“I have done performances in the past in Hebrew, Italian and German and also some without words at all- but now it’s all in English and I’m very excited about it.”
WHO: Hila Meckier
WHAT: “‘Once upon a time, a little girl and a little boy were lost in the woods…’ That is usually how these things start. Only this time they are not just lost in the woods, but within their own story! An energetic and absurd comedy for all ages, Hawk and Hill bring a new twist to the fairy tales you know and love. With buckets-full of imagination and oodles of laughter, Arran Hawkins and Hila Meckier combine their decades of theatrical experience into a fun-filled, family-friendly theatrical comedy performance you don’t want to miss!”
WHERE: Gilded Balloon Teviot – Wine Bar (Venue 14)
WHEN: 11:15 (60 min)
MORE: Click Here!
Is this your first time to Edinburgh?
Yes It is my first time and I absolutely love it! It is also my first theatre show I’m performing in English! I have done performances in the past in Hebrew, Italian and German and also some without words at all- but now it’s all in English and I’m very excited about it. I was visiting here in the past and absolutely fell in love with the city and got very inspired by the shows I’ve managed to see, but this time I am here with my own show with my colleague Arran Hawkins, that for him that will be the 4th time at the festival with his shows (“Black is the colour of my voice” and “The Snow Queen”). The atmosphere, the creativity, the nice and friendly people and the outstanding landscape makes the festival so special.
What are the big things you’ve learned since 2022 and have you absorbed any of the lessons yet?
I have learned a lot this year like what actors in the UK are saying before a show to warm up their pronunciation muscles in the mouth like the tongue twister: “A Box Of Biscuits, A Box Of Mixed Biscuits, and a Biscuit Mixer” … and I have also learned to listen to my own gut but on the other hand don’t take myself so seriously and enjoy the moments! if it’s on stage or just generally in life… I guess if I haven’t absorbed those things, I would not find myself answering these questions between my exciting shows in the most amazing fringe festival in the world… so… well done for that!
Tell us about your show.
My show is something I am incredibly proud of and looking forward every morning I wake up- to present it to the audience. “Lost In The Woods” is a funny family fairy tale that combines all the fairy tales you know and love in a fast paced and hilarious way, told from the point of view of middle aged Hansel and Gretel that got lost in all the other fairy tales…
Arran and myself wrote it together when we met in Berlin, after Arran attended a physical theatre workshop I was leading. Turned out that we both share a similar sense of humour and after being asked by Panda Theatre in Berlin to come up with a family show in English, we started some sessions of brain storming and improvisation and we clicked so well that, I know it might sound like a cliche, but the play basically wrote itself while we had so much fun!
We had a successful premiere in February 2020 and immediately we were invited to perform for the International school in Berlin BUT then… COVID hits and everything was shut down… We managed to perform a year after in Berlin and a few successful times in the UK but it feels like we were just waiting for the opportunity to bring it to the Edfringe festival. Hopefully, after the festival ends, we will tour with the show all over the UK.
What should your audience see at the festivals after they’ve seen your show?
I highly recommend these physical theatre shows that I saw and loved: The Clown Show- “Don Quixote” performed by the Red Nose Company. A brilliant and crafted clown show for adults- they combine the story of Don Quixote with their own experience of travelling and touring their show out side of Finland. Very funny and clever!
“Andre and Dorine” performed by KULUNKA Teatro. A beautiful, sensitive peace of art! It’s a physical theatre show where the actors are wearing big makes. The story is funny and heartbreaking. I was amazed how much the human body can be so expressive even without seeing the facial expressions of the actors… fantastic!
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