Author Archives: Dan Lentell

+3 Interview: I Am

Posted in *Written Interviews, Plus 3 2019 – Features by

“You don’t have to be helpless and a victim to your own doubts.”

WHO: Stacy Lynn Gould, Producer, Director, Playwright

WHAT: “What if you could meet your inner demons? Delve into the cobwebs of our heroine’s mind and watch her inner demons fight for control of the light. A new magical realism drama integrating original award-winning music.”

WHERE: Greenside @ Infirmary Street – Forest Theatre (Venue 236) 

WHEN: 11:30 (50 min)

MORE: Click Here!

Is this your first time to Edinburgh?

For two of our company, it is their first time. For three others, I believe it is their second time. For me, it’s my fourth. But it’s my first as Executive Producer, Writer, and Director. My first fringe was in grad school at Royal Conservatoire of Scotland. As part of our curriculum, we were required to take the train in from Glasgow and see some shows and attend workshops and talk backs. I was hooked after that. I returned a second and third time with an international theatre company and worked behind the scenes as an assistant director, vocal coach, and technical supervisor. I think that’s one of the reasons why I love the Fringe so much, you have to have many hats, collaborate with your team, and constantly evolve and learn in order to survive and thrive. I never leave the Fringe without expanding my mind on what constitutes as theatre and entertainment. It exhausts and inspires. And we are so ready for that.

What’s the biggest thing to have happened to you since Festivals ’18?

We’ve had some really great milestones since August of last year. Our play had a VIP staged reading at a Broadway House and premiered Off-Off and Off-Broadway. Those are probably the biggest.

Tell us about your show.

Our show is called “I Am” and it’s a magical realism piece about physically meeting your inner demons and how they can affect your self-care. I wrote it during a time when I was once again transitioning in my career and feeling a bit lost. I noticed that every conversation I seemed to have with the 25-45 demographic was the same; everyone was questioning their dreams and adding to their own self-paralysis. This show analyses where those voices in our heads come from and hopefully reminds us that self-care is a choice. You don’t have to be helpless and a victim to your own doubts.

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

oooooooo there are a ton of shows that I’m super excited to see. But I’d say my top 5 are: Connie Wookey: Denied (underbelly), Hitler’s Tasters (Greenside), Fempire (Assembly Rooms), Austentatious (Underbelly, which I go every year), and Enough (Traverse).

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!

+3 Interview: Laser Kiwi

Posted in *Written Interviews, Plus 3 2019 – Features by

“This is our first time over here and we couldn’t be more excited to be part of this Festival of epic proportions.”

WHO: Imogen Stone, Performer

WHAT: “New Zealand’s favourite surreal sketch circus troupe bring their smash hit to Edinburgh. A wonderfully bizarre and thoroughly entertaining masterpiece, you will never predict what’s coming next! After sell-out shows across Australia and Canada, this unique style of comedy is set to shake up the UK. This show is innovative… and refreshingly unpretentious. ‘Fall-down funny, and absolutely top shelf’ ***** (Advertiser, Adelaide). ‘Hilarious and impressive in equal measure’ ***** (TheUpsideNews.com). Winner of Best Circus and Physical Theatre at Adelaide Weekly Fringe Awards 2019.”

WHERE: Assembly George Square Gardens – Piccolo (Venue 3) 

WHEN: 22:30 (60 min)

MORE: Click Here!

Is this your first time to Edinburgh?

Yes! This is our first time over here and we couldn’t be more excited to be part of this Festival of epic proportions. It’s been on our radar for years, 2019 felt like the right time to make it a reality!

What’s the biggest thing to have happened to you since Festivals ’18?

In the past year Laser Kiwi has taken NZ and Australia by storm, winning awards, standing ovations, the works. It’s so encouraging to see audiences enjoy our show, we’ve had such a fantastic year.

Tell us about your show.

The three performers you see on stage.. we are the whole crew! We wright, create, perform and produce the entire beast that is, ‘Laser Kiwi.’

We all grew up in Wellington, New Zealand, we actually met each other as young teenagers, all part of the local circus scene. After growing up, getting degrees and working professionally as solo performers we created our first production together in 2014, a colourful and absurd street show and have continued creating together ever since.

Laser Kiwi is a circus sketch show, a compilation of concepts/ideas we had scribbled in notebooks presented one after the other. Some are 8 minute pieces which have had weeks of rehearsal, some are 10 second whirlwind sketches which we literally threw onstage and hoped for the best (they’re all beautiful in our eyes). Needless to say, any idea we have these days goes straight in our notebooks/phone memos, in preparation for ‘Laser Kiwi #2.’

