Author Archives: Dan Lentell

+3 Interview: The Last Days of Judas Iscariot

Posted in *Written Interviews, EdFestivals 2017, Plus 3 2017 - Features by

“Right now my brain is fizzing with ideas for next year.”

WHO: Stuart Walker, actor – Judas Iscariot & Butch Honeywell

WHAT: “Brought to you by Parallax Theatre, Stephen Adly Guirgis’s The Last Days of Judas Iscariot is a riotous look at life beyond. 2000 years after that deed, Judas is finally put on trial for ‘that business’ in Judea. With a dash of prejudice, a sprinkling of rude words and a lot of surprises, it is inventive, full on and very funny.”

WHERE: Pleasance Courtyard (Venue 33)

WHEN: 13:30 (90 min)

MORE: Click Here!

Is this your first time to Edinburgh?

I have been to the Ed Fringe before as a theatre lover but this is my debut as a theatre performer! The atmosphere remains electric and highly addictive. Right now my brain is fizzing with ideas for next year. I feel truly inspired by the performances I’ve seen and the people I’ve met this year. My only complaint is the need to rest cuts into my theatre binge time.

Tell us about your show.

Parallax Theatre are reviving Stephen Adly Guirgis’s show with a cast of 10 for the 70th Anniversary of the Ed Fringe. Take a seat in the jury as we put Judas on trial for betraying the son of God. Was it a moment of greed, madness or even bravery? Under the direction of Alexander Knight we’re bursting onto the scene with this “outstanding” (Young Perspective) take on an already edgy script, refreshing topical references and breaking up the all American dialogue (originally meant for a New York audience) – e.g I perform my character Judas as a fella from East London. We want the words to hit our audience harder than ever!

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

I highly recommend ‘Flesh and Bone’ by Unpolished Theatre – it’s like a modern day Shakespeare play set in East London but forget Kings and Queens, this is about the gritty life of a family on a council estate. Powerful and punchy with verse, physical theatre, comedy and more. Eloquent yet raw. Let’s face it, more interesting than the Queen.

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+3 Interview: Rory O’Keeffe: Rorytelling

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“…next year’s show will be called Rory O’Keeffe: Just The Bucket Speech.”

WHO: Rory O’Keeffe, Writer/Director/Performer/Narcissist

WHAT: “Affable young funnyman Rory O’Keeffe returns with a show about losing his faith and his bag (but mainly his bag). Join the ‘intelligent youngster’ (Time Out) for his second hour of jokes and stories. Or, as he narcissistically calls them, ‘rories’. ‘Thoughtful and self-aware, some of the better stand-up you’ll see at this year’s Fringe’ **** (BroadwayBaby.com). ‘You’ll be laughing – every time!’ **** (MumbleComedy.net). ‘Make no mistake: this is a downright clever show’ **** (Edinburgh49.org). ‘Utterly hilarious’ ***** (ThreeWeeks). ‘Comedy for a post-recession graduate generation’ **** (Fest). ‘A tightly composed and expertly delivered romp’ **** (EdFringeReview.com).”

WHERE:  Southsider (Venue 148)

WHEN: 15:15 (55 min)

MORE: Click Here!

Is this your first time to Edinburgh?

I am a deceptively young veteran and this will be my 9th year in Edinburgh. Here are my top 8 previous Edinburghs, in order of how much fun they were:

1. 2009
2. 2010
3. 2011
4. 2012
5. 2013
6. 2014
7. 2015
8. 2016

With age comes responsibility. This year’s been fun, though.

What’s the biggest thing to have happened to you since Festivals ’16?

I moved back in with my parents and then back out again. It’s called ‘Boomerang Kid’ for a reason, guys. I have committed. You can’t just move back in once.

Tell us about your show.

I have finally given in to the Edinburgh Pun Title and called my show ‘Rorytelling’. I tell two Rories. One about losing my bag and one about losing my faith (#deep). It’s funny, and it’s in a delightfully charming back room of a pub. #humblebrag here: sometimes it’s so full that someone has to sit on the stage behind me like a bring-your-child-to-work day situation. It’s free and I give a good bucket speech. In fact, next year’s show will be called Rory O’Keeffe: Just The Bucket Speech. And I will just ask the audience for money for 50 minutes.

