Author Archives: Dan Lentell

EdFringe Talk: The Shocking Truth About Flat Earth

Posted in *EdFestivals 2026, *Written Interviews by

“The flyering has become an intensive course in rejection therapy but thankfully, once people actually make it into the theatre, they’ve been absolutely brilliant.”

WHO: Adam Tuffrey & Alex Moneypenny

WHAT: “She’s not crazy – she’s just done her research. On Facebook. At 3am. With a glass of pinot. Meet Sharon Hargreaves: part-time keyboard warrior, full-time flat-Earth believer, forever tumbling down online rabbit holes. When she heads to a flat Earth convention in Vegas, a Shakespearean mix-up sends her spiralling into chaos, conspiracies and unexpected self-discovery. With best mate Debs and a crew of lovable oddballs, Sharon sets out to expose “the truth”. What she finds? Big laughs, bigger tunes and absolutely zero scientific credibility. This is a gloriously unhinged, surprisingly heartfelt musical comedy.”

WHERE: Queen Dome at Pleasance Dome (Venue 23) 

WHEN: 14:05 (60 min)

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Is this your first time to Edinburgh?

This is our first time doing the Edinburgh Fringe and, despite being only two previews in, it already feels like we’ve experienced every emotion known to mankind… and probably invented a few new ones.

The flyering has become an intensive course in rejection therapy but thankfully, once people actually make it into the theatre, they’ve been absolutely brilliant. The audiences have been fantastic, the response has been better than we could’ve hoped for and our cast have been nothing short of incredible… and yes, they paid me to say this.

We’ve also discovered that, yes, it is technically possible to tech a brand-new musical in three hours. Would I recommend it? Absolutely not.

It’s exhausting, exhilarating, mildly terrifying and everything people told us the Fringe would be. Ask us again in three weeks and we’ll let you know whether we’re seasoned Fringe veterans or just wandering the Royal Mile handing flyers out to bins.

What are the big things you’ve learned since 2025 and have you absorbed any of the lessons yet?

Firstly, self-doubt is an incredibly committed colleague. It never takes a day off. You can finish a song you’re really proud of in the morning and be convinced you’re a fraud by lunchtime. Apparently that’s just part of being a writer, so I’ve stopped trying to get rid of it and instead just try to write faster than it can catch up.

I’ve also learnt that writing with your best friend is a joy… although it does mean there’s someone there to veto all your best ideas. Alex has spent the last year insisting I write fewer willy jokes. I maintain the audience deserves artistic freedom. He maintains we’re trying to get producers, not cancelled.

The biggest learning has been just how lovely the musical theatre industry is. Everyone we’ve met has been incredibly generous with their time, advice and encouragement. It’s one of the few industries where people genuinely seem to want everyone else to succeed, which feels deeply suspicious at first!

Tell us about your show.

The Shocking Truth About Flat Earth is our hilarious (promise) new comedy musical following forty-something flat earth fanatic Sharon Hargreaves as she heads to Vegas to see Adele, alongside long suffering best friend Debs. While there, a Shakespearean moment of mistaken identity propels her on a journey of chaos, conspiracies and unexpected self-discovery.

It’s a gloriously unhinged musical with big tunes, bigger laughs and zero scientific credibility… and we can’t wait to share it with the world.

We were initially drawn to the theatricality of flat earth theory – a ready-made ‘larger than life’ landscape. There’s bad guys (NASA, obviously), there’s DIY science, there’s secret military patrols, there’s a fight between good and evil and, supposedly, a massive great wall to go and look at somewhere.

A fight about the shape and nature of the universe, arguably the most fundamental aspect of what we accept to be true about our lives, felt like the perfect place to ask the biggest questions from an emotional perspective too – and the characters we meet along the way all bounce off the theories with varying degrees of humour, heart and heartbreak.

Having seen and loved so many shows at Edinburgh Fringe over the years, we know it is quite simply the perfect place for a zany, ambitious piece of theatre like this.

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

Andrew White: What a life! and The Bob Ross Effect (Sarah Louise Young) are both friends of ours and they’re bringing their shows to fringe this year – definitely a must watch! Sarah is a fringe veteran who’s been entertaining sell out audiences for years and, having worked with her for the last few years, I know what a lovely human she is! Andrew is one of the UKs funniest up and coming comedians, is genuinely extremely funny and again, a really great guy. He’ll having laughing out loud for the entire hour – that’s a promise!

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EdFringe Talk: The Extraordinary Life of a Rat Racer

Posted in *EdFestivals 2026, *Written Interviews by

“What’s made it even more special is that this play was developed by my fiancèe and I – so I get to share this adventure with the love of my life!”