Spoiler alert, Zane and Degge are actually brothers, and Imogen and Zane are partners. It’s a tight-knit touring trio, and it works really well, we’re taking our family with us wherever we go.

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

This is our first time here at Edinburgh Fringe, and we can see why you’re asking this, it’s overwhelming.. in a good way! Hmm

Keep your eyes peeled for Thom Monkton.
Abandoman is brilliant and hilarious! Could watch this every night.

Go see our badass Aussie circus friends! Among other shows: Yuck Circus, the incredible Gravity and Other Myths creation – Backbone.

Also, a Wellington local company is bringing their fab show: ‘Back of the Bus’ by Java Dance Theatre. Check it out!

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!

+3 Interview: Honey

Posted in *Written Interviews, Plus 3 2019 – Features by

“The team working on the production is a highly international blend of people.”

WHO: Malou Olander, Producer

WHAT: “Honey, a freelance journalist and single mother of four (and a half) seeks control, agency, confirmation and solvency from her rebellious daughter, disappointed mother, skeptical friends and imperfect men. Three (or four) therapists have so far failed to help her, so it’s time to try a different kind of talking cure. Honey must tell her story to find out how it ends and where it begins. Will she find what she’s looking for, whatever that is? Honey is a comedic one-woman show from Finland featuring Scottish actress Sarah McCardie embodying eleven triumphantly dysfunctional characters in one hour, precisely.”

WHERE: ZOO Playground – Playground 1 (Venue 186) 

WHEN: 16:30 (60 min)

MORE: Click Here!

Is this your first time to Edinburgh?

This year will be the ninth year that Ace-Production will be attending the Fringe. During these nine years, Ace has produced eight pieces of work for the festival. Ace is also one of the initiators and coordinators of the From Start to Finnish project.

What’s the biggest thing to have happened to you since Festivals ’18?

Last years production of All The Lights are On received big interest from companies around Europe looking to produce the play.

Tell us about your show.

Honey is a play written by the Finnish playwright Tove Appelgren and produced by the Finnish company Ace-Production. The play had it’s Finnish premier at Åbo Svenska Theater in Turku in 2018. The play was then translated to English and the idea of taking it to the Fringe emerged. The team working on the production is a highly international blend of people: the playwright and the production company is Finnish, the actress is Scottish, the director is British and the Sound and Light designer/manager is Spanish. After the Fringe we hope to get a tour with the show in the UK and to sell the rights internationally.

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

All the shows that are a part of the From Start to Finnish showcase; The Desk, Ali & Alpo, Shine and Ejaculation – Discussions about female sexuality.

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!

+3 Interview: Slime

Posted in *Written Interviews, Plus 3 2019 – Features by

“We’re really looking forward to playing to Edinburgh families.”

WHO: Sam Caseley, Writer & Composer

WHAT: “Being a slug is hard. Everyone thinks you’re disgusting. Slug and Caterpillar are starving, and the only leaf left in the garden is just out of reach. Slug thinks they should work together. Get the leaf, eat the leaf, play a game, be friends. Caterpillar has other ideas. Slugs are gross, they’re covered in slime and they have terrible taste in music. Things get sticky. Enter the undergrowth to squish, squelch and play your way through this hilarious, surreal show for 2-5 years and their families, told with a handful of words and lots of slime.”

WHERE: Pleasance Pop-Up: Central Library – Pleasance Pop-Up: Central Library (Venue 462) 

WHEN: 11:15 (60 min)

MORE: Click Here!

Is this your first time to Edinburgh?

Ruby, our director, did a show with Paines Plough Roundabout a few years ago, but this is our first year as a company. We’re really looking forward to playing to Edinburgh families.

What’s the biggest thing to have happened to you since Festivals ’18?

2018 was a good year for us. We made DUCKLINGS with Hull Truck, which is going to be at The Royal Exchange this Christmas, we took SLIME out on the road and we started hatching plans with some brilliant theatres for a show next year.

Tell us about your show.

