EdFringe Talk: Serious Nonsense (for Terribly Grown-Up People)

Posted in EdFestivals 2023 by

“The Fringe is special because of the freedom it brings, you can find anything on any of the streets.”

WHO: Ben Macpherson

WHAT: “Funny, horrible and a little bit naughty, this poetry show is perfect for children no matter how old. Meet the chaotic kids, gruesome grown-ups and bizarre beasts that fill the imagination of Ben Macpherson (BBC Radio 4 Extra) and his debut poetry collection. Expect energetic rhymes, masterful storytelling and laugh-out-loud moments from this verbal tour de force. If you like Roald Dahl, David Walliams or Spike Milligan you are going to love this whirlwind of words. ‘Fantastic’ (Michael Rosen). Part of the PBH’s Free Fringe.”

WHERE: PBH’s Free Fringe @ Burrito ‘n’ Shake – Downstairs Room (Venue 605) 

WHEN: 10:45 (60 min)

MORE: Click Here!

Is this your first time to Edinburgh?

No! I’ve been coming to the fringe since 2012 and have brought shows up 4 of those years. The Fringe is special because of the freedom it brings, you can find anything on any of the streets. It makes you feel sort of small but I find that encouraging – it’s the space to grow and explore, putting ego aside and just doing the work.

What are the big things you’ve learned since 2022 and have you absorbed any of the lessons yet?

Location Location location – last years show was in New town a long enough walk from the mile that there was no passing traffic. With PBH you get the venues they can offer so you’re always at the whims of who they can partner with but the best thing I’ve found is focus who you’re trying to share the show with – find where your audience is and chat with them!

Tell us about your show.

Serious Nonsense for Terribly Grown up people is a self written and produced spoken word show. Funny, horrible and a little bit naughty, this poetry show is perfect for families with children aged 8 and up. If you enjoy the poetry of Roald Dahl, Spike Milligan or Hilaire Belloc, this show is a sure-fire hit. Developed alongside my first poetry collection of the same name, the show draws on my experience as a director of Nottingham Poetry Festival and the work I have done in schools sharing poetry. Michael Rosen has said it’s “Full of Humour and Drive!”

Luckily the show was supported by the Keep It Fringe Fund, trying to find a new way of sharing poetry and spoken word with audiences under 18. This time around it is stripped back – a Man, a book and some poems but this is the first step to developing it into a more theatrical show in the Autumn.

What should your audience see at the festivals after they’ve seen your show?

This is a tough one! the good news is my show is so early you can see just about everything after it! But I would especially shout out Chronic Insanity’s play 24, 23, 22 which is a brilliant Gig Theatre Piece from some of my colleagues back in Nottingham. I’ve seen it along it’s creative process and after a successful run in London it’s heading Fringe-ward.

LIKE WHAT YOU JUST READ? FOLLOW US ON TWITTER! FIND US ON FACEBOOK! OR SIGN UP TO OUR MAILING LIST!

INTERESTED IN BEING INTERVIEWED TOO? CLICK HERE!