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

Matt Winning: Filibuster – funny show about climate change.Clever yet stupid. Silly yet serious. Cheap yet valuable.

Princes of Main – great sketch show in a great venue (Bedlam Theatre)

Macblair – restaging of Macbeth with Tony Blair as the ambitious lead. It totally works. I laughed really hard to show I understood all the clever references. I am that guy.

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+3 Interview: Blurred Justice

Posted in *Written Interviews, EdFestivals 2017, Plus 3 2017 - Features by

“The aim is to raise public awareness of Yemen’s current situation; civilwar, humanitarian crisis and cholera outbreak. “

WHO: Dhvel Patel, Actor, ‘Sharif Fathi’

WHAT: “Amnesty International Award winning Blurred Justice is a thrilling and humorous play where the fate of one man lies in the hands of the audience. Sharif is a member of the Yemeni Houthi militia and is being tried in an eccentric court for taking part in an attack on Saudi Arabia. As he is being questioned, the play explores the meaning of the word terrorist and the complications of the Yemeni civil war with flashbacks of Sharif’s life, unravelling his personal motivations and important information on the involvement of the UK within the arms trade.”

WHERE: New Town Theatre (Venue 7) ​

WHEN: 23:15 (60 min)

MORE: Click Here!

Is this your first time to Edinburgh?

Yes. I’m a science graduate performing at the New Town Theatre for the first time.

Tell us about your show.

Kingston graduates and Directors of Performing Change; Yasemin Gava and Clarissa Kim produced the show, with Clarissa writing the script. This won the Amnesty International Marsh Award 2016. The production premiered at the Rose Theatre (Feb 17), International Youth Arts Festival (Jul 17) and will show at the Edinburgh Fringe and Camden Fringe (Aug 17).

In this piece, I play Sharif Fathi, a Houthi rebel on trial in a UK courtroom. I take the audience (members of the jury) through my Yemeni story (a series of flashbacks across a split-stage). The audience then vote whether I am innocent or guilty. Blurred Justice is powerful, though-provoking while being light-hearted at the same time.

The aim is to raise public awareness of Yemen’s current situation; civilwar, humanitarian crisis and cholera outbreak. The show adapts the script to reflect the most current facts e.g. UK ruling Saudi arms deal legit, cholera outbreak (recently covered by BBC news). It will be taken further as much as it can.

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

I’d recommend: The Missing Girl of Grigglewood, Edison as I have seen these.

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+3 Interview: Plan B for Utopia

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“Our goal is to reach new audiences, those who usually don’t see dance but enjoy theatre or comedy.”

WHO: Joan Clevillé, Artistic Director

WHAT: “‘You have a plan, and then you don’t. You have a dream, and then you wake up. You fall in love, and your heart gets broken. The question is: do you pick up the pieces and try again?’ Mixing dance, theatre and storytelling with a good dose of humour, Plan B for Utopia is a show about how we choose to live our lives: about having a dream, giving it up and trying again, but, above all, it’s a story about friendship.”

WHERE: Pleasance Courtyard (Venue 33) ​

WHEN: 10:30 (60 min)

MORE: Click Here!

Is this your first time to Edinburgh?

I’ve been coming to the Edinburgh Festival Fringe for the last eight years. It was the first place I performed in Scotland when I joined Scottish Dance Theatre in 2009. I couldn’t believe what was going on around me! In 2015 we premiered the first-full length work with my own company at the Festival, Plan B for Utopia. After more than 50 performances around the UK and abroad, it is very special to bring it back to Edinburgh, this time in a theatre venue like Pleasance Courtyard!

Tell us about your show.

The creation of Plan B for Utopia emerged from the need to reconcile my artistic practice as a choreographer (which can sometimes feel a bit removed from everyday reality) with personal questions around how to live my life in the most sustainable way. I wanted to find a choreographic language that could render the gravity and complexity of the global challenges that we face to something manageable, less overwhelming, closer to human-scale. Plan B for Utopia talks about the role that creativity and imagination can play as a catalyst for change. About the impact of our decisions on others and the environment around us, about what happens when things don’t go according to plan…

Since 2015, we have presented the show in venues across the length and breadth of the UK, from village halls in the Highlands to contemporary arts centres in London. We were invited to British Dance Edition and internationale tanzmesse in Düsseldorf which are two of the most prestigious international showcases for dance. This year, we are incredibly proud to present the work as part of the Made in Scotland and British Council Showcases at the Edinburgh Fringe. Our goal is to reach new audiences, those who usually don’t see dance but enjoy theatre or comedy. For that reason, we are delighted to be working with independent theatre producers China Plate.

