for an adult audience.
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