Author Archives: Dan Lentell

EdFringe Talk: Victor’s Victoria

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“It’s the Everest of festivals (and from what I’ve heard, like Everest, supplemental oxygen may sometimes be required.”

WHO: Victoria Mature

WHAT: “Victor Mature was one of the most popular leading men of Hollywood’s Golden Age, starring in such iconic films as Kiss of Death, My Darling Clementine, Samson and Delilah, and The Robe. In this intimate cabaret, vocalist Victoria Mature uses music and movie clips inspired by Victor’s career to tell the story of what it was like growing up with Hollywood’s original hunk as her father. With music from Broadway to folk to opera to pop…there’s something for everyone! Says Victoria, ‘You may know Victor Mature as Doc Holliday or Samson or Demetrius… I knew him as Dad!'”

WHERE: Assembly Rooms – Drawing Room (Venue 20) 

WHEN: 20:30 (65 min)

MORE: Click Here!

Is this your first time to Edinburgh?

This is my first time ever to Edinburgh, as a visitor, as a spectator, and as a performer. But I’ve been introducing my Dad’s movies at classic film festivals for about 6 years now (TCMFF, Noir City, Arthur Lyons’ Palm Springs Film Noir Festival, Film Geeks San Diego, Films of the Fifties at Film Forum New York, Noir Film Festival in Czechia, UK Noir Festival in Bristol, and the Victor Mature Film Festival in Pinzolo Italia). And even though I’ve never experienced Edfringe, I’ve always wanted to attend, and I’m thrilled to finally be able to make it. It’s the Everest of festivals (and from what I’ve heard, like Everest, supplemental oxygen may sometimes be required…:-)

What are the big things you’ve learned since 2023 and have you absorbed any of the lessons yet?

No lessons yet about Edinburgh (but ask me again at the end of the festival). Regarding life lessons overall, the most useful perspective I’ve found has been attributed to Oscar Wilde: “Life is far too important to be taken seriously.” My ability to fully embrace the implications of that simple statement is a work in progress…:-)

Tell us about your show.

I wrote the script myself based on my experiences growing up and years of research into the life and career my dad had before I was born. And I had help on many fronts creating the cabaret. London-based Ian Brandon is my collaborative musical accompanist (he created all my vocal tracks and many of the song arrangements). Pete Shaner provided direction and created all the scenes where I interact with my dad on film, and Vanessa Dinning (also originally from the UK) brought her years of professional experience to bear on the final product. Michael Mizerany choreographed and Ari Gil supplied the wisdom of the ages. And finally, Edfringe legend Guy Masterson (a longtime friend) is presenting the show here in Edinburgh. I premiered a 95 minute version of the show to open the season for Bodhi Tree Concerts in San Diego, then performed the show a second time at the Palm Springs Cultural Center as a fundraiser for the Arthur Lyons’ Film Noir Festival. I am premiering the 65 min version of the show here at Edfringe, and have plans perform the show in the Italian birthplace of Victor’s father in September…

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

I don’t have any history with Edfringe other than knowing Guy Masterson, but I whole heartedly recommend everything he’s doing this year at Fringe. He’ll be performing two of his famous solo shows one time each this season (“Under Milk Wood,” at 18:00 on 14 Aug and “Animal Farm” at 18:00 on 18 Aug, both at Pleasance). From what I understand, this may be your last opportunity to see Guy performing these shows. Don’t miss them! And Guy is presenting one other show this year (“Making Marx” at 11:35 in the Drawing Room at Assembly [the same venue I’m in]). And finally, there’s another show coming over from San Diego (“Get Wrecked: A “Tempest” of a Radio Play”, playing in theSpace@Venue 45 on 2, 4, 5, and 7 Aug [times vary]) and I’ve also heard good things about Alison Larkin’s “Grief…A Comedy” at Assembly. See them all!!!

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EdFringe Talk: The Comedy Arcade

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“Time is the most precious commodity you have at Fringe, and you take all opportunities to find audience; so when you give up an hour and the audience is small you feel responsible for the hour you took.”

WHO: Vix Leyton

WHAT: “The Comedy Arcade: competitive anecdotes game. Vix Leyton holds a bingo ball of surprise subjects and invites four different comics every night to spar with never-before-told stories, from the hilarious to the scandalous, to win points awarded by host and audience. ‘Lives up to its billing likening it to a fabulous dinner party. Punters feel they are among spontaneously funny friends rather than hearing well-rehearsed professional anecdotes. We know these stories – and this particular alchemy – will not be repeated again’ **** (Steve Bennett, Chortle.co.uk).”

WHERE: Laughing Horse @ Bar 50 – The Alcove (Venue 151) 

WHEN: 21:45 (60 min)

MORE: Click Here!

Is this your first time to Edinburgh?

Unbelievably this is my fourth Edinburgh Fringe as a performer. The first year was the infamous one after Covid; I did a week’s run on Free Fringe with Alex Petty and because of the lack of shows available, my little podcast live show sold out ahead of time every night – I was dazzled by it, but warned by everyone that it was a highly unusual year and would never be that effortless again. My God, were they right. I took it back a year later with Comedy Arcade and my first effort at a solo show Work in Progress and the pressure and volume and noise was like nothing I’ve ever known. It was one of the most intense months of my life. I was lucky enough to be living with Jordan Gray on her unreal trajectory from small shipping container to the biggest room The Assembly had – having a front row seat to the Urban Legend success everyone dreams of was a privilege and a learning curve but it’s also pretty grounding. When you’re coming in with the best thing about your day being a can of free Red Bull it was a real test of resilience but one of the beauties of fringe is how you are rooting for eachother – when you know people have grafted hard, a win for them is a win for everyone, and her success buoyed me up and made me work harder.