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

Stay at Pleasance Courtyard to discover the very talented Urielle Klein-Mekongo with her debut show, Yvette. Then head to Dance Base to watch Oona Dohererty’s amazing solo Hope & The Ascension to Lazarus. Round it all off at Summerhall with On Ice and Power Ballad.

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+3 Interview: Sajeela Kershi: Fights Like a Girl!

Posted in *Written Interviews, EdFestivals 2017, Plus 3 2017 - Features by

“10 years down the line I’ve learned a lot, found my voice and what I want to say.”

WHO: Sajeela Kershi, Writer/performer

WHAT: “‘My mission in life is not merely to survive, but to thrive; and to do so with some passion, some compassion, some humor, and some style’ (Maya Angelou). Hilarious multi award-winning comedian is putting up her dukes and picking her battles! Winner of Asian Women of Achievement Award 2015 and Star of Edinburgh Award-winning show 2007. Written for and featured on a variety of BBC Radio.”

WHERE: Laughing Horse @ The Hanover Tap (Venue 259)

WHEN: 18:15 (60 min)

MORE: Click Here!

ALSO: Immigrant Diaries – Sajeela Kershi and Guests; 15:15 (60 min) @ The Three Sisters

Is this your first time to Edinburgh?

This will be my 10th year of dipping in and out of the fringe. My first ever fringe as a performer back in 2007. Infamously I starred in the Edinburgh award winning show from Brendon Burns that year, ‘So I suppose this is offensive now’.

10 years down the line I’ve learned a lot, found my voice and what I want to say. However, you never stop learning. And Edinburgh is a boot camp to ship your show into shape no matter what level or experience you have.

This year I have bought up 3 shows, not only my solo stand-up/storytelling show ‘Fights Like A Girl’ but my award winning ‘Immigrant Diaries’ the run has finished now and a compilation show ‘Nasty women on the fringe’ which showcases some of the best female performers on the fringe. All three shows are attempting to make a comment on the state of the world events in the past couple of years.

Tell us about your show.

This show was written after the Anti-Trump Women’s march in London. I found myself at the front line and was also asked to be one of the key speakers. The show is about the things we fight for and fight against. I explore if the audience are ‘Fight or Flight’ by nature. Of course it’s my show so have a lot of personal experiences which lead to a story with myself and members of my family being held hostage in Karachi by an extremist group (don’t worry it’s funny given the circumstances).

I’ve been previewing the show before Edinburgh on what I call my ‘Comedy at your house tour’. In the absence of getting previews at circuit clubs as they have been snapped up by big agents. I took matters into my own hands about 7 years ago and asked friends initially and then contacts on FB and Twitter if they would host a taste of Edinburgh fringe in the venue of their choice so could be their living room, back garden, picnic, office etc (I’m known for doing gigs in strange places) they just need to get an audience of 10 or more people – they can have a whip around at the end for a charity of their choice (or pick one of mine) This years previews raised over two thousand for different charities as well as gave me an opportunity to test out material.

I’m proud of this show and all those who have been on the journey, It’s getting tweaked getting better every day.

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

The best night I’ve had out this fringe is watching Rob Kemps The Elvis Dead.

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+3 Interview: Alex Kealy: The Art of the Keal

Posted in *Written Interviews, EdFestivals 2017, Plus 3 2017 - Features by

” It’s a political hour about nationalism, nostalgia, rhetoric and history, but there’s actually loads of great silly jokes if i’m honest.”