WHO: Chiara Fumanti

WHAT: “Ever wondered what the person next to you is thinking? Eva is just a regular rat racer. Single mother to a six-year-old boy, she is desperately trying to play the game – pay the bills, get him to football, survive mum’s comments. Her mind has different plans. On the way to an important job interview, Eva gets bombarded by a series of ever-worsening intrusive thoughts. So prepare for the uncomfortable and dive into Eva’s mind. Guided by Arthur, a sadistic, half-real figure, this two-hander surreal dark comedy will shift your concept of normality.”

WHERE: Studio at theSpace @ Niddry St AND Space 2 at theSpace on the Mile (Venues 9 & 39) 

WHEN: Varies (50 min)

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Is this your first time to Edinburgh?

It is, as a producer/writer/perfomer. I went in 2018, but only as a performer – and the difference in experience is night and day, so I might as well say it’s my first time! However, from that first experience as a performer nearly a decade ago now, what’s stuck with me the most is the buzz, the lifestyle (I thrive on adrenaline!), the feeling that acting is actually my job. So when I started writing my own show, I just knew that one of the biggest goals for it had to be bringing it to Edinburgh. What’s made it even more special is that this play was developed by my fiancèe and I – so I get to share this adventure with the love of my life!

What are the big things you’ve learned since 2025 and have you absorbed any of the lessons yet?

That I do not recommend planning a wedding and bringing a show to the EdFringe at the same time!

But seriously – I learned a lot about my approach to work. I learned (the hard way) that sometimes taking every opportunity that comes your way is not necessarily the right choice. At the same time, I have learned that if you don’t take opportunities, projects can very easily fizzle down until they are forgotten in some dusty drawer. I have learned that if you have no clue what you’re doing, the best way to find out is to give it a shot.

Tell us about your show.

The show is called The Extraordinary Life of a Rat Racer, it’s a two-hander surreal dark comedy that explores the topic of intrusive thoughts. It’s full of cartoon violence, balloons, and Italians! A quick synopsis would be: woman fights with this crazy guy who’s talking about chopping people up on the tube. Only issue is, he’s in her head.

I wrote and produced the show myself – it’s a semi autobiographical exploration of trauma and its consequences, but told in a very fun way, with lots of clownerie and physical theatre . The company, Stage Leftovers, is a new accent-blind company that myself and Andrea (my other half, and the other half of the company) have created because, as migrant artists, we have been feeling more alienated from the theatre industry. Our aim is to create a space where accent is incidental rather than defining – we are hoping to do so by championing new voices and new stories, and by challenging the role that stereotypes around accents still has when it comes to casting.

Our first ever production was at the Voilà Theatre Festival last November (which fitted beautifully with our accent-blind mission!). We brought half the audience from Italy, it was glorious. We then did a little tour of London pub theatres to develop the show, refresh a few details, waste a little money (mostly in after show drinks), and now here we are! So incredibly excited for the EdFringe! And after Edinburgh, the world!

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

If you like physical theatre, go see “The Last Lie of Pinocchio” by Avanzi di Scena! It’s like a sequel to Pinocchio, but told through dance theatre. It’s beautifully told through movement, dance, projections, images… It just needs to be experienced!

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EdFringe Talk: Brendan Scannell: The Abyss

Posted in *EdFestivals 2026, *Written Interviews by

“The best theatre and comedy festivals shove as many artists as possible together in close quarters.”

WHO: Brendan Scannell

WHAT: “After a sold out 2026 Hollywood Fringe run and Top of the Fringe and Solo Theatre Award nominations, Emmy nominated actor and comedian Brendan Scannell makes his Edinburgh debut with The Abyss. Part stand-up, part deep dive in a sinking submersible, descend to the depths of Brendan’s brain where his Irish mother is a life coach obsessed with death, his brother is communing spiritually with Gwyneth Paltrow, and his inner child is a total asshole. Star of Netflix’s Bonding and Paramount’s Heathers, Scannell has headlined at Netflix is a Joke, NY Comedy Festival and SF Sketchfest.”

WHERE: Bothie at Gilded Balloon Patter House (Venue 24) 

WHEN: 21:20 (60 min)

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Is this your first time to Edinburgh?

Yes! I just got to Edinburgh today and I can already feel the creative energy snaking through the alleyways. To have such a stunnin’ and historic city as the backdrop for all this theatre and art is amazing. The best theatre and comedy festivals shove as many artists as possible together in close quarters. This creates great connections for the artists and ease and energy for the audiences. I love festivals because I see more in a week than I would in a month.

What are the big things you’ve learned since 2025 and have you absorbed any of the lessons yet?

The biggest thing I’ve learned is that the most important thing you can do is make your show as good as it can be. And that takes writing and rewriting and questioning and all these other steps that kind of feel like pulling toenails. I’m from America and live in Hollywood and it’s easy to get distracted by things that don’t matter. The hour that I have on stage with an audience is so important to me.