SLIME is a surreal, funny show about a slug and a caterpillar. It’s told with few words and lots of slime and performed in a giant, immersive foam garden. It’s perfect for 2-5 year-olds and their families, and with integrated creative BSL and a relaxed performance environment, it’s really accessible. SLIME was written by Sam Caseley, directed by Ruby Thompson and designed by Rūta Irbīte. We are The Herd Theatre and we make work with and for young people. We’re based in Hull and we made SLIME last year with the Hull Libraries Service. We wanted to create high quality work for an early years audience in the city and this was the result. After Edinburgh we’re on a Northern Tour with the show to venues including Barnsley Civic, Cast, Northern Stage and Stephen Joseph Theatre.

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

We’re part of the Hull Takeover which contains some other great shows – Beach Body Ready by The Roaring Girls is brilliant. I’m really excited for The Polka and Complicite’s co-pro – I’ll Take you Mrs Cole! there’s animation and it’s about ska! If you’ve got really little ones Starcather’s Little Top looks great – circus for babies.

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!

+3 Interview: David McIver: Teleport

Posted in *Written Interviews, Plus 3 2019 – Features by

“My least favourite year was 2016 because I had 35 walkouts in one show and that wasn’t even one of the worst shows I had.”

WHO: David McIver, Performer

WHAT: “Come! Escape into the Realms of Warquest, where you can level up, complete quests, defeat monsters and watch a cheeky little man do some stupid character comedy. That’s right my friends, it’s another bit of fun from David McIver, all about escapism, loneliness and role-playing games. ‘Had his audience in fits of laughter’ ***** (LondonTheatre.co.uk). ‘Uniquely inventive in its approach to comedy’ ****½ (ShortCom.com). **** (BroadwayBaby.com). **** (FringeGuru.com). **** (MumbleComedy.net). Appearances on BBC Radio 1, Radio 4 Extra, BBC Three and iPlayer. Directed by Jordan Brookes.”

WHERE: PBH’s Free Fringe @ Banshee Labyrinth – Cinema Room (Venue 156) 

WHEN: 12:20 (60 min)

MORE: Click Here!

Is this your first time to Edinburgh?

This is my fifth consecutive year at the fringe and my second full-length solo show. My favourite year was 2017 because my show was in the evening, so I could stay out as late as I wanted and nobody could tell me off. My least favourite year was 2016 because I had 35 walkouts in one show and that wasn’t even one of the worst shows I had.

What’s the biggest thing to have happened to you since Festivals ’18?

I got my ear pierced. New year, new me! I think I look very nice.

Tell us about your show.

It’s a silly character comedy show about escapism, in which I recreate a World of Warcraft-style, online roleplaying game. I wrote it, it’s directed by Jordan Brookes and produced by Objectively Funny. I’ve previewed it at the Brighton and Prague Fringes, as well as in London. After Edinburgh, I’ve got a friend who runs a theatre in Georgia, USA, and I’m going to take it over there; I hope they like all the reference to Liverpool players from the mid-2000s. I’m telling people I’m going over to crack America, one regional 40-seater theatre at a time.

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

They should see Will Rowland’s Cocoon! Will is doing his debut hour of stand up and he’s so funny, sensitive and thoughtful. Jordan Brookes’ show I’ve Got Nothing and watch out for everyone being produced by Objectively Funny! Siblings, Harriet Braine, Tom Mayhew, Yasmine Day and Nathan Roberts.

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!

+3 Interview: Sunset

Posted in *Written Interviews, Plus 3 2019 – Features by

“I’ve also made a daytime television ad that seems to be on all the time and which my friends keep commenting on.”

WHO: Maggie Macleod, Actor

WHAT: “In a house in the hills at the end of the day a grandmother remembers her first date, the man she married and the ups and downs of their life together. A one-woman play with an intense and moving portrait from Maggie Macleod. First produced in London in 2013 and described as an ‘utterly convincing portrait of love’ (BroadwayWorld.com) and ‘a masterclass in the art of the monologue’ (Beige Magazine). Playwright Martin Foreman is the winner of the 2018 Pitlochry Festival Theatre Short Play Award and 2012 London Solo Festival New Writing Prize.”

WHERE: theSpace @ Niddry St – Upper Theatre (Thrust) (Venue 9) 

WHEN: 17:20 (45 min)

MORE: Click Here!

Is this your first time to Edinburgh?

Yes! I’m very excited to be appearing at the Fringe for the first time. I came to acting late in life and the Fringe is something I have always wanted to do. It’s even more exciting – and nerve-wracking – to be in a solo performance.

What’s the biggest thing to have happened to you since Festivals ’18?