Running a panel show as well as a solo show is a different kind of pressure; not only are you desperately trying to hustle an audience for yourself, you’re also desperately keen to ensure an audience for the acts you’ve booked to make it worth their time. Time is the most precious commodity you have at Fringe, and you take all opportunities to find audience; so when you give up an hour and the audience is small you feel responsible for the hour you took. I felt it hardest last year. I was lucky enough to be with the iconic Stand, an unbelievable milestone and I was so proud to be there, it’s a proper institution; unfortunately Fringe has got away from the New Town a bit, and it was so challenging to even find people to flyer. I harboured the notion from two relatively successful central venue years that the concept was strong enough that the audience would come – and it was the kind of nightmare you think about every night before you go to sleep for the rest of your life to do my first room where the audience matched the size of the panel. It was a suckerpunch, but the show goes on – I offered to buy everyone in the audience a drink, gave out Green room pringles and we had a brilliant time. Funny enough, I got a tweet from someone who was in the room in response to one of my promo posts who had been there and heartily recommended it. That made it worth it – a year later – that we did our best and it was enough.

I’ve learned so much about myself over the years, it’s unrivalled for upping your game – doing that many gigs and being a comedian full time for a month when you’re typically balancing a day job is a huge luxury and the best possible training camp. It’s also incredible to be treated as a peer by some of my favourite comedians; every stand up is a comrade, even the world famous veterans – and some of the most reassurance and best advice of my life has come from moments snatched, at bars and on benches around Edinburgh. I was hugely touched by the amount of comedians who were going through the mill themselves and still showed up to see my show if there was someone important in or if I was low.

What are the big things you’ve learned since 2023 and have you absorbed any of the lessons yet?

Lessons; this might be a counter to all other advice that comics give but I would advise new comedians to remember it is supposed to be fun and getting to be creative is a massive privilege to savour; last year I knuckled down and treated it like a job – I had 2 shows a day that meant being in my venue from 12.30 to 5.30. I woke up, reviewed my notes from the day before over breakfast and feedback, got ready and went to the venue – came out of my solo show and ran straight into the admin for the panel show. I spent so much time in The Stand green room that it started to feel a bit like a prison, and I even did two weekends at local clubs on top of my show schedule and the spots I was taking for promo to try to pay off the fringe debt. As a result, I missed seeing friends, seeing shows and feeling part of something – it was a lonely grind. I got great reviews for the solo show and really great rooms but I came back not sure stand up was for me. It has taken me most of the year to re-find the joy in it so my biggest piece of advice is enjoy it. Steal moments of silliness, get a ticket for something random, take in a late night show on a day you are tired. It is incredibly energising to be with other people. And don’t be afraid to be honest with them on a bad day, you need to hear the highs and the lows and you don’t know who else might need to hear it because they’re too nervous of failing to be honest themselves.

I’m not taking a solo show this year, I’m just hosting a panel on Laughing Horse free fringe for a couple of weeks and doing spots – I want to fall back in love with comedy again.

Tell us about your show.

The Comedy Arcade started out as a podcast during lockdown. I was consuming every comedy podcast I could find and as a result I came to know all my favourite stand up’s stock answers that you heard again and again because they were being asked the same questions. I wondered what it would like to throw complete curveballs and see who would be able to work with them. I put 30 varied and vague topics – from first dates to favourite facts – in a bingo ball and drew them at random to put to a panel of 4 comics. The results were always brilliant, and after a year of putting it out as a podcast, I decided to do it as a live show, adding a completely voluntary non-verbal audience participation element.

The quality of guest we’ve had on is unreal. I love having the opportunity to be the complete opposite of the traditional straight, white male panel and we have such a rich mix of established and up and coming comics alongside fun people from other walks of life – last year we had Sophie Aldred, Ace from Doctor Who, Jess Phillips MP, and the manager of my Stand building. It is controlled chaos, people are amazingly honest and it makes for a completely unique audience experience every night. The opening show this year on 14th has Mark Watson, Thom Tuck and Mitch Benn, completely free to walk in and see or bookable for £2.50 to guarantee a seat. I’m really proud of the line ups and I’m delighted to be back at Free Fringe, times are so tight at the moment for people and I want the show to be accessible to all.

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

It is really hard to do these lists of recommendations as I”m a massive comedy fan first and forever and I’m anxious about missing people. I’m going to focus on people who you might not know about yet in an effort to keep my list from War & Peace levels and give the attention to those who might most need it.

Hannah Platt and Kate Cheka are debuting this year, and their laugh hit rate and writing is so strong I am jealous. Kate recently came to do a WIP at my Sheffield night, which is a tricky audience, and she was so charismatic and funny she had the whole room hanging on every word.

It is brilliant to see the people behind some of the warmest, best nights in London for new material and supporting newer acts bringing shows – Queer Comedy Club and sofa SoFunny’s Leslie Gold will be well worth seeing; not only brilliant comics in their own right, but they add so much to grassroots comedy and we need more of them.

I have been lucky enough to see Leslie Ewing-Burgesse every year, and her comedy keeps going from strength to strength – it is whimsical and cool and you won’t see anything else like it. On the note of not seeing anything else like it, Frankie Munroe (Joe Kent Walters) is also a hot tip for this year – he works incredibly hard and is uniquely brilliant.

