Author Archives: Dan Lentell

EdFringe Talk: The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee

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“Every Fringe is a learning experience that brings its own challenges and lessons – I cannot wait to see what Fringe 2024 will teach me.”

WHO: Beth Cunningham

WHAT: “Please spell ‘entertaining’! The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee follows six quirky and sometimes obnoxious students in their quest for the coveted first place trophy. Accompanied by three even quirkier adults, audience members, juice boxes, community service requirements, magic feet, and the unfortunate effects of puberty, the spellers must make their way through a series of increasingly difficult (and hilarious) words, whilst also dealing with their own stressful, embarrassing, or occasionally upsetting personal lives. This show is guaranteed to leave you laughing, crying and wondering if ‘hasenpfeffer’ is even a real word.”

WHERE: Paradise in Augustines – The Sanctuary (Venue 152) 

WHEN: VARIES (60 min)

MORE: Click Here!

Is this your first time to Edinburgh?

This is my fourth time partaking in the Edinburgh Fringe, and my first time as a director! The Fringe is a truly unique experience as a performer, production team member, and a visitor. There’s no place quite like it on Earth, and I am so unbelievably grateful to the people who have given me the opportunity to be apart of the past 4 Fringes. I have spoken about directing at Fringe to anyone who will listen for the past two years and getting to live out this silly little dream has been an utter joy so far. I am so looking forward to seeing the wealth of new-and-upcoming talent Fringe offers – I always make its priority to see as many different shows in as many different genres as I can, and I have discovered some amazing performers through the Edinburgh Fringe who I continue to follow to this day. Whilst visiting the Fringe is a fantastic experience, partaking in it and being immersed in the environment and culture as a performer or creative is just an indescribable feeling, and I am so looking forward to experiencing it once again this year.

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

Last year, I definitely overcommitted myself a little bit – whilst I still had an amazing time, I think dedicating my time this year solely to one show has meant that I have been able to be fully emotionally invested in Spelling Bee. A lot of love, time, blood, sweat, and tears has gone into this production, and I hope that it will show in the final product.

Every Fringe is a learning experience that brings its own challenges and lessons – I cannot wait to see what Fringe 2024 will teach me.

Tell us about your show.

Our show is The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee by William Finn and Rachel Sheinkin, presented by the Edinburgh University Savoy Opera Group (EUSOG). My production team is utterly incredible – my fantastic co-director, Hunter King; my wonderful choreo team, Amelia Brenan and her assistants; my incredible musical direction team, Emily Paterson and her assistants; and last, but certainly NOT least, my incomparable producers, Ching Zhan and Faye Xiang. Auditioning for EUSOG in my second year of university is truly one of the best things I have ever done, and completely changed the trajectory of my university experience. I am so unbelievably grateful to the society for the opportunities they have afforded me, and especially for letting me take this show to Fringe this year. Spelling Bee is a show that is extremely near and dear to my heart – it’s the first show I ever did at Fringe, so directing it this year feels very full circle for me. The show has all the components for a successful Fringe show – audience participation, comedy, gay dads, juiceboxes, as well as tender moments that tug at your heartstrings. The cast is incredible and have worked so hard to bring this amazing show to life. If you like words, big dance numbers, or jokes about the unfortunate side effects of puberty, this is the show for you!

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

Our sister society, the Edinburgh University Footlights, is putting on Pippin by Stephen Schwartz in the final week of Fringe. Their productions never fail to impress and I am sure Pippin will be indescribably fantastic. You can purchase tickets here: https://tickets.edfringe.com/whats-on#q=pippin.

Other shows I am so excited to see are Slash and The Improverts at Bedlam Theatre, Paradok Platform at Just The Tonic at The Caves, Spring Awakening at The Space @ Surgeon’s Hall, and Kinky Boots at Hill Street Theatre.

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EdFringe Talk: Wallis

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“Make sure you have your note and that you just have to be confident with it. Even if it’s wrong. Wrong but strong.”

WHO: Rhys Anderson

WHAT: “After their success with 2023’s Guilty of Love, BramwellBrand’s latest musical tells the story of a woman swept away by circumstance, and the King who gave up his crown for her. Prince Edward, bored with the constraints of monarchy, falls in love with an American divorcee, Wallis Simpson, and gives up everything for her. Fans of The Crown will instantly recognise the first enactment of this royal twisted tale in the story of Wallis Simpson: but is it a love story, or is she a woman trapped by her own ambition, fuelled by the eye of the media?”

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

WHEN: 10:40 (80 min)

MORE: Click Here!

Is this your first time to Edinburgh?

No, this is actually my 4th show at the fringe. My first being in 2015 and then in 2022 and then last year too. It is very exciting as a performer to be a part of the Edinburgh Fringe. I’ve met some great people along the way and had the chance to perform in front of amazing audiences and that’s what I love about the fringe.

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

The show I performed in last year was a musical with a lot of tricky harmonies and difficult ACapella singing which was quite new for me and the biggest thing I learned from that experience was how important it is make sure you have your note and that you just have to be confident with it. Even if it’s wrong. Wrong but strong. This was something myself and another actor from that show would joke about. But of course we were pitch perfect every time.

Tell us about your show.