I’ve appeared in Outlander Series 4 – and remembering the great time I had with the wonderful cast. I’ve also made a daytime television ad that seems to be on all the time and which my friends keep commenting on.

Tell us about your show.

Sunset is a wonderful portrait of a woman in later life who is forced to look back at forty years of marriage and all the issues – love, infidelity, motherhood, career – which my generation had to face. Surprisingly, it’s written by a man, Martin Foreman, who is also directing the piece, and I’m impressed by his awareness and sensitivity. This is a revival. The play hasn’t been seen since it premiered in London with Carolyn Lyster (our generation remember her from Crossroads). We have no commitments for after the Fringe, but we are hoping to take it to small theatres around Scotland – and maybe further afield.

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

I have to recommend Arbery’s other show this year – an award-winning production of the powerful one-act drama Bull by Mike Bartlett. A strong piece with excellent acting. I’ve heard good things about EGTG who bring a production each year and would love to see Mark Ravenhill’s Pool (No Water). My writer / director Martin always recommends Glenn Chandler; I haven’t seen any of his work so I’m looking forward to his The Good Scout.

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!

+3 Interview: Paul F Taylor: Odd Paul

Posted in *Written Interviews, Plus 3 2019 – Features by

“I found a fiver in some trousers I hadn’t worn in a while.”

WHO: Paul F Taylor, Performer

WHAT: “Disappear down the rabbit hole of a fool’s mind. Marvel at imaginative, logic-defying, left-field ideas spoken from an award-winning comedians mouth! ‘An enticing, dizzying prospect, who whips through a welter of daft, Harry Hill-like ideas and diversions and chucks characters around with the agility of the Pajama Men’ (Independent). ‘An impressive knack for both observational wit and quirky flights of fancy’ (Evening Standard). ‘Eclectic mix of proper gags, gleeful flights of fancy and enjoyable awkwardness’ (BritishComedyGuide.info).”

WHERE: The Stand Comedy Club 2 – Stand 2 (Venue 5) 

WHEN: 13:20 (60 min)

MORE: Click Here!

Is this your first time to Edinburgh?

I’ve been coming up to the fringe since 2006 in various forms. I’ve performed in various mixed bill stand-up shows, written/performed four solo standup shows and five sketch shows as my sketch double act Short & Curly. Bit of a veteran me.

What’s the biggest thing to have happened to you since Festivals ’18?

Short & Curly got nominated for best character, sketch and improv in the Chortle awards. Also, I found a fiver in some trousers I hadn’t worn in a while.

Tell us about your show.

I wrote it, and I’m self producing it. Its got various bits of stand-up that I’ve been playing with since my last solo show, but really its all started to come together as a show after I put all the ideas together for a work in progress at Machfest 2019.

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

I suggest people go and see James Mcnicholas, he’s branching out as a solo act after having been a part of the sketch group Beasts for many years and he’s got an intriguing concept about being a boxer who has never fought. Also, my pals Jessica Fostekew and Laura Lexx always bring excellent shows, and will no doubt be out -standing. Also, I’ve been sharing previews with my old pal Nick Helm and he’s got some typically outstanding new stuff to say. See them all!

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!

+3 Interview: The Perfect Opera

Posted in *Written Interviews, Plus 3 2019 – Features by

“I wanted to raise the bar and make a comic opera that wasn’t about medieval commedia dell’arte tropes.”

WHO: Leo Doulton, Words/Director

WHAT: “Love! Death! And a pantomime camel! After extensive audience research, we listed the 47 things people demanded in operas and shoehorned them into this show. Macbeth enters, riding a camel. Macbeth and the camel are deeply in love – but when Lady Macbeth finds out, magic, murder and a mad scene ensue. With drag queens, ballet scenes and social relevance (but not forcing ideas down your throat), this hip-hop foxtrot operatic sketch comedy show is (technically) The Perfect Opera. Winner of the Francis Chagrin Award from the Sound and Music Foundation.”

WHERE: Paradise in The Vault – The Annexe (Venue 29) 

WHEN: 15:55 (45 min)

MORE: Click Here!

Is this your first time to Edinburgh?

I’ve been coming since 2013, when I had my first ever directing experience with a student sketch comedy show. And another one the year after. Both were… pretty much everything you expect student sketch comedy at Edinburgh to be. But I had a wonderful time seeing everything, and got a bit hooked on the Fringe buzz. So in 2015 I came with a show I co-wrote and co-directed with Charley Ipsen – At The Break Of Dawn, which toured around Germany and got nominated for that year’s Amnesty International Freedom of Expression Award. After that, I decided to take a few years out until I had a really amazing show to bring into the Fringe madness.