Rich Wilson is back this year after a year off and he’s one of my favourite comedians in the whole world – he has been a bit of a mentor for me since I started, and I have learned so much from him. He makes it all look so easy and you walk out of his shows feeling you’ve had a restorative hour in the pub with your most hilarious, outrageous mate. A masterclass.

For late night hang outs, Alternative Comedy Memorial Society really is the only place to be. It’s at Monkey Barrel and it’s the wildest compilation of the coolest names in alternative comedy alongside hidden gems. It’s also a long show so the best value in town – you can drop in and drop out, and it is a gorgeous refuge if you’re too buzzing to sleep and want to see friendly faces, however your day has gone. I’m actually married to the gig but that’s a long story for another time.

For pure fun, it has to be Ada Campe’s Big Duck Energy. I was lucky enough to see a WIP of it a few months ago and I can’t wait to see it again. I saw her show last year 3 times, it’s just joy – I wish I could bottle the feeling I came out with – she’s human sunshine and an absolute powerhouse of talent making comedy, cabaret and magic look absolutely effortless.

Liam Greenjacket is also doing a range of shows this year. He’s a bit of an icon around Edinburgh, with his trademark rainbow hat. He used to walk me to my show almost every day the year I did my first full run whilst flyering and his success rate is phenomenal. I have been lucky enough to work with him ever since. He’s a corner stone of the festival and everything that is good about it, he’s passionate about comedy, passionate about supporting the free fringe and he’s also very funny. Well worth checking out his productions.

And Sian Davies’ Best in Class is worth supporting – she’s a brilliant talent spotter as well as a brilliant stand up, and her showcases give a leg up to comedians whose voices need to be heard more in the mix. The alumni list is incredibly impressive and you’ll get to say you saw it there first.

I know as soon as I hit send I’m going to remember a thousand more.

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EdFringe Talk: Wrong! A F*cked Up Game Show

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“I loved the exuberance and joy that seemed to lurk around every corner, and I loved that audiences were basically down for anything as long as it was entertaining.”

WHO: Jay Light

WHAT: “50% game show, 50% comedy show, 100% f*cked up! A celebration of dark humor, cancellable offenses, and questionable decisions that takes everything you know about game shows and turns it on its head. Each show, three of the world’s funniest comics go head-to-head-to-head to see who can earn the most made-up points, win the most prizes that we’ve rescued from the trash and ultimately be crowned the World’s Wrongest Comedian! Play your cards right, and you might win a prize from the audience! Hosted by Jay Light (Comedy Central, HBO).”

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

WHEN: 23:30 (60 min)

MORE: Click Here!

Is this your first time to Edinburgh?

This is not my first time at Edinburgh – I previously came in 2019 with a solo standup show. But it was my experience then that made it seem so obvious to bring WRONG! to Fringe as we began developing it two years ago. I loved the exuberance and joy that seemed to lurk around every corner, and I loved that audiences were basically down for anything as long as it was entertaining. Plus it’s great to hang out with the world’s greatest artists and comics!

What are the big things you’ve learned since 2023 and have you absorbed any of the lessons yet?

The biggest lesson: make sure the audience is on the same page as I am. WRONG! may be a show that deals in dark, dirty comedy that walks right up to what most people would consider “the line,” but we are not trying to be edgy for the sake of being edgy. This show is a celebration, so discovering ways to make sure the audience is in a celebratory mood out of the gate has been vital to the continued success of the show. Other lessons I’ve taken to heart: allow yourself to look stupid, don’t try to be too clever, be precise, don’t let “the show” get in the way of the show.

Tell us about your show.

WRONG! is a game show that laughs in the face of “cancel culture”, a panel show where the players are forced to wriggle out of uncomfortable situations, and, above all, a celebration of dark comedy and the context necessary for it to work. The show, which is different every single night, is written and produced by me and my incredible team (Tyler Meznarich, Daisygreen Stenhouse, Melanie Meisner). Tyler and I began work on the show in May 2022 in our home of Los Angeles; Melanie and Daisygreen joined the producing team in 2023. Our home in the USA is at the world-famous Comedy Store in LA, where you can see it monthly. We have also brought it to audiences in New York City, Chicago, Austin, and San Diego.

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

We have three great comedians on the show every single night, so you should definitely see all of their solo shows that they’ve brought to the festival! Some of my favorite comics who we already have slated to be contestants include the following:

– Sid Singh: a politically savvy American ex-pat who is one of the smartest, sharpest joke writers out there. His 2023 Fringe show didn’t win a Comedian’s Choice Award for nothing, and his new show American Coloniser promises to be just as vital.

– Titi Lee: Titi’s a badass with an effervescent performance style that draws you in and keeps you hooked. The stories they tell in Good Girl Gone Baddie are more than entertaining; they’re relatable to anyone who has struggled to find their true self.

– Mike Eshaq: Mike’s one of my favorite comics to run into in Los Angeles. He’s brash with a soft side, sweet but savage, and his energy on stage and off is simply infectious. His show Sleeping With The Yemeni will leave you in stitches.

– Kyle Ayers: Kyle was already a force to be reckoned with in the L.A. comedy scene for his adept wordplay and quick wit, but his new show Hard To Say, which documents his struggle with trigeminal neuralgia (a.k.a. suicide disease) is truly masterful work. A singular show from an exceptional writer and performer.