Tell us about your show.

My show is written and performed by me, Brendan Scannell. It is directed by Emily Olcott and presented by Richard Bucknall of RBM Comedy and Cara Christian, an independent theatre producer in LA. We premiered at Hollywood Fringe for a sold out run ‘Top of the Fringe’ and ;Solo Theatre Award’ nominations. Next up, we’re doing 2 more shows at The Elysian Theater LA in September and The Bell House Brooklyn in October.

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

I’m not a clown but I love watching clown and am excited to see The Underground Monk Show. A few American comedians I’m excited to see are Sydney Washington, Jenny Gorelick, the many Heated Rivalry parodies, Sam Morrison, Guy Branum, Drew Lausch and Greggory Nussen. I’ve seen their work in the states, and I’m excited to see how it translates internationally into a Scottish audience. I also so Ayo Bamgboye at Netflix is a Joke in LA and loved her show. I’m excited to check out her work in progress.

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EdFringe Talk: If We Really Were Witches

Posted in *EdFestivals 2026, *Written Interviews by

“The biggest lesson we’ve learned is that we only make it if we go together.”

WHO: Kelly F. Burr

WHAT: “What might’ve happened if real witches dropped in on the witch hunts? Comedy, we’re sure. Summoned by the ghost of a witch hunt victim, real witches Mildred, Agnes and Suds arrive to rescue innocent Obediently Snead and serve up justice of their own. When challenged by The Pricks of Puritanical Piety Guild and Social Club, the witches turn the tide on those who harm others out of ignorance and fear. This riotous four-person comedy makes its way to Edinburgh after premiering in New York City and selling out performances at the Scranton Fringe Festival.”

WHERE: The Vault at Paradise in The Vault (Venue 29) 

WHEN: Varies (60 min)

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Is this your first time to Edinburgh?

This is our first time in Edinburgh, although witches and Edinburgh have a big history together, the same as we have in New England. We have been working toward bringing “Witches” to Edinburgh Fringe for two years. It’s so incredible to be a tiny part of an international celebration of the arts! We’ve already met so many different artists, performers, and supporters of the arts from all around the world. What makes it truly great is how many people bring in their resources to support the arts and artists. So many volunteers, writers, reviewers, technicians– they really show up for the people making things on stage. It’s just so wonderful and such a unique experience.

What are the big things you’ve learned since 2025 and have you absorbed any of the lessons yet?

The biggest lesson we’ve learned is that we only make it if we go together. We’ve had such an experience with independent venues around New York City who’ve given us rehearsal and performance space to build our show. It’s so important to support them in return, and to support other artist making new work as well. No one can do this alone!

Tell us about your show.

Our show was written by award-winning playwright Kelly F. Burr, producing artistic director of Scene 24 Productions. Scene 24 is a woman-led teaching production company that trains women/folx in production jobs and connects them with opportunities. After years of working in production, Kelly found that many women felt more comfortable asking other women for guidance in jobs like stage management and design.

“Witches” has been developing in New York City since July of 2025. It’s played at The Rat, The Tank, and recently previewed at Under St Marks with FRIGID NY. We don’t currently have post Edinburgh plans!

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

We have so many shows on our to-do list! Our venue buddies “5 Lesbians Eating a Quiche,” also “Notes from A Narcissistic Negro and Other N Words” (Paradise in the Vault) by our friend Elizabeth June from New York, we’re also looking forward to “Dogberry and Verges are Scared,” (Main House at C ARTS), “Mother Earth,” (Paradise in the Vault), “January 6th the Musical” (Studio at TheSpaceTriplex), ” “I’m Not Myself Today: A Villainous Cabaret” (The Space on The Mile), an SO many more!

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EdFringe Talk: A Costume Drama

Posted in *EdFestivals 2026, *Written Interviews by

“I’ve discovered that I am really interested in entertaining audiences.”

WHO: Claudia Fielding

WHAT: “With the 2026 Mascot Grand National rapidly approaching and her shell-suit sporting dad indisposed, reluctant Ella must fill Eddie The Egg’s incredibly big boots in this heartwarming, hilarious story about one extraordinary race for glory. Written and performed by Best Solo Performance nominee (The Stagey Place) Claudia Fielding, with direction and music by Anna Rastelli, the pair returns to Edinburgh debuting this wacky comedy about family tradition, legacy and the love of The Game. ‘Fielding is the oddball left field droll hero we all need in our lives’ (FringeReview.co.uk). ‘A writer-performer to keep tabs on’ (Everything-Theatre.co.uk).”

WHERE: Playground 3 at ZOO Playground (Venue 186) 

WHEN: 13:25 (60 min)

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Is this your first time to Edinburgh?