I’m pretty sure the rest of the company hasn’t done Edinburgh before – I’m excited about sharing something so amazing with them all.

What’s the biggest thing to have happened to you since Festivals ’18?

Ooh, that’s a tough one. Personally, I’d say speaking at my first academic conference – Shakespeare and Co. in York, talking about how shoehorning a pantomime camel into a very loose adaptation of Macbeth is definitely justified by Shakespeare’s role as a shared myth in our society, and not just something I thought was funny. I got very nervous and gabbled through the paper – but it’s the first time I’ve ever presented to academics, so I’m pleased to have had my first taste – next time, it’ll be better!

Tell us about your show.

It came from two frustrations.

One was a personal frustration about people saying ‘oh, you should include [love/death/a pre-existing story/a more original story…] in your next opera’ and decided that I’d shove them all into one ‘perfect’ opera.

The other was a frustration that in my comedy work, people viewed ‘I laughed once every five minutes’ as a devastating criticism, but my opera friends saw it as high praise for operatic comedy. I wanted to raise the bar and make a comic opera that wasn’t about medieval commedia dell’arte tropes – there’s been a lot of recent changes.

Once the libretto was done, I brought Peter Davis (our composer) onboard, and got together a team of fantastic singers who were excited by the project and doing a very silly sketch comedy opera. They’re all great at comedy – not just for opera singers, but just as comedians in their own right.

We’re working with Virtually Opera – they’re devoted to fusion opera, mixing it with clowning, YouTube videos, and vampire B-movies and tabletop roleplaying games. All to try and make it open to more people.

Edinburgh’s our first run – we had a workshop performance last year, and will have a London preview at the Tête à Tête Festival. After that, we’re hoping that our Edinburgh shows will make people excited enough about the show to pick it up for a tour – fingers crossed!

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

It’s so hard to say before getting to Edinburgh! (I haven’t yet had time to read the whole programme) But:

If they love opera-y comedy where you’re there to have a good time, not contemplate sublime beauty and titter politely, you should definitely go and see Madame Chandelier’s Guide To The Opera. She’s fantastic, and we both share an ideal of opera that’s fun and for everyone, not something terribly intellectual you need to be super-educated to enjoy.

More generally, I love the Creative Martyrs’ brand of musical satire and comedy – I discovered that magnificent pair on my first time at the Fringe, and it really stood out. Definitely an influence on how I do musical comedy.

Adventurers Wanted do a great job boosting accessibility through their unique mix of tabletop gaming and theatre, which swings delightfully between silly comedy and some of the most beautiful character-led drama you’ll see at the Fringe. They really set the benchmark for me in terms of ‘shows should be accessible by default,’ and making me try much harder in my work since seeing theirs.

And if you want to see some opera, I’m hoping to see La Voix Humaine – it’s an amazing Poulenc opera I’ve never seen live, and has a few showings as part of the Fringe. I’m gutted to be missing the opera at the International Festival – but Eugene Onegin’s a good one for people who’ve never seen an opera before, and want to have a good time watching something beautiful.

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!

+3 Interview: Nick Elleray: Big Nick Energy

Posted in *Written Interviews, Plus 3 2019 – Features by

“I turned 50 and I hate it so, so much. I would appreciate the media’s respect of my privacy at this very difficult time.”

WHO: Nick Elleray, Writer/Performer

WHAT: “Nick Elleray brings the mellow thunder to the Fringe with a brand-new stand-up show with a great new zeitgeisty title that the kids will love. Where do you find joy in these grim times? Should you be asking Nick? Come along and find out. ‘Brilliant, astute observational comedy about middle-aged life’ (Adam Bloom). ‘A fine variety of cracking good jokes’ **** (ThreeWeeks). ‘Time and money spent on Nick Elleray is time and money well spent. He’s great’ **** (Edinburgh Festivals Magazine).”

WHERE: Laughing Horse @ The Counting House – The Attic (Venue 170) 

WHEN: 12:45 (55 min)

MORE: Click Here!

Is this your first time to Edinburgh?

This is my sixth year performing a show at the Fringe. Breaking that down, it means that I’ve spent approx. 0.66% of my life performing in Edinburgh. I figure if I keep at it, I can get that figure up to 0.75% or 0.8% before I die. Fingers crossed!