– Erika Ehler: I met Erika at my last Fringe in 2019 and fell in love with this Canadian’s dry demeanor and jokes that pulled no punches. Since then, the industry has begun to take notice, and I personally can’t wait to see a full hour from her this year.

– Katharyn Henson: Another 2019 Fringe pal, this ex-New Yorker turned a lifetime of dark, dirty stories into the hyper-compelling show Ew Girl You Nasty. She stayed on the international circuit, bouncing between the U.K. and Australia, and her legend has only grown since then. Go see her solo show, or either of the acclaimed compilation shows she runs!

– André de Freitas: I met André a few years ago when I did comedy in Lisbon while waiting to go to a wedding. His exuberant style, deeply layered jokes, and inspired self-deprecation from a Portuguese P.O.V. immediately won me over then, and from the looks of his social media, they’ve been winning over plenty of other audience members worldwide too. He’s truly one-of-a-kind, and is another comic who I can’t wait to watch for a full hour to see what he’s been working on lately.

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EdFringe Talk: A Midsummer’s Tempest

Posted in *Written Interviews, EdFestivals 2024 by

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“I learned doing my Master’s dissertation that “done is better than perfect”.”

WHO: Julia Lisa

WHAT: “Did Shakespeare predict the climate crisis? And is the solution hidden in his works? Shakespeare’s hidden climate play delights and enlightens. This new mash-up of A Midsummer Night’s Dream, The Tempest, and Macbeth humorously explores some of society’s current affairs; tackling themes of patriarchy, women’s rights, colonialism, climate change, and queerness through the chaos of one stormy night. This new adaptation stays true to the Bard’s humour and poetry in a punchy, purposeful play packed into one-hour. This world premiere is enchanting for audiences of all ages.”

WHERE: theSpace @ Surgeons’ Hall – Theatre 2 (Venue 53) 

WHEN: 15:55 (50 min)

MORE: Click Here!

Is this your first time to Edinburgh?

Despite the valley girl accent, I actually live here in Edinburgh now. I did come from California where spent many many years doing the @Hollywoodfringe! I came here to do my Master’s Degree in Environmental Sustainability (where I met my co-director Riley, who also was a Theatre-nerd that cared about sustainability!). We both were in The Edinburgh University Shakespeare Company’s Fringe show last year: “Hekabe” by Euripides (not Shakespeare, but still very tragic!) During that time we joked we should do a Climate Crisis version of A Midsummer Night’s Dream (which I have always wanted to do!!). We thought Fringe would be the perfect place to test this work. From our own experience at the festival, short, fun shows with deep heartfelt moments are what we enjoy. We hope to bring that joy and impact to audiences, and then become audiences ourselves to revel in all the wonder Fringe has to offer this year! It has been crazy living here and experiencing the way Edinburgh goes from sleepy winter city to the frenzy of fringe! I am excited to see some of my Hollywood Fringe friends and their shows here in Scotland!

What are the big things you’ve learned since 2023 and have you absorbed any of the lessons yet?

Are we talking lessons in general? Or Fringe-lessons?

Lessons in general, I would say, I learned doing my Master’s dissertation that “done is better than perfect”. That was my mantra that allowed me to get over my perfectionism and complete the 50-page report. I took that lesson into writing this play. In the moments when I got stuck because it wasn’t perfect, I knew it was worth getting it out of my head and onto the page in any way. It was still a work in progress when the show was cast, but it was a full script! Hearing it out aloud allowed me to refine the moments and text. I would not have been able to do that if I had not gotten past my writer’s perfectionism.

In regards to Fringe, my incredible co-director, Riley and I have tried to maximise our rehearsal time while still honouring our young casts’ summer. We started with Zoom rehearsals to do text and character work, which allowed our incredible cast to be home or on holiday, then when we got into the rehearsal room in person they were off-book and in character ready to play! This has allowed us to achieve the snappy fun vibe with real heart-felt moments that we were aiming for in a Fringe show.

Tell us about your show.

A Midsummer’s Tempest is a mash-up of Shakespeare’s works —A Midsummer Night’s Dream, The Tempest, and Macbeth, so I suppose Shakespeare wrote the words and I came in and bastardized it. Or rather, I just brought out elements that were hiding… This adaptation humorously explores some of society’s current affairs: Tackling themes of patriarchy, women’s rights, colonialism, climate change, and queerness through the chaos of one stormy Edinburgh night.

As a Buddhist, Environmentalist and Shakespeare Nerd, I investigated the themes of nature, climate and humanity in his plays. While the climate elements in A Midsummer Night’s Dream are not a new discovery, delving deeper into this concept revealed an intriguing insight: Shakespeare himself inadvertently alludes to a Buddhist philosophy that might offer solutions to our current crises. This adaptation is grounded in the Buddhist concept, ‘oneness of self and environment’.

My qualifications to butcher the Bard stem from my 8 years studying, working, and teaching with the critically acclaimed Los Angeles-based Shakespeare theatre, Theatricum Botanicum, known for pushing the envelope, bridging Shakespeare with contemporary issues and politics.

Bravely, The Edinburgh University Shakespeare Company is bringing it to Fringe for its World Premiere! We have an incredible cast of youthful local actors, which is incredible because the play is set right here in Edinburgh.

After this run, the adaptation can head to other theatre companies interested in an updated Shakespeare play for our time.