WHO: Alex Kealy, Performer and writer

WHAT: “Watch a ‘marvellous stand-up’ (Skinny) funnify the slow-motion explosion that is 2017 liberal democracy. Politics, amirite?! ‘Hilarious… fresh, insightful and original… a great hour of cerebral stand-up comedy – and Alex Kealy is a name to watch’ **** (FringeGuru.com). ‘Ferociously quick-witted… flawless script’ **** (EdFringeReview.com). ‘A fascinating hour’ (Skinny). ‘Sure to be a hit… Clever and original… Kealy’s style worked a treat’ (BroadwayBaby.com). ‘I came here for comedy not a political lecture’ (Audience member, April 2017). ‘Sharp comedy… charming, self-deprecating… has the potential to be very big’ (TheNorthernPH.wordpress.com).”

WHERE: Just the Tonic at The Caves (Venue 88)

WHEN: 16:20 (60 min)

MORE: Click Here!

What’s the biggest thing to have happened to you since Festivals ’16?

A whole host of political and personal things happened that had a great effect on me this year, like everyone else, presumably.

Specifically and most relevantly, I’ve really enjoyed having to write a whole new hour of political comedy when politics has been shifting and slurring faster than drunken quicksand. It’s certainly *not* been having to can entire chunks of material because Trump has randomly fired someone or May has called a snap election.

Tell us about your show.

It’s a stand-up show written and performed by me, Alex Kealy, called “The Art of The Keal”. Which is a pun on the book The Art of the Deal by Donald Trump. Do audiences in Britain know the book well enough for my title to make sense? No. Do I currently have the capacity to tour this show in America where the pun would more clearly resonate with the audience? Also no.

Still, I’m having a lovely time – nice audiences and have enjoyed the little final tweaks to the show. It’s a political hour about nationalism, nostalgia, rhetoric and history, but there’s actually loads of great silly jokes if i’m honest. Laughing AND learning!

*The Cliche Police brandish their batons menacingly*

I mean, er…like it’s good, basically.

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

I’ve really enjoyed:

Mat Ewins – brilliantly innovative comic who uses tech and videos to great effect

Rose Matafeo – extremely likeable performer does super funny show

Found Footage Festival – bizarre training videos and infomercials collated by an American comedy duo, mashed together

Getting Some Early Nights – a very moving interactive piece whereby you make sure occasionally not to stay out late and instead go home, watch a little bit of TV, eat some vegetables and call your parents

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+3 Interview: Under My Thumb

Posted in *Written Interviews, EdFestivals 2017, Plus 3 2017 - Features by

“We have been overwhelmed with the positive responses received so far, and we could not have found a more supportive venue.”

WHO: James Haddrell, Director

WHAT: “In a dystopian present, five women are imprisoned for crimes against society. Brought together by a common enemy and facing indefinite incarceration, their one remaining dignity is their continuing belief in their own innocence. The arrival of yet another prisoner seems no surprise, just another woman brought down by the world outside, but is she all that she seems? Shortlisted for the inaugural RED Women’s Theatre Awards in 2016.”

WHERE: Assembly Roxy (Venue 139) 

WHEN: 16:10 (60 min)

MORE: Click Here!

Is this your first time to Edinburgh?

No – as Artistic Director of Greenwich Theatre I’m here every year, either supporting young companies bringing their work to the Fringe or searching for the most exciting new companies to take back to London. This year is no different – we are supporting nine shows this year at Pleasance, Assembly and Underbelly, from clowning to music theatre, political theatre to award-winning drama.

Back in 2015 I directed my first show at the Fringe, a revival of John Retallack’s Hannah & Hanna – the debut production by CultureClash Theatre. I’m delighted to be back directing not one but two shows this year, but I’m particularly excited to have reunited with CultureClash Theatre for this production of Under My Thumb.

Tell us about your show.

Under My Thumb was first discovered by CultureClash Theatre when a short 20 minute version of the script was shortlisted for the RED Women’s Theatre Awards. Serin Ibrahim and Cassandra Hercules from CultureClash met with the writer, an astonishingly talented young writer called Cassiah Joski-Jethi, to talk about developing the script into a full length play.

After that, I was invited to lead a period of R&D with the writer and a full cast to explore the short script that had already been written and support the writer in developing it. We spent a week running scenes, improvising around the characters, developing an understanding of the scenario and talking about our own experiences of inequality in society. This was an amazing process, and the writer and I were incredibly lucky to have such a generous cast, prepared to share their thoughts and experiences openly and honestly and to contribute to the development of the show.