Our show this year is by the same writers as the show last year so I was really honoured to be asked back by the producing team. Last year it was all about Alan Turing and the events that happened during and after Bletchley park. This year we are focusing in on Wallis Simpson and her somewhat complicated relationship with Edward VIII and the abdication crisis. I absolutely loved the script and the music reminds me of that jazz period in the 1930s. It all feels very glitz and glam and like we are going to take the audience on one big party. The team met for a read through last week and it was great to meet the rest of the cast before we jump in to rehearsals. This is the world premiere and after Edinburgh we play it for a few shows down in London at The Other Palace. Which I’m really looking forward too and I love playing real life people too. I get lost in the research and there is so much out there about Edward and people have varying opinions on him so it will be interesting to see what people think of my portrayal.

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

I think people should get along to see ‘One sugar stirred to the left. I have had the pleasure of reading the script written by Jon Lawrence and it’s really beautiful. A great mix of comedy and moments of real tragedy!

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EdFringe Talk: Situations and Confr/plications

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“For me the Fringe really lies in the atmosphere on the streets, and I’ve been in and amongst that every August since I can remember. “

WHO: Rhiannon Lucy Bird

WHAT: “Logic, you say? Thank you. But, no thank you. Introducing Situations and Confr/plications. A 60-minute sketch comedy, made up of standalone scenes that cross between all decades and have no relation to each other whatsoever. Apart, of course, from the unfortunate fact that they go slightly – awry. 12 actors, 12 scenes. A rapid fire of short, dynamic, bold and outrageously unusual sketches – leaving the audience with a healthy sense of joy, fulfilment, provocation and sense of relief. Not physical though, we urge you (literally). May the Audacity be with you.”

WHERE: Gilded Balloon Patter House – Big Yin (Venue 24) 

WHEN: 14:00 (60 min)

MORE: Click Here!

Is this your first time to Edinburgh?

Nope! I’m actually from Edinburgh, so I’ve been lucky enough to attend every Fringe since I was born in ‘98. Well, I probably only started attending shows when I was about 4 or 5, but for me the Fringe really lies in the atmosphere on the streets, and I’ve been in and amongst that every August since I can remember. The city just comes alive, and now that I’m a bit older it’s the most amazing excuse to come home and meet up with old friends and family. We’re scattered all over the world now, but most of us find a way to flock back and gather for the festival every year!

It’s a myth that locals hate the Fringe. It can definitely be overwhelming when the population triples basically overnight and suddenly you’re confronted with hundreds of flyers and street performers on your way to work, but I wouldn’t have it any other way. Performing in it is something else entirely. I first put a show on here in 2018, and it never gets any less exciting. I’ve seen a lot of theatre in my life, and all of the best, most innovative, creative and bizarre shows I’ve ever seen have been in the Fringe festival. I can’t wait to come again this year, especially as most of my cast are about to experience the madness for the first time!

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

I’m fresh out of drama school, so really committing to the freelance professional actor lifestyle has been a monumental learning curve for me! I think one of the hardest lessons has been learning to say no to some things, and prioritise rest. Just because you don’t have a typical 9-to-5 schedule, doesn’t mean you shouldn’t take a weekend off, or that you need to be thinking about work 24/7. When you work in the arts it can get confusing I think, because your job is often also your passion and something that you started out doing for fun. But it’s important sometimes to treat it as if it were a 9-to-5, have breaks, have evenings off and holidays. Otherwise you risk coming home from your bill-paying jobs and spending all your down time pursuing the acting, which, it turns out, is a recipe for burnout! This is something I’m definitely still working on but I am getting better, little by little, and I will attempt to keep it up even during festival season!

Tell us about your show.

Situations and Confr/plications is an absurd sketch show, with 12 actors, 12 scenes, and zero logic. It’s written and directed by Gwen Ann, a multi-talented Dutch current acting student at a London drama school. The cast is entirely made up of people from her course, and a couple of recent graduates from the same acting school (myself included)! I don’t know if she’d agree, but I think the show is pretty reminiscent of a lot of old-school comedy shows. Monty Python, The Muppet Show (if the muppets were just… humans on a stage), Big Train, that sort of thing. But it’s also fresh, experimental, surprising. The characters are outrageous, the sketches take us through time, from the Greeks to the Middle ages, to Junior Dance Finals ‘24, and beyond. We are doing two previews in London before we take it up to Auld Reekie. After the festival most of the cast will be starting their third and final year of their course, so it will probably be put on the back-burner for a while, but who knows what might happen after that!

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

Hot Girl Summer is a brand-new show by my gorgeously talented friend Isla Fairfield, she’s so funny and the show is outrageously relatable, a must-see for all, but single women in their 20s especially! I always recommend Police Cops to people who haven’t seen it before, they’re doing Police Cops in Space again this year which is the funniest show I’ve seen in the Fringe, I think. My pal Steph is also doing a dark physical theatre show called Birthday Fish, and she’s a beautiful mover so I highly recommend checking that out!

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EdFringe Talk: Tales of Haunted Edinburgh – Echoes From Beyond the Grave

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“EdFringe is a celebration of the arts that brings together performers and audiences in a unique and unparalleled way.”