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

We are super excited for the Literary Pub crawl, it’s drinking and story-telling! But there are also so many Shakespeare-related things we want to see, such as Shakespeare For Breakfast, After Shakespeare with Lexi Wolfe, and Hamstrung play by George M Rennie! These all seem to be fun or cutting-edge takes on Shakespeare, which we love to see. Some exciting looking queer shows we want to check out are, Saint, Break Up With Your Boyfriend, Losing The Plot – The Musical, Hardly Working, and Deeptime (This one is also about climate and queerness!!!)! We don’t know these shows personally and are just genuinely interested in them. Do you have any other suggestions??

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EdFringe Talk: Lynn Faces

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“I love seeing absolutely, totally weird and bonkers work that I might not immediately choose to go to back home, the surprise and novelty is always really fun.”

WHO: Payvand Sadeghian

WHAT: “Nearing 40, painfully shy, and emerging from a toxic break-up, Leah forms a punk bank inspired by Lynn from Alan Partridge. As she takes to the stage with no musical ability, will this gig push Leah further over the edge, or help her regain her confidence and find the hope she needs to move on? A funny, farcical and poignant new play, exploring the impact of abusive behaviour, the power of friendship and how silliness can be healing. Lynn Faces is a new play by multi award-winning writer Laura Horton, following her Fringe First-winning show, Breathless.”

WHERE: Summerhall – Main Hall (Venue 117) 

WHEN: 19:35 (70 min)

MORE: Click Here!

Is this your first time to Edinburgh?

This will be my fourth time. My first was as a punter, then on someone else’s show at the Traverse (which basically feels like VIP fringe and is not representative of the average experience), and then I was up last year with my own show, which in all honesty was a real lesson in the “haves” and “have nots” of how the Fringe works. It’s great bumping into people you hardly get to see, and finding a li’l fringe community of new people you make friends with. I love seeing absolutely, totally weird and bonkers work that I might not immediately choose to go to back home, the surprise and novelty is always really fun. But there’s no getting around that it’s not an even playing-field, and is likely to be an intense roller coaster. I think my nostalgia tinted glasses have blocked out some of the trauma so who knows what I’ll be like a couple of weeks in!

What are the big things you’ve learned since 2023 and have you absorbed any of the lessons yet?

Don’t bring your own work if you’re the only person that can be there to support the load! Lesson learned – I’m going up with someone else’s show (Laura Horton, writer), and have a brilliant ensemble to keep up morale!

Tell us about your show.

Laura Horton wrote Lynn Faces and she pulled the team together. Naomi Turner has been producing the show with Laura. New Diorama Theatre (NDT), Theatre Royal Plymouth (TRP) and Norwich Theatre have supported as co-commissioners. We did two previews in London at NDT before heading to Edinburgh. We’ll be taking it back to NDT, TRP and Norwich Theatre next year and hopefully other venues if the Fringe goes well.

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

Gonna shout out a fellow Summerhaller and say Son of a Bitch – it’s being produced by The Thelmas who are a women-led company, and a force to be reckoned with. Their work is always bold and a bit dark, it’s on my watch list.

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EdFringe Talk: Kenny Goes to Sleep

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“To mount your silly idea and be forced to stand behind it for a month – rain or shine – is the kind of creative risk-taking I’m into.”

WHO: Kenny Gray

WHAT: “A one-man variety show / dreamscape filled with original characters, music and general absurdity written and performed by Los Angeles comedian Kenny Gray. In the show, Gray gets some shut-eye and lets the various people, places and inanimate objects of his subconscious take the stage. What follows is a cavalcade of lovable idiots, fragile male egos and one very sexual bottle of ketchup. It is a showcase of utterly stupid things, brimming with heart.”

WHERE: Greenside @ Riddles Court – Clover Studio (Venue 16) 

WHEN: 16:05 (60 min)

MORE: Click Here!

Is this your first time to Edinburgh?

Indeed it is! I’m so excited to be a part of this giant artistic explosion. I grew up in a small town where fellow theater kids hung onto each other for dear life, so the idea of this international comedy nexus where I can meet hundreds of peers taking on the same wild challenge is immensely appealing. And that sort of creative boldness is what drew me speficially to Edinburgh Fringe. To mount your silly idea and be forced to stand behind it for a month – rain or shine – is the kind of creative risk-taking I’m into. People keep telling me, “It’s so much more than you can imagine!” with a sort of creepy wide smile, so I’m excited to experience the magic.

What are the big things you’ve learned since 2023 and have you absorbed any of the lessons yet?

The last show I did at Hollywood Fringe, I was focused on what I thought a one-person show “should” be. This led to an overcomplicated piece that, while rewarding, was not always fun to perform. This year, I decided to write a paired-down show that focused on maximizing the joy of comedy. I wanted people to have fun at my show and experience the weird ideas that make me laugh. That’s it! This simplicity allowed me to go much further creatively, and now I have a show that audiences seem to enjoy, and I absolutely love to perform!

Tell us about your show.

At its core, this show is a “best-of” my character work and a showcase of what I like to do as a performer. That ended up being a surreal 50-minute comedy collage/fever dream of wacky characters and music spanning many genres (such as synthy dance, broadway, 70’s rock, and lo-fi hip hop). I also specifically chose the backdrop of dreams because every piece is inspired by a real person or experience from my life. It feels like what might happen if Noel Fielding were my therapist.

The show is comprised of pieces I wrote in classes, workshops, and as part of ensembles over the course of a year and a half. I then slowly workshopped and refined them at over 100+ performances on variety shows, open mics, and Twitch streams (really anywhere that would let me perform). I wrote many characters in this process, and the show is solely the cream of the crop! I had the help of some excellent directors – shout out to John Milhiser, Sarah Smallwood Parsons, and Carl Foreman!

