EdFringe Talk: Truly Madly Baldy

Posted in *Written Interviews, EdFestivals 2023 by

“A big thing I took away from last year’s fringe was to not be afraid to speak to strangers or fellow creatives.”

WHO: Sam Macgregor

WHAT: “Truly, Madly, Baldy is a hilarious two-hander comedy based on the brutally honest stories of people who suffer from the hair-loss condition Alopecia. Told through a surreal and whacky lens, our characters Baldy 1 and Baldy 2 encounter doctors, dates and deluded opinions on beauty standards as they come to terms with their hair loss. Strap yourself in as things are about to get hairy!”

WHERE: Pleasance Courtyard – Pleasance Below (Venue 33) 

WHEN: 12:30 (60 min)

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Is this your first time to Edinburgh?

This is my first time performing in my own show at the fringe. I was up in Edinburgh last year flyering for some other brilliant shows as well as having a very small cameo in an amazing play called Block’d Off in Pleasance Courtyard, so I’m already familiar with the vibe of the fringe. I guess I was more of a punter last year, so I didn’t really have the stress that comes with being there in a performer capacity. That was pretty relaxing and enjoyable since the fringe can get very hectic at times. I guess this year I will see the difference in experience since I will be performing nearly every day for an entire month.

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

I suppose one of them will be that, at any given time, something can go wrong. How do you react to this and help the situation? I had a few of those moments last year in terms of script issues and rejected arts council applications. Ultimately you’ve just got to get back ok the horse and keep going to be honest. It’s important to have strong and supportive friends/network, as they can help you when things aren’t going as planned. I think a big thing I took away from last year’s fringe was to not be afraid to speak to strangers or fellow creatives. We are all nervous and shy sometimes and it’s nice to speak to new people and realize that we are pretty similar in that regard. Not being cautious when it comes to flyering. People love it when you speak about your play with passion, but remember to keep it concise! Word of mouth is huge at the fringe and the more people you speak to the better.

Tell us about your show.

So this show is sort of all based on when I (the writer, performer and producer) lost my hair in late 2019 due to developing Alopecia. It was always something I knew about since my mother has had this for about 15 years. Essentially it’s real life scenarios and anecdotes played out before the audience through eulogies told at a metaphorical cremation of hair. Myself, the director and actor all have pretty busy schedules so we have not managed to preview this yet. However come Wednesday 2nd of August, you best believe we are going to give you a show, regardless of how many people come. I potentially see this being transferred to a London venue, however, as a Geordie, I really want to bring this play to a venue in Newcastle.

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

I fortunately work for the Pleasance theatre in London as a front of house duty manager, I’ve had this job since late 2019. I get to see loads of brilliant fringe shows and this year so far I’ve seen a few cracking shows that are at this summers fringe. Firstly we have 30 and Out by Kit Sinclair, I can see this doing very well and rightfully so. Secondly, Pitch, by November Theatre. Now I have not had the pleasure of seeing this show, nor has anyone as it is a brilliant new piece of theatre. Their last play, How To Build A Wax Figure was great though so I’m confident I’ll enjoy this play about queerness in football. Lastly, Public, a musical set in gender neutral toilet cubicles is going to be one to watch. This show, as well as Pitch, were both recipients of the Charlie Harthill Award (awarded by Pleasance). I managed to catch their slot during the decision process when I was at work and loved what I saw. Expect banging vocals and catchy tunes about important issues! Actually, one last one before I go, The Life Sporadic Of Jessica Wildgoose, by Voloz Theatre Collective. I caught a preview of this and its a very fun piece with slick choreography and witty dialogue.

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