This is our second time taking a brand new show to Edinburgh, having completed a run in 2024 with my debut solo show Never Get to Heaven in an Empty Shell. Despite feeling like our first foray into the festival was a success in many ways, such as performing at Pleasance, garnering several 4 star reviews and meeting lots of lovely likeminded people, we feel so much more prepared to tackle the fringe this time around. We took 2025 off from festivals, focusing on creating rather than performing, honing the writing and zoning in on what our ethos and prerogative was as creatives. Now in 2026, we bring A Costume Drama, a heart-warming and hilarious story about one extraordinary race for glory, with themes of family, legacy and tradition, prioritising the entertainment of the audience with a feel-good and light-hearted show.

What are the big things you’ve learned since 2025 and have you absorbed any of the lessons yet?

I’ve discovered that I am really interested in entertaining audiences. Despite having success with other plays I have written and performed, I felt a bit bogged down and burnt out by focusing on ideas and concepts that ultimately were a bit depressing. In order to fully give myself over to a production, I wanted to fully believe that what I was performing would have a positive impact on those watching, and whilst shows revolving around hard to talk about subjects are extremely important, my direction over the past 12 months has shifted into lightening the darker days of my audiences. We shall see after performing at this years’ festival whether the content of the production being less intense also equates to less burnout after the run, hopefully absorbing this period of self-discovery as a creative since the last time we brought a show to Edinburgh.

Tell us about your show.

A Costume Drama is written, performed and produced by myself, Claudia Fielding, with direction, composition and sound design by Anna Rastelli. We are a two man band, having met at Royal Central School of Speech and Drama where we both studied for a degree in Writing for Performance. We originally collaborated on a short form piece of theatre called Let Sleeping Dogs Lye, about two holiday reps based in Mallorca selling feminine hygiene care products for a company named Bush, pronounced like lush. We found out we worked really well together, with similar creative mindsets and we’ve hit it off ever since, collaborating on two other productions aside from our current project. Whilst we are performing two previews in London, A Costume Drama will be making its debut in Edinburgh and we are so excited to hear audience feedback and really hone this play down to its essence, ideally bringing it back to London after the festival for another run.

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

We are part of the Emerging Edinburgh roster with Chloe Nelkin, so it’s been great to get to know all the other productions taking a show up to the fringe for the first or second time as early career creatives. Racists, Recessions and Revolutions is part of that list and one I’m excited to see, performing in the same venue as us. Anna had previously seen The Pitch during a run in London and thoroughly enjoyed it, so I am excited to catch that one up at Pleasance this year!

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EdFringe Talk: Trudy Carmichael’s Spontaneous Vegas!

Posted in *EdFestivals 2026, *Written Interviews by

“Getting out of my own way to “just do it” is a constant, daily effort.”

WHO: Robin Rothman

WHAT: “Step back into the golden age of Las Vegas with glittering lounge legend Trudy Carmichael (portrayed by award-winning vocalist Robin Rothman). Channelling the sharp wit of Joan Rivers and the flair of Bette Midler, Trudy delivers a high-stakes, off-the-cuff spectacle straight from Sin City. Alongside her brilliant pianist, she blends powerhouse vocals with spontaneous musical magic. This unscripted cabaret features improvised songs based on audience Q&As and a musical roulette where pop hits meet random celebrity impressions. Let Trudy dazzle you in a once-in-a-lifetime floor show where cabaret intimacy and improv comedy collide. Viva Las Vegas!”

WHERE: Fingers Piano Bar at PBH’s Free Fringe @ Fingers Piano Bar (Venue 221) 

WHEN: 22:10 (60 min)

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Is this your first time to Edinburgh?

I was originally all set to head to EdFringe in August 2020 with my character-driven improvised cabaret, “Trudy Carmichael Presents The Improvised One-Woman Show!”, but we all know why that first attempt failed to launch. After a year of hunkering down in Las Vegas with my family and our cats, I was able to do the virtual PBH Free Fringe in 2021 alongside my dear friend and mentor, the legendary Musical Director Frank Spitznagel. It was especially meaningful because it was the first time we got to play together in the same room after a long year of online performances. By the time the 75th Annual Fringe rolled around in 2022, I was beyond ready.

There is truly nothing like Edinburgh in August. The city completely transforms into what I can only describe as an adult theater camp. Shows are happening everywhere – in pop-up spaces, flower-filled beer gardens, cozy pubs, and hidden attic rooms you’d never notice otherwise. The whole city becomes this beating heart of creators and punters who are genuinely excited to share, discover, and watch art happen. The locals in Edinburgh are some of the warmest, kindest, and most down-to-earth folks I’ve ever met, welcoming tens of thousands of artists into their town every summer. Beyond that, a great festival lets you seamlessly bridge the gap between being a performer and a fan. You can do your show, grab a pint, and then wander into a tiny back room to watch someone from across the globe completely blow your mind.