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

Well, after you’ve seen my show, stick around for the one right after, which is called “My Little Phobia” by Emily Markoe! It’s a hilarious and heart-touching exploration of anxiety told in technicolor glory. And if you’re looking for a show full of clown hijinks, water creatures, and stories about NASA’s weird science – check out “The Dolphin I Loved” by my friend Kelly Rielly. I also am a big fan of Natasha Mercado and can’t wait to see their new show! Also, if you’ve never witnessed the visceral comedy masterclass that is Stamptown and Zach Zucker – definitely check them out. And there’s no better sketch show than Britanick!

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EdFringe Talk: 1 in a Chameleon

Posted in *Written Interviews, EdFestivals 2024 by

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“It’s a dream I only became conscious of a year ago, but I’m realising it’s a dream that has been there all along.”

WHO: Narie Foster

WHAT: “How do we uncover our true colours in a world full of reasons to hide? A life-affirming, thought-provoking comedy about trying to blend in everywhere yet belonging nowhere, from engineer, entrepreneur (Forbes 30 Under 30) and award-winning storyteller Narie Foster in her Edinburgh Fringe debut. Born in New York to Thai and Canadian scientists, Foster takes us on a multifaceted exploration of freedom, authenticity and scantily camouflaged metaphors. ‘Beautifully written. Raw and honest. Naturally hilarious.’ **** (InReview.com.au).”

WHERE: Summerhall – Red Lecture Theatre (Venue 26) 

WHEN: 13:00 (60 min)

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Is this your first time to Edinburgh?

Would you believe I hadn’t heard of EdFringe until two years ago? I grew up in New York State and my world revolved around tech and business. I came to EdFringe 2023 on a whim, and it changed everything. I devoured 60 shows (while working remotely in my old job) and was so inspired by the risks everyone was taking that I promptly decided I needed to create my own. It’s a dream I only became conscious of a year ago, but I’m realising it’s a dream that has been there all along. The Fringe showed me that you can do *anything* you want, and people (even if it’s sometimes only two of them) will enthusiastically sign up to see you do it. The whole festival is a beautiful gift of permission and inspiration.

What are the big things you’ve learned since 2023 and have you absorbed any of the lessons yet?

Putting on a solo show has to be one of the most masochistic and efficient forms of personal growth. Last year I was just starting to admit to myself that I wanted to perform and make theatre. Since then, I previewed the first version of my show at the Adelaide Fringe, and now it’s been picked up by Summerhall to come to Edinburgh, where the seed was first planted. I still feel naive and intimidated, but I’m also loving the firehose of new learnings. I think the biggest thing that I’m trying to defy is that fear of looking stupid, of making a fool of myself. And it’s working. Though the perfectionist in me would probably be mortified of the show I put on in Adelaide, and I’m sure in six months I’ll feel like I’ve outgrown this EdFringe version, the only way to create anything is to take the first step.

Tell us about your show.

My show, ‘1 in a Chameleon’, is a comedic theatre piece that investigates the natural tension between wanting to belong and wanting to be authentically ourselves. It’s a lot about finding our own paths despite family and societal pressures to fit in, which in my case is connected to a mixed-race upbringing (Thai and Canadian). There’s storytelling, physical humour, and there may or may not be a dance number. It’s playful yet poignant, and I think anyone who comes will get a lot out of it. I’m writing and producing (and performing) it myself, and what’s nice about that is I can make whatever changes I want. The show has gotten a major glow-up since previews at Adelaide Fringe, and I can’t wait to share it in Edinburgh. Beyond that – we shall see! I’m keen to develop a fictional play next.

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

Chris Grace! His ‘Chris Grace as Scarlett Johansson’ show was one of my top inspirations last year, and he’s returning with it along with a new show!

I could watch Garry Starr’s quite lewd and brilliant ‘Classic Penguins’ over and over, it’s a must-see, as is his new all-ages show, ‘Monkeys Everywhere’.

Also a big fan of Janine Harouni, Elf Lyons, Josh Glanc, and Xhloe and Natasha, and I’m looking forward to seeing Charlene Kaye’s ‘Tiger Daughter’ and Jo Tan’s ‘Forked’, along with everything at Summerhall because it’s a brilliant venue and I think they do such a good job with programming.

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EdFringe Talk: Matt Davis: Colorful

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“This is my first time bringing three very different shows.”

WHO: Matt Davis

WHAT: “Dubbed ‘an intellectually-driven stand up comedy king’ by the Australian press, Matt Davis brings his internationally minded approach to take on challenging topics. In a wild and hilarious rebuttal to the increasingly prevalent black-and-white view of our world, the comedian weaves together personal narratives as he comically challenges beliefs. Grab that friend who likes to laugh, or that one who really needs to, and join us on the other side of arguments with two dimensions for an evening where things are… Colorful!”

WHERE: Hoots @ The Apex – Hoot 5 (Venue 108) 

WHEN: 18:10 (60 min)

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Is this your first time to Edinburgh?

This isn’t my first time, that was quite the to-do. My first time coming to EdFringe it was a last minute decision based on having to leave Thailand because I publicly called out some human traffickers for what they were doing. In my defense, they were kinda new at it, open-mic’er human traffickers if you will, so I underestimated their capacity for death threats.