WHO: Ewan Irvine

WHAT: “Edinburgh is known as one of the most haunted cities in the world. Listen to its tales of the undead from a paranormal investigator as you discover a host of terrifying stories of hauntings from the city’s dark past. From the House of Horrors, in the West Bow, to Greyfriar’s Kirkyard and the infamous George Mackenzie, the servant boy of Queensberry House, to some of the haunted closes on the Royal Mile. These are just a few of the tales.”

WHERE: Arthur Conan Doyle Centre – The Sanctuary (Venue 290) 

WHEN: 19:30 (60 min)

MORE: Click Here!

Is this your first time to Edinburgh?

As a resident of Edinburgh, we are fortunate to have the Fringe right on our doorstep. The Edinburgh Festival Fringe is not just a celebration of the arts; it’s a month-long cultural extravaganza that transforms the city into a bustling hub of creativity and performance. What makes the Fringe special is its unique blend of established acts and emerging talent, all sharing the same stages and competing for attention. This democratic nature of the festival, where anyone can put on a show, fosters an environment of discovery and innovation.

A great festival, in my view, is one that offers something for everyone. It should be a place where you can expect the unexpected, where you can stumble upon a hidden gem in an unassuming venue, or be blown away by a performance that you had no prior knowledge of. The Fringe excels in this regard, with its vast array of performances spanning theatre, comedy, dance, and music.

Experiencing a festival as a producer is a rollercoaster of emotions. It’s about the passion for your project, the hard work that goes into bringing it to life, and the hope that it will resonate with an audience. As a producer at the Fringe, you’re part of a community of artists and creators, all striving to make their mark. It’s a test of resilience, creativity, and the ability to adapt to the ever-changing festival landscape.

Conversely, attending a festival as a punter is all about the joy of discovery. It’s about the freedom to explore, to let the day’s program guide you, or to follow the buzz on the street to find the next big thing. As an Edinburgh resident, I have the luxury of being able to dip in and out of the festival at your leisure, to become part of the audience that fuels the energy and vibrancy of the Fringe.

In summary, the Fringe is a celebration of the arts that brings together performers and audiences in a unique and unparalleled way. Whether you’re a producer looking to share your vision with the world or a punter eager to immerse yourself in the cultural tapestry of the festival, the Edinburgh Festival Fringe offers an experience that is both enriching and unforgettable.

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

In taking part in previous Festival Fringe’s, I have learnt to stay informed with Fringe information which is invaluable, producing more innovative in eye catching publicity, and remaining flexible to changes.

Tell us about your show.

“Tales of Haunted Edinburgh” is a captivating and chilling performance that delves into the eerie history of Edinburgh, known for its haunted tales and ghostly legends. The show is a solo performance, written and produced by myself, and also as a paranormal investigator who has a deep interest in the city’s dark past and its supernatural stories.

I am also the performer, and with a background in both storytelling and the paranormal, which has inspired the creation of this unique show. The production is a labor of love, withmextensive research and personal experiences with the paranormal shaping the narrative. T

“Tales of Haunted Edinburgh” , follows “Tales of the Condemned” and “Tales from the City below” The response from the audience has been overwhelmingly positive, with many attendees fascinated by the stories and the immersive experience the show provides.

After the run at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe, “Tales of Haunted Edinburgh” will hopefully be taken to other venues, reaching out to audiences who are intrigued by the paranormal and the rich history of hauntings in Edinburgh.

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

There are a number of other shows which explore elements of Scotland, such as Alastair
Savage – The Scot’s Fiddler.

I attended a show of Alastair’s in the historic Arthur Conan Doyle building which was the perfect setting for a relaxed evening of fiddle melodies by one of the country’s leading Violinists. Alastair was a prize-winning Scots fiddle player in his youth and has performed traditional and classical music throughout his life, being a member of the BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra for the past eighteen years travelling worldwide. The concert was a fantastic experience.

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EdFringe Talk: Help! My Vagina Is Trying to Kill Me!

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“I want to share my experiences to inspire further conversation. It’s honestly the most authentic and vulnerable thing I’ve ever written, and I’m kinda really proud of it.”

WHO: Yola Jean Lu

WHAT: “Help! My Vagina Is Trying to Kill Me! is a dark, comedic solo show that explores one woman’s journey of navigating STDs, miscarriages and pre-cervical cancer, all while learning to love her vagina and herself again.”

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

WHEN: 20:05 (50 min)

MORE: Click Here!

Is this your first time to Edinburgh?

Yes! This will be my first time to Edinburgh and I can’t even begin to tell y’all how excited I am. I’ve seen the pictures and it looks like a dream! I mean, a real castle just casually hanging out there? (got tickets to visit it too!) But I’ve heard that the Fringe is an experience like no other! You have shows from all genres from all over the world there, and people from all over visiting to see the shows! I don’t think I’ve ever had an opportunity to perform for this diverse of crowds before and I’m interested in seeing how my material translate to different audiences.

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

One of the biggest things I’ve learned in 2023 is about the importance of saying “no”. I have struggled with always saying yes to things and barely setting any boundaries for myself, which lead to constant burn out and brought up lots of suicidal ideation. I’m not saying I’m perfect with this yet – but I’ve found myself saying no to things more often now. Especially when the thing asked of me doesn’t excite me! Like, someone I didn’t know from the internet rudely asked me to take a look at her scripts and just sent them to me. Normally, I want to help, and I’ll always say yes, even if I can’t get to the stuff right away. But this time I was like, nah, and literally said “Sorry, I don’t have the bandwidth right now”. But honestly? If she was nicer, I probably would have. Such a small little win, but not joking, I used to CRY if I had to say no to something (in private, not in front of the person, I’m not a weirdo!) and it would make me depressed for the rest of the day. So, seriously, this is some major growth!