What are the big things you’ve learned since 2025 and have you absorbed any of the lessons yet?

Over the past year, my biggest takeaway has been learning to fully step into my own space as a performer without second-guessing myself or reaching for perfection which is the death of creativity!

Last summer, I competed in a cabaret competition as Trudy at Don’t Tell Mama in NYC, and that helped me rediscover who I am as a performer like never before. It helped me find my creative voice by giving me the opportunity to performing for new audiences and reminded me that what I bring to the table is valuable, funny, and unique. That experience even led to me writing my very first fully scripted cabaret show this year, which I performed at Don’t Tell Mama to some really wonderful reviews! I definitely couldn’t have done that without leaning into everything I’ve learned as a producer and an improviser. Honestly, it’s one of my greatest accomplishments so far because getting out of my own way to “just do it” is a constant, daily effort.

But every time I step on stage and feel that genuine connection with an audience, I am immediately reminded that taking these big creative leaps is not only worth it, but incredibly necessary to my growth as an artist.

Tell us about your show.

Trudy Carmichael’s Spontaneous Vegas! is a high-energy, completely improvised Las Vegas-style cabaret lounge act starring my sequined alter-ego, Trudy Carmichael. Because every single show is built entirely on audience interaction and improvised music, no two nights are ever the same. The brilliant singer, composer, and lyricist David Nehls – who is also performing his own Fringe show, “Do You Wanna Go?” – is providing the spontaneous musical direction.

I’m producing this show myself on barely any budget at all, which is why the PBH Free Fringe was such a clear choice this year. “Trudy Carmichael Presents The Improvised One-Woman Show!” (which made its EdFringe debut in 2022 at TheSpace UK) walked so this production could run! That 2022 show was in a more traditional black-box theater at 4:10 in the afternoon, whereas Spontaneous Vegas! will be making its Fringe debut at Finger’s Piano Bar at 10:10 at night. I think the show is going to do wonderfully with a late-night crowd, and I can’t wait to bring more of that gritty glamour of a real Las Vegas floor show to this incarnation.

My team consists of me, my husband, and David. The way David and I came together is a total Fringe miracle: I was matched with him through my friend Penny Cole, whom I met at EdFringe back in 2022. I had just begun putting out feelers for an improv accompanist when, as if reading my mind, Penny (who lives in Colorado) reached out and asked if I happened to be looking for a pianist. I was like, “How on earth did you know?!” I’m thrilled that a connection I had made at EdFringe four years ago yielded a brand-new artistic partnership for this year!

After Edinburgh, the plan is to bring Trudy back to New York for an encore – and then hopefully off to more festivals around the US and Europe!

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

Supporting fellow artists is my absolute favorite part of the Fringe—there’s no better way to make lifelong friends and discover future collaborators!

First up, you have to check out Peter Michael Marino’s Planet of the Grapes. Pete has been a lovely friend and a wonderful EdFringe mentor to me for years. Born out of lockdown, it’s a wildly creative, unhinged tabletop sci-fi parody told with damn dirty grapes (which are actually quite adorable). Please go enjoy it for me, because the show I’m co-producing and performing in (The Life of Pie) runs at the exact same time!

I’m also beyond excited for the indomitable Sarah-Louise Young’s The Bob Ross Effect. Sarah-Louise is an absolute powerhouse, and her joyful musical honoring Bob Ross is exactly the kind of theater we all need right now. I performed practically opposite her Kate Bush show in 2022, so you’d better believe I’m relieved not to make that same mistake again!

Then there’s Rachel Creeger’s Queen of the Jews. She is a phenomenal comedian with effortless sharp wit and a wonderful mentor to EdFringe newcomers.

I’m also really intrigued by fellow CIPA and Paradise in the Vault show, “If We Really Were Witches” – I love the premise of asking what happens if real witches were to drop in on historical witch trials. As venue-mates at Paradise, I can’t wait to cheer them on!

Finally, I’m looking forward to HAM by the Hotter Project. I love puns and anything Shakespeare-inspired, so a cheeky spin on Hamlet sounds brilliantly bizarre – the exact kind of bold, off-the-wall storytelling that makes EdFringe so FRINGE!

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EdFringe Talk: The Yellow Wallpaper

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“The piece was born at a laundromat in 2016 when Caitlin stumbled across The Yellow Wallpaper in a short story collection while killing time.”

