“When we came over last year, we felt like we were in a Hogwarts-inspired fairytale. We’d all just quit our jobs to take the show on the road and we were filled with fear, excitement, anticipation, and gratitude.”
WHO: Jae West
WHAT: “Mirror, mirror, on the wall, who is the evilest of them all? Well come find out for yourself in The Hairy Godmothers’ new sinful sequel. What could be more devilishly delicious and tantalisingly twisted than a vivacious vaudeville of villains in drag? Come peer into this cave of wonders and find a treasure trove of misunderstood “outcasts” of society and the evils that shape the world. Featuring the hottest and darkest miscreants, scoundrels, reprobates this side of the elephant graveyard. ‘A hysterical, well-written show’ ***** (StageWhispers.com.au).”
WHERE: Assembly George Square – Gordon Aikman Theatre (Venue 8)
WHEN: 22:35 (60 min)
MORE: Click Here!
Is this your first time to Edinburgh?
No, this is the second time our group has come to Edinburgh, we’ve learned a lot since the first year! When we came over last year, we felt like we were in a Hogwarts-inspired fairytale. We’d all just quit our jobs to take the show on the road and we were filled with fear, excitement, anticipation, and gratitude. Some of the performers came from non-traditional performance backgrounds e.g. lawyers, engineers, and venue managers, so taking a leap of faith out of the 9 am-5 pm working day felt huge. We’ve been slowly finding our groove over the last 1.5 years, so we’re excited to come back to Edinburgh with a little more knowledge of how it all works. There’s still a lot to learn, especially around getting your name out there, so one step at a time! Edinburgh Fringe is a melting pot of creatives, producers, directors, tech wiz’s and so much more, so getting out there and meeting new people is what is most exciting. You never know who you’re going to meet, it’s a fun mystery.
What are the big things you’ve learned since 2023 and have you absorbed any of the lessons yet?
JOMO, the joy of missing out!! Edinburgh is a playground of opportunities, as most of the Fringe circuit is. Learning to cultivate the ability to say no, allows a deeper ability to find your yes. It’s all about balance. Trust when the body is tired, listen to it, and get some rest so you can show up wholeheartedly the next day. There were many nights out where I’d just be staring blankly out into the ether because I was tired! However, the nights that you feel vibrant, excited, and ‘on’, they are the nights where fun synchronicities and fun opportunities arise. Follow the magic!
Tell us about your show.
We’re a group of Australian friends who got together 5 years ago to write a fun fringe show. We had no idea at that point that it was going to take us around the world. The concept for Dizney in Drag: Once Upon a Parody came together after reflecting on the influence of fairytales and childhood movies on our belief systems and ideals. The theme that kept coming up strongly was the narrative of a hero trying to find their ‘one true love’. We wanted to play with that idea and see what was possible when we deconstructed the predictable endings to stories. I won’t spoil the messaging of the show, you’ll have to come see it for yourself, but let’s just say it’s not a predictable ending.
We’re bringing our brand-new show VILLAINS: A Dizney in Drag Parody as well! This show explores the devilish delights of evil characters and how they can be misunderstood. You follow a main Villain on their quest to be the evilest villain of them all. They learn interesting and insightful things along the way which has them reflect on power, purpose, and passion in a whole new light. Of course, The Hairy Godmother is always there to guide them along and have a beer!
We (The Hairy Godmothers) all self-produce our shows. It’s a big job but we’ve learned a lot through the process. The acting side of things is the smallest portion of what we do now, there’s a lot of work behind the scenes. Thankfully we all get along with each other and support one another in learning new skills or consolidating old ones. We’re a well-oiled machine now!
Being away from home from Brighton Fringe (May) to the end of Edinburgh Fringe (end of August) gets us a little homesick. So, it’s back to Australia for us after the season, maybe with a cheeky little retreat and relaxation time in Europe on the way back.
What should your audience see at the festivals after they’ve seen your show?
Garry Starr: Classic Penguins – not only is he a fellow Aussie but he’s extremely talented and funny. We were able to help out with a part of the show in Brighton and loved it! We’ve seen a number of his shows and can’t get enough. If you want a guaranteed laugh with clever writing, see the show!
MESSY FRIENDS – another Perth drag group with so much passion, heart and colour. They are top notch drag, the dancing is incredible and the drive and purpose behind the show really does shine through. They recently won best cabaret at Adelaide Fringe, and it was very well deserved. If you want to see an impeccable show with feelings and fabulous outfits, this is the show for you.
LIKE WHAT YOU JUST READ? FOLLOW US ON TWITTER! OR SIGN UP TO OUR MAILING LIST!
INTERESTED IN BEING INTERVIEWED TOO? CLICK HERE!
Get Your Coats On 