Tell us about your show.

My show is literally about the ways my vagina has tried killing me. It’s broken into three topics: herpes, miscarriages and HPV. I know they all sound bleak but as a stand up comedian of 13 years, I painstakingly have found ways to incorporate jokes into this show to provide levity to people watching. It’s taken me YEARS to get the courage to talk about some of these topics. I was so ashamed and felt like people would judge me if they knew these things about me. But I’m braver now, and think comedy (at least in America, where I’m from) is going through some growing pains. There is so much comedy out there now that tears down and makes fun of marginalized groups of people. Things like herpes is commonly made the punchline of jokes. I want to end the shame and stigma with this show. And I want to share my experiences to inspire further conversation. It’s honestly the most authentic and vulnerable thing I’ve ever written, and I’m kinda really proud of it. My hope is to take this show and bring it on tour to marginalized communities and colleges around the USA in 2025.

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

So, I live in Austin, TX and we don’t get the opportunities to see many of the shows at the Fringe! I’ve actually already bought a ton of tickets to see shows that excite me, and are from other Asian performers (I don’t know if you can tell by the way I type, but I’m also Asian). The one I have seen before, and am planning to see again is Anna Akana’s “It Gets Darker” – have you ever cried after a comedy show before? Because that was a first for me. It’s so vulnerable and honest and Anna is a wonderful performer. Other shows I have tickets for are Chris Grace’s “Sardines”, Ricky Sim’s “Coming Out to Dead People” and another Austin, TX local, Katie Folger’s “Getting in Bed with the Pizza Man”. Oh, and Baby Wants Candy, of course. I’ve only seen them once and they blew me away and I’ve been chasing that sort of high from a show ever since!

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EdFringe Talk: The Nadia Quinn Show!

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“I’ve been restructuring my relationship with myself and my art and it feels like it’s coming to the end of a chapter there, which is really wonderful and exhilarating.”

WHO: Nadia Quinn

WHAT: “Do you like… music? Comedy? Prizes? Dicks, boobs and butts? Laughter? Joy? Fun? Smoking? Aliens? Life and death? Surprises? Guitars? Beautiful harmonies? Philosophy? Dance? Magic? Special guests? A xylophone? ….and more? Then this show is for you! Nadia Quinn (Spielberg’s West Side Story, HBO’s Love Life, Succession, The Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt, Black-ish, David Wain & Ken Marino’s Middle Aged Dad Jam Band, Broadway’s Bloody Bloody Andrew Jackson and The Robber Bridegroom, the UCB comedy band Summer & Eve) brings her unique and silly observational music and comedy show to the UK for the first time!”

WHERE: The Speakeasy at The Royal Scots Club – The Speakeasy (Venue 241) 

WHEN: 21:30 (60 min)

MORE: Click Here!

Is this your first time to Edinburgh?

YES! We recently did the show in LA at the iconic Dynasty Typewriter (where Shirley Temple learned to tap dance!) and several people asked us afterward if we’d ever considered going to the EdFringe… so my bandmate Matt and I looked into it and were able to secure a little run so decided to go for it. I’ve been performing music and comedy for what feels like my whole life (Mom says I stood up on tables and asked her to introduce me to guests when they were over so I could belt out a few numbers), but have never participated in a Fringe festival before so this is really exciting. We have heard such wonderful things about the experience top to bottom and are really looking forward to diving in and making the most of it. Nothing makes me happier than being on stage entertaining people and surprising them with our music. Being able to do the show for a week in a row is wonderful for us, we’re truly thrilled about it.

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

Since the beginning of 2020 I’ve been restructuring my relationship with myself and my art and it feels like it’s coming to the end of a chapter there, which is really wonderful and exhilarating. The pandemic turned me (and I think many of us!) inward and forced a think about who I am and what I really want to say to the world with my artistic endevors. I took a bit of a break from performing in all capacities, which was difficult but also necessary…. and now I’m back, baby! Something shifted in the world and I wanted to wait for that shift to settle within me as well before diving back in again. My inner pace has slowed down, I’ve leaned into patience and trust more than ever, which feels (mostly) fantastic.

Tell us about your show.

I started writing funny songs in college with my best friend as a means of self-expression and shock, quite frankly. I’ve always been inspired by the folky music from the 60s and 70s, so that definitely influenced the work– it started out as silly songs about vaginas and gay boyfriends and over the years evolved into something (still quite silly) that I was performing in comedy clubs around NYC. I began as a solo performer in the basement of a bar in Midtown Manhattan, and then the group grew into a comedy quintet (Summer & Eve) which I started with my husband Aaron and a few friends, and now we’re back to the two of us and a rotating group of wonderul musicians, singers, and special guests.

The show is a cheeky musical variety show– original tunes about simple and silly things that pop into our heads, as well as deeper contemplations on life and death. We give out prizes and include the audience in sing alongs– the point is really just to be together in the space, forget about our troubles for a little while, and laugh/have fun with each other.