WHO: Megan Ort

WHAT: “Based on the story by Charlotte Perkins Gilman, this six-person dance thriller is brought to life through a fusion of visceral choreography and classic text that ‘will take your breath away’ **** (TheFrontRowCenter.com). While undergoing treatment for “female hysteria”, Jane is confined to a room of yellow wallpaper. As the weeks pass, the wallpaper takes on a horrifying life of its own. Jane becomes convinced that there are women trapped within the walls, and that it is up to her to set them free.”

WHERE: Lime Studio at Greenside @ George Street (Venue 236) 

WHEN: 16:05 (60 min)

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Is this your first time to Edinburgh?

Yes, this is our first time at EdFringe but our second fringe festival (the first being NYC Fringe in 2018)! We’ve been striving for Edinburgh as a way to internationally share our adaptation of a story still resonating in English classes around the world, even over a century after its publication. We are especially eager to connect with artists & audiences from all backgrounds using a familiar story delivered through a new movement language.

What are the big things you’ve learned since 2025 and have you absorbed any of the lessons yet?

To prepare for Edinburgh, we’ve done significant research on UK theatre with assistance from Lily of Tin Pony PR which has provided surprising insight on healthier artistic relationships. Due to dramatic cuts to arts funding and basic human rights in the US, we’ve been fighting an uphill battle from day one to gather the resources to bring this piece to life. The culminating production start to feel like a battle cry of defiance – “WE ARE HERE!”

While there is a degree of this battle in every country, the UK have been a vital reminder that support for the arts and basic welfare CAN exist in a more sustainable capacity. This second wind inspires us to continue this production with appreciation for our gritty origins while finally having some distance to metabolize the trauma that inspired the original piece.

Tell us about your show.

We are a sister duo – Caitlin & Megan Ort – who have been developing this piece for 10 years with notable productions at the NYC Fringe in 2018, Gibney Dance Center in 2025, and now finally Edinburgh Fringe (& hopefully a UK/US tour or Off-Broadway production in the near future).

The piece was born at a laundromat in 2016 when Caitlin stumbled across The Yellow Wallpaper in a short story collection while killing time. Caitlin was fresh off of a toxic relationship & battling mounting fears of the impact from Trump’s first presidential term. Though her world was actively collapsing, Caitlin suddenly felt seen in a real woman’s story from over a century ago. Struck by inspiration to adapt it as a dance play, she tapped me in as a collaborator & we’ve been developing and producing it ourselves ever since. We’ve gathered many talented friends over the years with many of them joining us for EdFringe, affirming the community that protagonist Jane & 2016-Caitlin so desperately lacked.

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

Sasha Graham’s Ghost Stories & Tarot – another story about spooky women fighting demons while chasing their dreams? ABSOLUTELY.

Circa: Wolf – we love the similarly savage movement in pursuit of catharsis, just like the women in our wallpaper

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EdFringe Talk: Made In Scotland Gigs presented by Wide Days

Posted in *EdFestivals 2026, *Written Interviews by

“Helicon has never fitted neatly into one particular scene or genre, so being part of something this varied feels right for us.”

WHO: John-Paul Hughes

WHAT: “Made In Scotland partners with Wide Days music convention to showcase a diverse snapshot of some of the country’s most exciting acts. Line-up to be announced. Visit http://www.widedays.com for details.”

WHERE: Made In Scotland Gigs at La Belle Angele, Sneaky Pete’s and Bannerman’s Bar (Venue 301e) ** The show takes place across three music venues in the city: La Belle Angele, Sneaky Pete’s and Bannermans. Collect a stamp for entry to all venues from La Belle Angele from 19:00 on Monday 17 August **

WHEN: 19:00 (270 min)

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Is this your first time to Edinburgh?

We’ve played Edinburgh before, but this is our first time appearing as part of the Fringe. It’s amazing, and something that makes us proud as Scots, but a little envious as Glaswegians, that for a few weeks, the whole city becomes completely consumed by creative people and their art. Some of those will be brilliant. Some will be absolutely bonkers. But that’s kinda the whole point. Helicon has never fitted neatly into one particular scene or genre, so being part of something this varied feels right for us.

I think the key to a great festival is that it should introduce you to something you didn’t know you liked. That’s true whether you’re a performer or a punter; the buzz of a good festival is stepping into the unknown, the element of surprise that can evolve or even completely change the direction of your artistic tastes for years to come.

What are the big things you’ve learned since 2025 and have you absorbed any of the lessons yet?

The biggest lesson of the last year is ‘kill your darlings’, as the old creative saying goes.
It’s easier than killing your bandmates.

In making our new record, you quickly learn that 9 musicians will never agree on everything, but if you stay true to the vision, channel it positively, and you’re all working to the same goal of making the music the best it can be, then it will be a force for good.
Sometimes you need to learn when to let go of an idea and allow someone else to take it somewhere you wouldn’t, as it can result in something better than any of you could have made alone.

Nobody is dead or in prison yet, and we made an amazing album, so we must have absorbed some of those lessons.