Then, with support from Arts Council England, we presented a short run of 10 test performances in Greenwich, inviting audiences to stay after every show to talk to us about the script, the characters and the premise, to see whether the show needed further development. With great feedback from audiences Cassiah spent more time on the script and then the show played at the Brighton Fringe and Incoming Festival earlier this year before finally being ready to open here in Edinburgh.

We have been overwhelmed with the positive responses received so far, and we could not have found a more supportive venue. We are presenting the show in the Snug Bar at Assembly Roxy, a dark, subterranean space that offers the perfect home for this claustrophobic, tense thriller. With the audience surrounding them, the six women incarcerated for alleged crimes against society can never leave and have nowhere to hide. Moments of projection fill in some of the back story for the audience, but the characters themselves are trapped.

We are now exploring a future life for the show. With audiences raving about it, I’m sure there will be another outing for Under My Thumb…

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

I am proud to be supporting a range of shows at the Fringe this year, so they should definitely start with some of those! The list of good shows at the Fringe is obviously overwhelming but I would recommend the two winners of the Les Enfants Terribles Award this year – GOODY by BoonDog Theatre and FORM by Rendered Retina, both at the Pleasance.

Also at the Pleasance, Patch Of Blue are back with a new show, WHEN WE RAN, after the success of WE LIVE BY THE SEA last year which transferred to New York. Hyphen Theatre bring the touching autobiographical story THE SOFT SUBJECT to Assembly George Square, and Edinburgh favourites Familia de la Noche are at Underbelly with two parallel shows, BEADLEDOM ALPHA and BEADLEDOM OMEGA, a unique pair of clown shows about life, death, and what happens when they get mixed up.

Outside of the Greenwich family, SKIN at Pleasance Courtyard is an amazing piece of hip-hop dance theatre about gender. I’ve also heard great things about VAN GOGH FIND YOURSELF, hidden away at the Natural Food Kafe…

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+3 Interview: Adriano Cappelletta: This Boy’s in Love

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“I quit my job, moved out of my house and moved out of Australia to tour the UK. “

WHO: Adriano Cappelletta, Writer /Performer

WHAT: “It’s time to paint the rainbow and unleash the world’s first one-man gay rom-com cabaret! Hilarious and heartfelt songs meet physical comedy and candid storytelling in one man’s final shot at finding love. Nominated for Best Cabaret at Fringe World Perth 2016 and Adelaide Fringe 2017.”

WHERE: Assembly Roxy (Venue 139)

WHEN: 20:50 (60 min)

MORE: Click Here!

Is this your first time to Edinburgh?

This is the second time I have presented a show in Edinburgh but the first time I’ve ever presented a solo show. My last show was in 2011 and was called Shane & Eddie: Picking up the Pieces which was at Just The Tonic.

What’s the biggest thing to have happened to you since Festivals ’16?

I quit my job, moved out of my house and moved out of Australia to tour the UK.

Tell us about your show.

I wrote the show because I had never been in love, so I thought if I might not experience it first hand -perhaps I could experience it on stage. So in the show, I imagine to most unashamedly romantic, beautiful big gay love story…and I wrote a musical about it. A lot of gay love stories are tragic, without a happy ending -so I wanted to wrote a beautiful and bright gay love story, one that I wish I had of seen when I was younger.

I have presented the show at Perth Fringe, Adelaide Fringe, Sydney Mardi Gras Festival and Provocare Festival in Melbourne.

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

Check out the other talented Australian companies here including Siren Theatre Company who are presenting three shows: Misterman, Good With Maps and One Hander at C Venues. Highly acclaimed, award winning, visually stunning and rich theatre making.

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+3 Interview: Monski Mouse’s Baby Disco Dance Hall

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“The Disco was first launched at the Adelaide Fringe in 2012, we sold out our first season and have gone on the play around the UK and in Australia.”