This is my third solo show. Three of the previous visits were split-bill shows where I performed with another act. It’s a double-edged sword, the split-bill show – yes, I want to share the shame and disappointment with a close friend, but the glory – oh, the glory – that’s all mine, thank you very much.

What’s the biggest thing to have happened to you since Festivals ’18?

I turned 50 and I hate it so, so much. I would appreciate the media’s respect of my privacy at this very difficult time.

Tell us about your show.

Let me just say that without me, this show wouldn’t exist. I’m not saying I wrote, produced and perform it entirely by myself, but I’m also NOT not saying that*.

I hope I’m not giving away any industry secrets, but my production technique for producing a solo stand-up show is: write it, perform it a lot, try and make it good, repeat until August.

Special mention should go to Heidi Regan, who gave me the title; Alasdair Beckett-King, who designed the poster; and James Deacon, who took the promo photos for it.

* Okay, I am saying that.

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

The Delightful Sausage are on at the same time as me this year, so I can’t recommend them. A shame, because if we weren’t in direct competition for punters, I’d really big them up.

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!

+3 Interview: Harriet Braine: Les Admirables

Posted in *Written Interviews, Plus 3 2019 – Features by

“Time really flies! Seems only yesterday I was standing like a baby tree on the Debating Hall stage… so wooden and nervous.”

WHO: Harriet Braine, Performer

WHAT: “In this historical feminist coming-of-age musical comedy show, Harriet brings forth a team of rebellious women from the history of science to help her wage battle against ignorance, patriarchy and her inner demons. She also looks back over her career as a performer, from school plays to now, presenting her achievements alongside those of renowned inventors, healers and technological pioneers. Bold move, idiot. Funny Women Award winner and So You Think You’re Funny? finalist, 2016. Buxton Fringe Comedy Award winner 2017. ‘Marvellous’ (Chortle.co.uk). ‘Her lyrics were truly inspired’ (Bruce Dessau). ‘Fairly niche’ (Stylist).”

WHERE: Gilded Balloon at Old Tolbooth Market – Top (Venue 98) 

WHEN: 18:00 (60 min)

MORE: Click Here!

Is this your first time to Edinburgh?

This is my third time doing a solo hour in Edinburgh, but my seventh or eighth time at the Fringe! (I lived in Edinburgh for five years – you can’t escape it). Last year and the year before I did shows with the free fringe and I had an amazing time, the year before, which would be 2016, I was up doing the semi-final and then the final of the So You Think You’re Funny? competition. Time really flies! Seems only yesterday I was standing like a baby tree on the Debating Hall stage… so wooden and nervous. Now this year I’m back once again to reminisce about my student days in Edinburgh, thinking about all the very non-prestigious things that I did during term-time in these prestigious venues. I don’t have to imagine audiences naked because I’ve seen worse.

What’s the biggest thing to have happened to you since Festivals ’18?

I’ve written and recorded another series of a great podcast with Bec Hill and Dr Lucy Rogers, called The DesignSpark Podcast, which I’m very proud of. I’ve also performed overseas for the first time, in Sweden and Belgium, which is awesome! I’d like to get booked somewhere hot next, though (please).

Tell us about your show.

My show is a solo hour of musical comedy, I wrote it, it’s produced by Objectively Funny. We’re all pretty new to the collaborative process of creating a proper smasher of an Edinburgh show, but it’s great because I’ve got a wonderful group of people looking out for me, and I can focus on getting the show ready. I’m doing previews of the show all over the country, including four dates at Buxton Fringe (11-15 July), which has become an annual joy for me. I’m lucky enough to be taking this show to Lund Festival in Sweden after Edinburgh, and after that, who knows!

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

There are so many goodies to see at the Old Tolbooth Market (my venue buddies), including Isa Bonachera’s show about space, Archie Henderson’s show about jazz, Bad Aunts, a show about a group of older women who’ve gone totally rogue. Then there’s a few absolute titans of comedy like Rosie Jones, Jayde Adams and Sooz Kempner. And of course my podcast-mate Bec Hill whose show looks mad good. I never really see improv outside of the Fringe either so I’ll be having me some of that – Austentatious and Spontaneous Potter are top of that list. Then there’s my favourite theatre people too – Xnthony’s Confirmation is a must-see, and, for the pretentious arty kids out there like me, anything and everything at Summerhall.

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!