Tell us about your show.

We play La Belle Angele at 9:20pm on Monday 17th August as part of Made in Scotland Gigs, presented by Wide Days in partnership with the Edinburgh Festival Fringe.
The live show is built around ARISE, our collaborative album with Los Angeles beat-culture artist AL LOVER. We recorded it at Mogwai’s Castle of Doom studio in Glasgow with producer Tony Doogan, combining the psychedelic rock, sitar and live drums from our side with AL’s drum machines, samplers and approach to beat-making. The themes within ARISE confront a culture of individualism at the mercy of opportunistic grifters, offering a reminder that empathy, compassion, and authenticity are still choices we can all make. Released on Fuzz Club records in Feb 2026, it reached No 20 in the Official UK Album Downloads Chart https://helicon-allover.lnk.to/arise

We’ve already toured the album around the UK and Europe this year and have a new 20-min documentary filmed at the time of the recording, called WE SOUND LIKE HELICON with screening premieres and a public release in August/September. https://www.heliconglasgow.com/we-sound-like-helicon

After Edinburgh, we have live shows and documentary screenings in Manchester, Glasgow, Chelmsford, London, Leeds, Hull, Aberdeen, Bristol and Dundee. And a few more to announce soon. It appears we like to keep ourselves busy and then complain about being tired.

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

Your Made in Scotland Gigs ticket gets you into 3 venues in 1 day, so use it properly to see as many of the 8 acts across La Belle Angele, Sneaky Pete’s and Bannerman’s. It’s such a diverse lineup: Azamiah, Bikini Body, Haiver, Cathal Murphy, Dar Dubh, Fright Years, Haiver Tom Campbell Trio and of course, Helicon.

But whatever you do, just push yourself out of your comfort zone and go experience something new at the festival; it might change your life, or it might be utter shite. It doesn’t matter. That’s the joy of allowing yourself to be creatively curious.

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EdFringe Talk: Hugo’s Rainbow Show

Posted in *EdFestivals 2026, *Written Interviews by

“I love the way the Fringe starts to feel like a small town by the end, where you see familiar faces on every corner.”

WHO: Jess Ducey

WHAT: “A drag show for kids about the science of rainbows! Join New Zealand superstar Hugo Grrrl for a musical, magical adventure exploring the skies above. Can you help find Ray The Sun, Misty The Cloud and Wayne The Rain? Maybe even the fabulous Archie The Rainbow?! Together our weathery friends make the mysteries of meteorology fun, all while proving the power of glitter, dress-ups and friendship through original songs, stories and – of course – outrageous costumes. Best for 2-10 year olds and neurodiverse friends, but even big kids will love this wholesome, goofy and glamorous experience.”

WHERE: Dexter at Underbelly, Bristo Square (Venue 302) 

WHEN: 12:00 (45 min)

MORE: Click Here!

Is this your first time to Edinburgh?

This is my fourth rodeo! I love Fringe. It’s magical and chaotic. Anything can happen, there are so many people here just for live art, and Edinburgh is a stupidly beautiful city. I think the secret is finding your people. Audiences, sure, but also the fellow artists and supporters who are going to help you salvage your remaining shreds of sanity and dignity, and celebrate your wins. I love the way the Fringe starts to feel like a small town by the end, where you see familiar faces on every corner.

What are the big things you’ve learned since 2025 and have you absorbed any of the lessons yet?

I’m getting better at only checking box office numbers once a day thanks to scheduled reports. Also trying to eat vegetables in regular preventative fashion, rather than subsisting on Gregg’s for two weeks and then wondering why I’m so tired. The most recent lesson is that North Bridge is actually lovely and picturesque‽ It’s been hiding from us for so long, and now journeying over to St Andrew Sq is just a leisurely stroll instead of a terrifying gambit. Revelatory!

Tell us about your show.

Hugo Grrrl wrote the show and has been touring it all over Aotearoa and Australia. Hugo and I go way back to our days in Wellington, where he cast me in a show called Naked Girls Reading. That show was a big factor in both of our queer journeys, and although we’ve since retired from girlhood, we’re still mates (and fierce Scrabble competitors). During my first Fringe, I met Niall Moorjani (go see Kanpur: 1857 at Pleasance!) at a reading at Lighthouse, we became friends and they stayed with me when they brough A Faerie Tale to NYC. Niall raved about how much fun kid’s shows are at the Fringe, partially due to the (mostly)sober audiences and daytime slots, but also because watching kids feed their curiosity and creativity reminds us why we got into this whole theatre thing in the first place. I made a mental note to come back with one some day.