We want to entertain and commune and make a few memories together. Have an experience that hopefully sticks with all of us. What else are we doing here, really?

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

Tim Murray is Witches! Tim is a fellow NY/LA comedy pal and he’s truly so silly and funny. We’ve run in the same circles for years and I’m so happy we’re at the Fringe at the same time! Sadly, our shows are both running in the 9:30PM hour so we won’t be able to catch each other– you most definitely should! Riki Lindhome: Dead Inside is another musical comedy show I love– always been a huge fan of her stuff. I also love Joanna Parson and her show A Transcriber’s Tale. I’m seeing it in NY next week and so look forward to catching her run at the Fringe. So much fantastic entertainment to behold!

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EdFringe Talk: KAREN

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“Ultimately the most important thing you have to do is just show up and do your best – everything else can be worked out!”

WHO: Sarah Cameron-West

WHAT: “We open on Protagonist’s 30th birthday at the Alton Towers, where her life takes an unexpected turn. Mid-Calippo, she’s unceremoniously dumped by her long-term boyfriend, Joe. Things go from bad to worse when Joe then starts dating her office arch-nemesis: Karen. Protagonist must now navigate a powder keg of heartbreak and identity crisis which explodes in the ultimate office showdown. Seamlessly breaking the fourth wall, Protagonist will whisk you through a chaos-filled narrative that has been described as Fleabag meets The Office with Cameron-West as ‘the female Peep Show’ (TheNerdParty.com).”

WHERE: Underbelly, Cowgate – Delhi Belly (Venue 61) 

WHEN: 15:55 (60 min)

MORE: Click Here!

Is this your first time to Edinburgh?

It is actually my fourth time at Fringe and it is my all-time favourite place to be in August. I have been once as a punter and three times as a performer and I just love it. This is KAREN’s second run at Edinburgh after it’s debut at Greenside last year and I am so excited to be bringing it to the Underbelly for their full 2024 season!

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

My biggest lesson is to be prepared. Get things organised early on and have regular check-ins with people to make sure you are all on the same page. You are going to feel stressed as August looms closer and closer so you want to do as much as you can to mitigate that worry by organising things far in advance and talking to other acts heading to the festival to make sure you haven’t missed anything is key! At the same time, it’s a balance because ultimately the most important thing you have to do is just show up and do your best – everything else can be worked out!

Tell us about your show.

So KAREN is a one-woman character comedy show that I have written, am acting in and have produced under my company Greenlit Productions. I have however been blessed to work with the wonderful director Evie Ayres-Townshend and be supported by a great technical team (Oliver McNally, Sarah Spencer, Roisin Jenner and Jules Chan) who have allowed me to take the show from strength to strength. KAREN started as a 10-minute monologue that won the Velvet Smoke monologue competition in 2021 and I was encouraged to turn it into a full one-woman show after a great reception at the White Bear Theatre in Kennington. It was there that I was paired with Evie and we instantly clicked. She completely understood the humour and shaped it into something very special. KAREN sat on the back burner for 2022 and in 2023 I submitted it very last minute to the Edinburgh Fringe and was lucky enough to get a slot at Riddles Court, Greenside and was named one of the Top 10 Shows to see at the Fringe 2023 by Edinburgh News which I was over the moon about. After a great run and kind reviews, we managed to book a full weeks run at The Other Palace in London and also The Old Joint Stock in Birmingham both of which were sell-out runs. We are now bringing the show to the Underbelly with the hope of a further London transfer and UK tour and we couldn’t be more excited!

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

There are so many amazing shows heading up this year and I would really recommend you check out my fellow Soho Theatre endorsed shows, they all have the Soho Theatre Labs sticker on their posters and flyers! Some include: ‘Yes, We’re Related’ – by Florence Lace-Evans, a dark comedy about grief. Not only did I give myself a stitch from laughing so much I was shocked how quickly it could make me jump to snotty crying. I was speechless at the end – absolutely do not miss this show!

‘Flicker’ – by Gabriella Foley is a modern-day sex farce exploring Pure OCD, created through consultation with OCD UK. It is all about getting queer love stories out there and sparking important conversations around OCD.

‘PALS’ by Mirren Wilson is a Scottish adventure-comedy play telling the story of four crude, chaotic yet completely normal gal pals as they embark on a camping trek in the west of Scotland and I am a sucker for female protagonists so can’t wait to see this.

‘Bangtail’ by Lil Wenker needs no introduction and is sure to be a hot ticket once the fringe kicks off. It is a comedy clown piece of an epic tale of a man in search of his manhood. So saddle up for an hour of unbridled cowboy clown chaos as our hero journeys from the Wild West to the American office. You’re in for a treat!

‘Squidge’ by Tiggy Bayley is another one-woman show on my hit list that tells the story of Daisy, a reluctant teaching assistant, who is assigned a young Irish traveller to help with his reading. Amid phone calls with her grieving mother, a sexy plumber and whale noises, she finds hope in an unlikely friendship. It is a story that deals with those left behind by our education system, and finding love in a world determined to hate.

‘A Stan Is Born’ by Alexis Sakellaris is a show you can’t miss. Already having had a transfer to Soho Theatre, get ready for a love letter to the divas and the gays who stan them! An original queer comedy musical about Alexis’s childhood as a stan. After moving to rural Germany from New York City at age 8, discovering pop divas online was his only salvation… Now he’s ready to sing about it! Get your tickets – you won’t regret it!