I skipped to Myanmar and put on a show, since “military dictatorship” is still alphabetically superior to “murdered.” While there, another comedian, Janey Godley, reached out about the nonsense I was in the middle of, and told me to just “come to the Fringe.” So I did! 48 hours and maybe that many flights later, and she introduced me to her audience and I did a quick set. I took in the Fringe for a week doing the odd spot, and was hooked.

It’s the perfect little vacay as a punter to take your mind off of people trying to track you down because you ruined their human trafficking circle. 5 stars for that, would recommend. I’ve been back since with a solo, but this is my first time bringing three very different shows (a solo hour I tour, a storytelling show of more nonsense like above, and an improv format show that is pure chaos fun); the last of which was written purely with the Fringe and all its chaos in mind. And bonus points for this.

What are the big things you’ve learned since 2023 and have you absorbed any of the lessons yet?

I wasn’t at the Fringe in 2023, but my top 3 biggest lessons I learned from that year as a whole are:
1) Never tell a border guard your reason for visiting is that you “just want to look these mf’ers in the eye.” It’s funny in your head, sure, but you really need a spare 5 hours to explain it.
2) When a sign says “don’t pee on the electric fence,” they’re being whimsical, but that fence really is electric and you do not want to pee there.
3) a list of two things really needs a third to feel like a real list

Tell us about your show.

I started writing my show “Colorful” as a rewrite/update to the previous show I brought and toured and was supposed to film before the pandemic. But the process split into two sets of material: the socio-politcally focused stuff about religions and the world based on growing up in Alabama and performing in more than 60 countries now, and stories about me being an idiot. The latter I split again into before and after sobriety and eventually gave the name “More Fun (I used to be)”. I worked on them both simultaneously while touring thru Europe and North America this Winter and Spring; alternating material at first, then alternating shows. The format show, “With Your Guest,” was once-upon-a-time a TV pitch that was called “too weird” by management at the time, but that the team at RGB Monster (who are producing all three of my shows this year) jumped on board with immediately for the same reason. It’s a very wild ride, with comedians coming on to host a talk show THEY decide the topic, but their armed with audience suggestions; while I play the role of guest and have to promote something the audience decided before hand. Three comedians each host a show, one after the other, and without leaving; so the shows stack up and it ends with three happening at the same time. It’s really crazy and fun, and outside of some test runs Edinburgh will be the premiere of that for sure. All of these I hope to tour through this year and next, and Colorful already has dates set for Tallinn Fringe, Hong Kong Comedy Festival, and Sydney Fringe as well some black box theater dates like Frankfurt and few others.

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

There are so, so, so many shows *I* want to see! But some I know are great include Jack Holmes’ “Round Man, Square Hole” which is such a punchline heavy show; also, excited to see what Kavin Jay has in store with his latest “UNSOLICITED ADVICE.” Kavin is always a go-to for me when I’m in Malaysia, so happy to see him here at the Fringe this year. “The Most Toast” is absolutely the silliest idea for a show, and I’m kinda mad I didn’t think of it. Hoping I have time to see Asli Akbay’s new show “Tomboy.” And I’m keeping an eye on the whole slate of shows being brought up by Soho Theatre, as they always have some great ones, as well as other alumni of this year’s Glasgow International Comedy Festival.

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EdFringe Talk: Edy Hurst’s Wonderfull Discoverie of Witches in the Countie of Himself

Posted in *Written Interviews, EdFestivals 2024 by

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“Boy do I wish I’d read all the questions before I started answering.”

WHO: Edy Hurst

WHAT: “‘Bursts with comedic joy’ (Skinny). ‘Absolutely non-stop bonkers’ (Comedy.co.uk). Hark and Boo! Recent revelations hath shone a light upon the ancestry of Edy Hurst. What visions await in our dark voyage? And why are the Vengaboys here? Supported by The Lowry and Arts Council England. Best Comedy Show nominee, Buxton Fringe. Best Alternative Act nominee, North West Comedy Awards. Seen on Next Up Comedy, BBC Radio 4.”

WHERE: Assembly George Square – The Crate (Venue 117) 

WHEN: 16:20 (60 min)

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Is this your first time to Edinburgh?

I’ve been to the Fringe as a punter, performer, and inbetween for years. As an audience member it’s a spoil of riches, getting to watch some of the most famous comedians in the world right next to experimental theatre and magnificent DIY finds all within a 12 hour period, sprawled across one of the most beautiful cities in the world. You can watch one off shows by artists you adore, get a chance to see an international perform for the first time in the UK, and just how ambitious some bars are with how a chair store room can become a ‘performance space’

As a producer, it’s also that, but with a great deal more financial and logistical worries. As a comedian, it’s the festival that all other festivals are set around in the calendar, and it continues to be the timeline through which many plan their professional year. It’s a huge undertaking, but the joy of an audience seeing your show out of the hundreds available and spending their time to watch whatever you have been working on is pretty hard to beat. That and City Cafe’s breakfasts.

What are the big things you’ve learned since 2023 and have you absorbed any of the lessons yet?

My new show was commissioned through The Lowry’s Developed With programme, and working with a big theatre to produce a show that stands somewhere in the space between comedy and theatre has been full of lessons from the creative to the professional that I will benefit and learn from for a long time afterwards.

This show is the first time I’ve worked with other people during the development of the work, with director Joz Norris, Joe-Kent Waters, Amy Vreeke and Bobak Champion amongst many more and learning how to explain ideas, take advice and feedback has been really valuable lessons, alongside the fact that when you’re working with others you’re in a team, and it’s both a strange and nice thing to see other people believing in something you’re making together! Is that tragic to see written down? Yes!