Then, I was in Aotearoa in January, and Hugo called me up and said ‘wanna go to Edinburgh with my drag show for kids about the science of rainbows?’ So I finally named / started a legit production company – Duces Wild – and here we are. The show is technically for kids 2-10ish, but I promise your queer inner child will love it too. It’s silly and sparkly and heartwarming as fuck.

Next stop – a charming theatre near you?

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

I organize with Theater Workers for a Ceasefire in NYC, and am excited for the Palestinian Circus (and really all the circus). Broken Box Mime’s Double Take is a treat for mime afficionados / a perfect introduction for the mime-skeptic. The Creepy Boys’ Slugs is fantastic (and I can’t wait to see Grumms’ new WIP). Recent Cutbacks are dear friends, and they’re back with three hilarious lo-fi movie parodies with live Foley – Hold On To Your Butts, Fly You Fools, and KEVIN!!!! And for more low tech, high precision joy, check out The Back Pack’s Noted. Alaa Shehada’s The Horse of Jenin is absolutely stunning. I’m curious about the Summerhall sauna shows but kinda bummed they’re making us wear togs.

My other show is The Van Gogh Shogh, a ‘delightfully unhinged’ and ‘monstrously funny’ clown show about art and money. Donna Oblongata (the creator / performer) made it after thinking about how Van Gogh would react to those immersive Van Gogh projection shows that were all over the place a few years ago. She’ll hate that I said this, but after you’re done wheezing from laughter, you’ll be surprised at how much you feel. American Sing Song’s Hole! is also a surprisingly heartfelt delight.

I produced a festival of 14 Edinburgh previews in NYC before I left, so go check out those alum: Star Vehicle, Judy Garland is Fat at Carnegie Hall, Emoji: The Hieroglyphs of Our Time, Dr Kara Kibara: Love Guru, Love in the Time of Fifth Grade, Olivia Raine Atwood: Oops, Japanese Grandma Show, Ethan & Gigi Present: THE MOVEMENT, Notes from a Narcissistic Negro and Other N Words, Jerk Off!, I WAS NEVER HERE, Channel (a soothing magical box of sound and light!), and atticwife. A couple of shows from my 2025 preview festival are back again too: Furniture Boys, Lizzy Sunshine, and Time Traveling Postman.

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EdFringe Talk: Alex Franklin: Kiss Me x

Posted in *EdFestivals 2026, *Written Interviews by

“‘Kiss Me x’ is about kissing and romance and dating and kissing. Also the fetishisation and denigration of trans bodies, but mostly kissing. Loads of kissing.”

WHO: Alex Franklin

WHAT: “What if we kissed? Right now? Xx xXx Xx xxX XX xx (*kissing*) Wow. That was wonderful. Until we meet again. ‘Proper star in the making’ (Chortle.co.uk) Alex (me) has a show just for you (you) about kissing (x) and romance (<3) and dating (:O) and kissing (x). Also the fetishisation and demonisation of trans bodies BLAH BLAH BLAH but mostly kissing xx. Maybe even about us? Kissing each other? Haha no way, just kissi- kidding. Just kidding!…xx Brighton Fringe Best Comedy Show Nominee 2024. As seen/heard on Channel 4, HBO Max, BBC Radio 4.”

WHERE: Jelly Belly at Underbelly, Cowgate (Venue 61) 

WHEN: 14:25 (60 min)

MORE: Click Here!

Is this your first time to Edinburgh?

No!! I’ve done Edinburgh a couple of times, with a variety of shows!! In 2024 I did a show called Gurl Code about transitioning and coming out to my Dad, which went I would argue GOOD. Now I’m back and stronger and faster than ever to do my new solo show ‘Kiss Me x’, which is about kissing, as well as ‘Mothman: A Romance Musical’, which is somewhat about kissing.

What are the big things you’ve learned since 2025 and have you absorbed any of the lessons yet?

Stop touching hot objects Alex. Just because an object looks normal does not mean that is not hot. Even cold objects, under the right circumstances, can be hot. Do not let the fire burn you a second time. Fool me once, ow, fool me twice, bigger ow.

Tell us about your show.

‘Kiss Me x’ is about kissing and romance and dating and kissing. Also the fetishisation and denigration of trans bodies, but mostly kissing. Loads of kissing. ‘Mothman: A Romance Musical’ is about a woman who falls in love with and tries to sleep with the mythical West Virginian creature Mothman, half man, half moth (all sex appeal).

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

Hudson Hughes is doing a show called ‘At Your Service’ that I was lucky enough to see a WIP of and MY GOD is that boy terrifyingly funny. Also I hear he’s build multiple robots, if that wins you over. Also Will and Noah are doing another show called ‘Winner Winner Chicken Dinner’, and Will BF is doing a show called ‘Moon Team’ that has so much stuff in it it might EXPLODE. Both are on at Underbelly!! You gotta see them!!

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