Equally other great ones I am looking forward to seeing again are ‘Apricot’ by Gigi Rice – a dark comedy set in our post Roe v Wade world which discusses gender roles, reproductive rights and moral ambiguity from the viewpoint of three teenagers, posing big questions for its audience.
Character Flaw by Philippa Dawson which is a beautiful explosion and hilarious exploration of ADHD and queer identity that was a rollercoaster from start to finish!

Tending by Eleanor Blackwood – a heartbreaking true story taken verbatim from interviews with nurses working in the NHS during COVID. It is a heartbreaking, hilarious and very human look at the experience of the nurses on the frontline of our health service and a must-see.

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EdFringe Talk: FREAK OUT!

Posted in *Written Interviews, EdFestivals 2024 by

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“This eagerness to make our show as eco-friendly as possible spread to the rest of our show. Props are all recyclable or reused every show, and we try to waste as little as possible.”

WHO: Coin Toss Collective

WHAT: “This VAULT Festival Show of the Week nominee tells the story of UK communities losing their homes to coastal erosion. Performed by a company of seven, this high-energy theatrical cocktail blends clowning, physical theatre and live art to explore climate anxiety, what home means and what we owe to each other. FREAK OUT! was developed with support of choreographer Anthony Matsena (Sadler’s Wells Associate) and Papatango Prize-winning playwright Matt Grinter. ‘Celebrates the beauty of the coast and laments its loss with exceptionally ingenious flair’ ***** (BroadwayWorld.com). ‘A poetically playful and creatively choreographed moment for reflection’ **** (FringeBiscuit.com).”

WHERE: Pleasance Dome – Jack Dome (Venue 23) 

WHEN: 14:30 (60 min)

MORE: Click Here!

Is this your first time to Edinburgh?

Whilst individual members of the collective have been to the Fringe before, this is our first time as a collective and most members’ first time! We were drawn to it because of its unique opportunity to learn, perform and connect with so many different artists from all over the world & across many genres. We were thinking about going to the Fringe for a while; but we were waiting for the right moment! It’s not a secret that the Fringe is a big financial commitment, and we wanted to do it right. We are excited to exhibit our work whilst gaining inspiration from others. As a collective, we are all incredibly different in our preferred tastes and genres, and Fringe is also the perfect opportunity to share these with each other.

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

In 2023, ‘FREAK OUT!’ came to its first festival, VAULT Festival, which was the first time taking the show on the road, and we were so thrilled to get nominated for Show of the Week! As a collective, we learned so much about ourselves and our show. At this time we were still using a set that we had first imagined as a ‘home-based’ show. As we planned, prepared, and performed ‘FREAK OUT!’, we discovered that our set no longer fit us or the show. As such, we began to brainstorm how to create a set that was not only easy to travel with but was sustainable and durable, built and designed by our incredible set designer and Coin Toss member Claudia Kurucz, assisted by set designer Jessica Jones, our now beloved set was developed. This eagerness to make our show as eco-friendly as possible spread to the rest of our show. Props are all recyclable or reused every show, and we try to waste as little as possible.

VAULT 2023 was our chance to truly develop and elevate our script, movement, sound and lighting design. Incredibly, we managed to secure Arts Council funding! As a result, we were able to work with some fantastic artists and creatives, such as Papatango Prize-winning playwright Matt Grinter (‘Orca’) and choreographers Anthony Matsena (‘Shades of Blue’, Sadler’s Wells) and Deepraj Singh (Akademi’s ‘The Troth’), to take our show to the next level. Thus the current version of ‘FREAK OUT!’ was born.

Tell us about your show.

‘FREAK OUT!’ is a show written, directed, produced and performed by Coin Toss Collective. We have spent two years developing and performing the show, using each performance to interrogate further each aspect of ‘FREAK OUT!’. Coin Toss Collective came together as a part of Made in Bristol, a training year with Bristol Old Vic for emerging theatre-makers, during which you work with industry professionals to gain and develop various skills, culminating in creating and performing a new show. The programme has produced many great companies over the years, such as The Wardrobe Ensemble, who were Fringe First winners in 2017 with their brilliant show ‘Education, Education, Education’.

As our time in Made in Bristol ended, we discussed what we wanted from our collective and our work. This conversation highlighted how important it was to us that this collective was a non-hierarchical, collaborative group. This allows everyone to experience different positions within a theatre company, present and direct ideas, write and create movement sequences, and grow together. Our core values of collaboration, playfulness, curiosity and experimentation with physical and narrative theatre allowed us to create the unique theatre piece that is ‘FREAK OUT!’

‘FREAK OUT!’ highlights the reality of people affected by coastal erosion in the UK, particularly East Anglia. Coastal erosion is worsening due to climate change; over 35 homes have been lost to the waves in Happisburgh, Norfolk alone. Over 19% of the Scottish coastline is vulnerable to erosion as sea levels rise. Inspired by and featuring archival documentary footage, interviews, podcasts and other research, ‘FREAK OUT!’ shares the experiences of affected coastal communities using our voices, bodies and audience participation. ‘FREAK OUT!’ blends clowning, live art, projection and movement into a high-energy tragicomic theatrical cocktail. Join us for a night of fun and disaster with a side of cake, but it might also break your heart. ‘FREAK OUT!’ has been performed at four venues before Edinburgh, including Camden People’s Theatre and the Tobacco Factory, Bristol. During this time, it has had a great reception from audiences and critics alike. We are thrilled to be one of the recipients of this year’s Keep It Fringe fund, and we have also been nominated for the Sit-Up awards.