Tell us about your show.

Boy do I wish I’d read all the questions before I started answering.

As I said above, Edy Hurst’s Wonderfull Discoverie of Witches in the Countie of Himself, was commissioned as part of The Lowry’s ‘Developed With’ Programme, where 6 artists in the North are selected to create a new piece of work alongside professional development and mentoring.

Part of this came with funding that allowed me to work with others and build a team whilst compensating them for their time appropriately. Joz Norris, a comedian who’s work I’ve been a fan of for a number of years came on as director, and I invited a number of artists to join ranging from clowning techniques and physical comedy, to dramaturgy (like metalurgy but instead of medieval armor it’s theatrical structure) to movement direction.

The show has been in WIP/ Preview states up until Edinburgh, and following my run at Assembly the show will undergoe some more production development before a big shiny premiere at The Lowry on October 31st (spooky). From then it will be on a National Tour, including Camden People’s Theatre, Sale Waterside and Attenborough Arts Centre in Leicester.

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

Alright! Most of these definitely won’t need me recommending them, but Imma do it anyway.

Joe Kent Waters is Frankie Monroe Live! – The boys been winning the big awards everywhere Frankie’s horrible suit wobbles to, and for good reason. It’s the character, clown, stand up hybrid that nobody realised they needed and a chance to witness the birth of a comedy star.

Hannah Platt: Defence Mechanism – Hannah’s stand up is so so funny at the same time as being honest, and full of integrity. I’ve been lucky to perform with her for years, and this show is going to be an incredible calling card.

Cerys Bradley: Queer Tales for Autistic Folk – I think if you watch my show and go ‘oh I really need to watch more Neurodivergent experiences through the lens of folklore’ then you must have already booked a ticket for Cerys’ show, but if you haven’t, go get one!

Also obvious recs for Chris Cantrell and Amy Gledhill of the Delightful sausage’s respective shows, Jake Donaldson’s show ‘Spectacle’ and if you’ve never been before you simply must go to ACMS at least one night.

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EdFringe Talk: Rosie and Hugh’s Great Big Adventure

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“The lessons I’ve taken forward this year are about booking accommodation as early as possible; embracing the importance and usefulness of previews; and also trying to keep a sense of perspective on the whole thing.”

WHO: Ria Parry

WHAT: “Rosie and Hugh the Hedgehog are best friends. They want it to be the last day of summer holidays forever. Impossible? Not if they can find the witch who lives in the middle of the forest with her pet dragon. Join Rosie, Hugh, a squirrel with a wobbly tooth, a little lizard and one very rusty robot on a great, big, heart-warming adventure. Jam-packed with songs from CBeebies’ Nick Cope, this show is for 3-8 year-old adventurers – and their families! Presented by Fringe First Award-winning The North Wall.”

WHERE: Pleasance Courtyard – Beyond (Venue 33) 

WHEN: 12:00 (60 min)

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Is this your first time to Edinburgh?

It’s my third time in Edinburgh producing shows for The North Wall Arts Centre in Oxford. The North Wall has previously been up with new plays – ‘Brown Boys Swim’ by Karim Khan and ‘E8’ by Marika Mckennell which both won Fringe First Awards – so producing a family musical this year is an exciting new venture.

In my earlier years I’d produced work for a company called Iron Shoes: ‘Mad About the Boy’ by Gbolahan Obisesan and ‘Crush’ by Paul Charlton – and before that I’d been up with a group from my (Royal Holloway) university days called Theatre Trash. So I’m accustomed to working on a range of budgets, flyering in the rain, and getting stuck in.

It’s such an amazing festival for new work – you can see so much in a short space of time, and it’s a great environment to connect with other artists and new audiences.

What are the big things you’ve learned since 2023 and have you absorbed any of the lessons yet?

I was up in 2022 producing a show, and then last year I was just up for a few days as an audience member, which was very lovely, and much less stressful! The lessons I’ve taken forward this year are about booking accommodation as early as possible; embracing the importance and usefulness of previews; and also trying to keep a sense of perspective on the whole thing. There’s a temptation to do so much and to keep pushing through, but – especially if you’re working on a show – it’s important to pace yourself, look after your health and to get at least a bit of sleep. You can look after others (and a show) better when you’re not burnt out yourself.

Tell us about your show.

Rosie and Hugh’s Great Big Adventure is a fun and engaging family musical for 3-8 year olds and their families, based on the music and songs of Nick Cope (CBeebies), with book by Victoria Saxton and design by James Button. The music is fantastic and it’s a wonderful story about a little girl called Rosie and her best friend Hugh the Hedgehog who go on an adventure to make it the last day of the summer holidays forever. The show looks at themes of courage, kindness and hope, as well as family and friendship. It’s produced by The North Wall which is an arts centre in Oxford. We’re previewing in Oxford before heading to Edinburgh 31st July – 18th Aug, and then we’ll be transferring to Soho Theatre for a week.

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

Different age range, but I’m looking forward to seeing ‘Tending’ by El Blackwood, directed by John Livesey which is about nurses working on the frontline. And ‘I really do think this will change your life’ by Emma Louise-Howell, directed by Hetty Hodgson – a new piece about what it means to be a ‘Girl Boss’. John and Hetty are both ArtsLab alumni, which is the programme we run at The North Wall for early-career artists. They are both fantastic creatives who care deeply about collaboration and new work.

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