WHO: Monski Mouse, Host/Producer/DJ

WHAT: “Why toddle when you can dance?! It’s time to get heads, shoulders, knees and toes bopping along to lashings of swing, pop, rock, latin and more! Selling out shows around the world, Monski Mouse is a hit with the under fives and their parents/carers. ‘The best dance party with your under 5-year-old that you’ve ever had… absolutely joyous’ ***** (FamiliesOnline.co.uk). All adults and children require a ticket, except for children six months and under who may enter free with a paying Adult.”

WHERE: Assembly George Square Gardens (Venue 3)

WHEN: 11:00 (50 min)

MORE: Click Here!

Is this your first time to Edinburgh?

This is the forth season of my show Monski Mouse’s Baby Disco Dance Hall, which I first brought to the Festival in 2012, but my first time at the Festival was 2005 when I came to DJ at Club Swizzle at the Famous Spiegeltent and for the Bong Club Vauldeville Cabaret, hosted by Dusty Limits. I also worked for the Gilded Balloon in 2008 as a FOH and Dj-ed the staff party, when my Loft Bar DJ gig fell through that year. I love this Edinburgh.

Tell us about your show.

Aimed squarely at the children aged 0-5 AND their parents/carers, my show is really all about having fun, dancing, playing and letting loose with your loved ones. It gives both children and their parents a chance to enjoy the magic of a festival club, in the time slot when they are awake and raring to go.. 11:00am.

The Disco was first launched at the Adelaide Fringe in 2012, we sold out our first season and have gone on the play around the UK and in Australia. I was already a DJ who played playful music and loved to take audiences on an expected journey, when I become a Mum in 2010, the late night DJ gigs were becoming less attractive, so it was a fairly natural extension for me to create the Baby Disco Dance Hall. I’ve been really luck to have been able to make a show that audiences love and I still love performing for them.

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

The Hairy McLary and Friends Show is great for little ones, especially if you read the books first. They are great stories, and in the show version, they’ve made a beautiful piece that’s fun and interactive enough for little ones to be engaged.

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+3 Interview: Rosie Wilby: The Conscious Uncoupling

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“It’s a mix of funny and poignant.”

WHO: Rosie Wilby, Performer / writer

WHAT: “BBC Radio 4 regular Wilby poignantly interweaves comedy, memoir, love letters, breakup emails and Richard Hawley music to investigate the aftermath of separation in a post-Gwyneth world. The Conscious Uncoupling was commissioned by London’s Southbank Centre for Festival of Love and was shortlisted, via public vote, for Funny Women Best Show 2016.”

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

WHEN: 18:30 (55 min)

MORE: Click Here!

Is this your first time to Edinburgh?

No. I’ve been coming up for a decade, most notably with a trilogy of shows about how we behave in our romantic relationships. It began with The Science of Sex, which has toured internationally and won awards. The middle part Is Monogamy Dead? spun off into a book and TEDx talk. Now I’m addressing relationship endings in the final part.

What’s the biggest thing to have happened to you since Festivals ’16?

2016 was the first year in many that I didn’t come to Edinburgh. I won a place on a prestigious writers’ retreat at University of Southern California and started writing my book there. The biggest thing is getting that finished and out into world. It’s in lots of shops and getting a great response.

Tell us about your show.

The show was written and developed in 2016 with my director Colin Watkeys (who has worked with the late, great Ken Campbell, Jack Klaff and Claire Dowie). It premiered at Tristan Bates theatre first festival. A programmer from London Southbank was there and asked me to perform it at their festival of love. It was also shortlisted for Funny Women Best Show and has toured to venues including Salisbury Arts Centre and Summerhall (for Edinburgh science festival).

I’ll be performing it at Sheffield’s literary festival Off The Shelf in October. In the show, I interweave breakup emails, comedy, music and a love story to investigate how we might end relationships more compassionately. It’s a mix of funny and poignant.

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

Some of the hidden gems are on earlier in the day than my show at 6.30pm. But people could see them before or the day after.

Ada Campe, a comedy character creation of actress Naomi Paxton, skilfully weaves comedy, audience participation and magic into a compelling story – with the aid of her psychic duck.

Charmian Hughes has a lovely show this year called Soixante Mirth. It has some similarities to mine in that both involve ghosts from the past and a bit of time travel. She has several meetings with her younger self and wraps it all up in hilarious anecdotes and a wonderfully daft musical ending.

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