After the Fringe, we will be looking to tour the show on a bigger scale than we have done before — nationally and (potentially!) internationally. We all feel that this story needs to be seen by many; ‘FREAK OUT!’ draws attention to the fact that climate change is already impacting the UK, even though this hardly ever makes headline news. And its global relevance goes without saying!

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

As a company, we would first like to shout out the other great climate change shows at the Fringe this year! Some fab examples are ‘Things We Will Miss’ by Square Product Theatre, ‘Vigil’ by Mechanimal, and ‘Look What We’ve Done’ by Helio Collective.

Here are some of our individual recs:

ROSIE: It would be an understatement to say I’m excited to see ‘Bark Bark’ by Buzzcut – their use of live feed and miniature models is incredibly unique and cool. ‘Scaffolding’ by Documental Theatre, a female-led show with a team also from the South West, sounds really intriguing too. I’m also super looking forward to seeing Freddie Hayes bring her hilarious and quirky brand of character comedy back to the Fringe with her new character, ‘The Magic Lady’ (her previous show, ‘Potatohead’ is one of my all-time faves!).

WERONIKA: Anything on the pop-up Polish Laboratory Theatre/Grotowski scene this year, but I am most excited for ‘Sheol’. I love a Polish theatrical séance! Other highlights include Bert & Nasi’s collaboration with Forced Entertainment & subject.object’s ‘Instructions’. There are lots of awesome-sounding dance shows I am excited to see – ‘Book of Dew’, ‘The Watching Machine’ and bambule.babys’ ‘my home is not your home’, stood out.

CLAUDIA: ‘FAMEHUNGRY’ by Louise Orwin. I’m excited to see Louise’s take on the much-discussed topic of the dangers of social media through performance art! And ‘Sawdust Symphony’ – because, of course, we all need to see a show where carpentry and circus collide!? I also love a bit of DIY me.

BEN: At the moment I’m writing a script of a show about the story of Heracles reimagined for the Windrush generation, so at the Fringe I’d like to catch some cool adaptations as well as shows which focus on cultural and racial identity, and Black stories. Some shows I’m keen to check out are ‘Hamstrung’ by George Rennie, a reimagining of Hamlet told by the character of Yorick, and ‘DRUM’ by Our Day.

SOL: Mike Kunze’s Infinity Mirror – I met Mike on a clowning course and he is a very funny multimedia clown! I am a big fan of the risks he takes in this show. ‘Bill’s 44th’ is a beautiful puppet show with no dialogue. Involves the audience in a charming and subtle manner!

ALYSSA: I will be making the time to see ‘The Academy Trust: Under New Management!’ by Mode Theatre. It’s a show written and performed by teachers about the difficulties of their job. I’m so passionate about teachers being overworked and underappreciated, and I will love to see what they have to say! Another show I’m excited to see is ‘Black is the Color of my Voice’ by Apphia Campbell (Seabright Live). I think powerful work with a message is my favourite kind and I’m eager to support and learn from other artists of colour at the Fringe!

SOPHIA: 1) Sh!t Theatre’s ‘Or What’s Left Of Us’ – I caught one of their shows, ‘DRINK RUM WITH EXPATS’ a couple years ago in Bristol and had such a good time; I’m a big fan of folk music, and these two would break out into some beautiful melodies. 2) ‘Lessons on Revolution’ by Undone Theatre and Carmen Collective – I’m interested in seeing how they’ll present what radical change means today. I’m also intrigued to see how globally their archival research into protest in 1968 will span. 3) ‘Really Good Exposure’ by Megan Prescott – I was a big fan of Skins growing up and honestly, I just want to satisfy a curiosity of what this person I’ve been following on Instagram since I was twelve is up to now!

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EdFringe Talk: My Little Phobia

Posted in *Written Interviews, EdFestivals 2024 by

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“In my imagination EdFringe is like theatre camp on steroids, with all its energy and excitement and need for extra helpings of deodorant.”

WHO: Emily Markoe

WHAT: “Emily Markoe wrote a totally normal comedy show. Her show is not about vomit – how could it be? She has emetophobia, the extreme and debilitating fear of throwing up. So she would never write a show about vomit… Watch Emily perform her show without any interruptions from anxiety-producing characters, obsessive-compulsive rituals or recovered memories getting in the way. And there definitely won’t be a visit from her childhood therapist, Dr. My Little Pony. Emily stopped seeing her years ago! Everything’s fine here. Please note: vomiting at this show is strictly forbidden.”

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

WHEN: 17:10 (50 min)

MORE: Click Here!

Is this your first time to Edinburgh?

Yes! This is my first time at the Edinburgh Fringe, both as a performer and audience member (or should I say “punter”? Is that right?). In my imagination it’s like theatre camp on steroids, with all its energy and excitement and need for extra helpings of deodorant. Plus at this one, the audience isn’t just your mom and a few bored counselors. The sheer size of Edinburgh Fringe is mind-blowing – and despite my best efforts, I’m never surrounded by theatre and comedy all day every day at home. I can’t wait.

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

I always knew there was beauty in specificity, but writing a show about something I’d kept so close to my chest (phobia/OCD) was a real eye-opener. I had no idea it would resonate with so many people, regardless of their personal relationship to mental health. That was a huge lesson for me: get deeply, vulnerably specific. Tell people about how you spell the word “crow” on street signs to avoid vomiting. Tell them about the complicated decision matrix you keep in your brain every time you try a new restaurant. Tell them about how if you step on a crack you have to step on a second one because two negatives make a positive. Even if they don’t “get it”, they’ll get it.

Tell us about your show.

My Little Phobia is a dark comedy about emetophobia, the extreme fear of vomit*. Yes, you read that right. I wrote, produced, and perform the show, which has a mix of characters, storytelling, and existential dread. And no vomit, obviously.

The show was directed by Julie Pearson, a supremely talented director and writer known for The Girls on the Bus (HBO) and The Boxcar Adults (Roku). We met through See What Sticks, a 6-week workshop in Los Angeles geared toward new works of all kinds. Julie was working on a pilot and I was planting the seeds for this show. In June 2024, My Little Phobia premiered in Los Angeles at the Hollywood Fringe Festival, where we ended up selling out the full-run (plus added performances) and received a nomination for the Adelaide Exchange Award.

*Where’s the best place to mention that My Little Phobia doesn’t have vomit? What I’m trying to say is that the show IS about vomit but vomiting is strictly forbidden. Sorry, what I’m trying to say is: you’re not allowed to vomit before, during, or anytime after my show.

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

Where do I start?! I’m so excited to see so many shows like Kenny Gray’s wild character ride Kenny Goes to Sleep (in the slot right before mine at Greenside’s Clover Studio), clowns like Veronica Osorio’s Medicine Woman and Natasha Mercado’s #1 Son. Kelly Reilly’s The Dolphin I Loved, Young & Wise Theatre’s The Kids Might Die, Sarah Alice Shull’s Something to Believe In, Devon Drew’s Pop Star, multilinguart’s Baby Rock, Ben Kassoy’s The Funny Thing About a Panic Attack. Is that too many? Tell me when to stop…

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‘The Untold Fable of Fritz’ (Bedfringe, 21 July 2024)

Posted in 5*, Bedfringe 2024, Rated: Outstanding by

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“A powerful story powerfully told by a company with a growing reputation as master distillers of ultra-fine blends of devised and scripted.”

Editorial Rating: 5 Stars (Outstanding)

There are few greater pleasures in this world than sitting back in your seat and sensing that your child is getting properly immersed in something special at the theatre. All that past handholding. All the previous coaxing. All those not-too-subtle BIG, LOUD, JOLLY shows that helped get us to this place, they’ve paid off. Feeding children’s minds is like feeding their wee bodies. There comes a (much-needed) point where subtlety, craft, and nuance creep in and take a seat at the table. Tomato ketchup gets substituted with olive oil. Tea and cake take the place of lemonade and Harribo. If you are wise, which I am not, this will have been an organic maturation with the pace set by the growing human entrusted to your care.

ME: “I don’t like sitting front row centre.” HER: “Well I do.” We take our seats. All this learning to share things, places, and experiences involves compromise. I tell myself that giving in every time is helping to show her how to compromise. I’m not sure that’s the take-home she’s learning. And yet, it was a good choice by Daughter 1.0 (9yrs). What’s about to envelop us is 45mins of immersive storytelling by a company that excels in small, subtly unmissable detail.

The heir to the throne is sick. Very sick. The King must take him on a journey of recovery through the ice and the snow. From the low to the high. From sunlit heights of majesty to icy depths of helplessness. It’s a powerful story powerfully told by a company with a growing reputation as master distillers of ultra-fine blends of devised and scripted.

Unsettled Theatre is a company which places mindfulness and sensitivity at the heart of its process. And yet, the group successfully summit a story about a king, about a man, who is anything but. They plant their flag on this perilous peak without, and this is the genius bit, without oversimplifying the toxicity or trauma. This truly is a healing space. The pre-Newtonian gravity of Philip Pullman’s original concept, on which the story is based, grounds proceedings in an ultra-linear, ultra-fluid calm until at the pivotal moments, just for an instant, the safety curtain between modern secular theatre and the ecstatic sensations of drama as known to the ancients falls. We glimpse the almighty power humans share to transport ourselves beyond a particular moment and location.

In her notebook, the one with a painting of the Brontitallian statue of Arthur Dent on the cover, Daughter 1.0 wrote:

“At the Bedford festival fringe I saw the untold fable of Fritz. I really enjoyed it and would definefly want to see it again. There are some happy bits in it and a few sad bits. There was a very cool bit were all the lights go off but there is one light behind a sheet and you could see the shadow of a small cart which I thought was very cool. I also thought thoght the wooden doll that played Fritz was also cool. Fritz is very mischevious but is very good at games! I really recomend it!”

Come for a show that pushes creative boundaries while pressing all the right buttons. Stay for the stagecraft. Leave knowing that productions of this quality are out there waiting to be discovered. Get your warmest coats on (seriously, your very warmest coats) and go see this!

Reviewer: Dan Lentell

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