Author Archives: Dan Lentell

EdFringe Talk: Dima Watermelon: Ukrainian Dream

Posted in *Written Interviews, EdFestivals 2024 by

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“In a crowded field like the Edinburgh Fringe, standing out requires not just a great performance but also effective marketing and building connections within the industry.”

WHO: Dima Watermelon

WHAT: “Wild and unapologetically hilarious comedy show about dreams, quirks of our diverse society, and the absurdity of life. Originally from Ukraine, Dima moved to Berlin nine years ago and immediately started doing stand-up in order not to lose his sense of humour while integrating into German society. After many years of trying to become German, Dima gave up on life and started doing comedy full-time because laughter is the only way he can cope with everything that’s happening in the world.”

WHERE: Laughing Horse @ The Raging Bull – Cellar (Venue 332) 

WHEN: 17:15 (60 min)

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Is this your first time to Edinburgh?

Yes, this is my first time with a solo show. I participated in the Edinburgh Fringe in 2022 with a double bill, and I loved the experience. It took me two years to write a show that can stand out among the many amazing performances at Fringe. The Edinburgh Fringe is the premier performance art festival in the world, where comedians from all over the globe bring their shows. As a comedian, you want to be there to showcase your comedy to Fringe audiences, who have unlimited options. This brings a lot of excitement but also a lot of pressure for a comedian.

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

I’ve gained a deeper understanding of my own comedic voice and what resonates with audiences. This has been crucial in refining my material and delivery to make a stronger impact with my jokes. I’ve also learned the value of self-promotion and networking. In a crowded field like the Edinburgh Fringe, standing out requires not just a great performance but also effective marketing and building connections within the industry.

Tell us about your show.

My show is called “Ukrainian Dream,” and I wrote it myself. It explores my journey of embracing stand-up comedy as a career and realizing that it’s now my true calling. The show also reflects on the state of the world from my unique perspective as a Ukrainian citizen, using humor to navigate and cope with the challenges my country currently faces.

This show has been developing over the past year, during which I took it on the road across Europe and performed it around 50 times. I’m incredibly excited to finally bring it to such a prestigious festival, as I feel it’s in very good shape. After Edinburgh, I plan to take the show on tour across Europe once more, including stops in London, Dublin, and many other cities where I haven’t performed yet. I also plan to record this show for YouTube or other online platforms.

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

I can definitely recommend checking out my peers from Berlin:

“Steph DePrez: 11 Lessons on Being Loud” – Steph is one of the most distinctive stand-up comics around. As an opera singer, her performances not only make you laugh but also give you the feeling of experiencing true art 🙂

“Mike Rice: Nasty Character” – he is absolutely hilarious and one of Ireland’s future great comedians. Non-stop laughter, a perfect way to escape reality for an hour.

“Moni Zhang: Asian Daddy, Dead” – an emotional rollercoaster and deeply personal story from a hilarious Chinese comedian.

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EdFringe Talk: Squidge

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“I, Tiggy Bayley, wrote Squidge last year. It’s about a grumpy teaching assistant struggling to find her place in the world in the aftermath of her brother’s death.”

WHO: Tiggy Bayley

WHAT: “‘A one-woman show with a lot of heart, a pin-drop performance and writing that tears you apart and stitches you up anew’ ****½ (AYoungishPerspective.co.uk). Daisy, a reluctant teaching assistant, is assigned a young Irish traveler 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. Squidge is a one-woman show by award-winning screenwriter and actress Tiggy Bayley about those left behind by our education system, and finding love in a world determined to hate.”

WHERE: Pleasance Courtyard – Below (Venue 33) 

WHEN: 13:50 (60 min)

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Is this your first time to Edinburgh?

Yes! It’s my first one since I was 14 anyway. We did John Gobblers Teechers. So this is my first Fringe as a full grown woman, even though I’m still only 5”2. I’m really looking forward to it. I believe in the message of Squidge, so it’s going to be a pleasure to dive into it every day.

I’m also looking forward to seeing lots of shows and making the most of my Pleasance pass. I did this year’s Edinburgh Lab at Soho Theatre, so I’ve got a group of fellow clowns to hang out with. Last week, I was laughing so hard they asked if I was okay, it’s been a while since I was surrounded by creatives every day, and my God have I missed it.

I think a great festival is about seeing loads of shows, hanging out with creatives and also looking after your mental health. What makes the place special is that it’s completely saturated with creativity and people are there because they love theatre and comedy.

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

I have learned that there are some bad people in this world. I was naïve. I’m still naïve, I like to be naïve – it’s easier to live in denial/ fantasy than face up to how mean this world can be. One of my favourite lines in the show is, “I don’t understand why we have to pretend that everything smells like fucking roses when it stinks of fish. It stinks of fish.” Because it’s about lifting those shades of denial.

Linked to this is the message of the show, what Daisy learns is effectively what I’ve learned: that we have to fight for love and hope in a world determined to hate. I can’t really say it better than Bell Hooks, ““Those of us who have already chosen to embrace a love ethic, know that when we let our light shine, we draw to us and are drawn to other bearers of light. We are not alone.”

I have learned, and I’m still learning, that I can’t control what other people think about me. All I can do is make art that I believe in, share it and then see what sticks. I love writing, and I’ve learned over the years that ultimately, I do it for me. It’s a hard lesson to learn though, because it still hurts when people don’t like it.

Tell us about your show.

I, Tiggy Bayley, wrote Squidge last year. It’s about a grumpy teaching assistant struggling to find her place in the world in the aftermath of her brother’s death.

Squidge was born out of quite a dark period in my life when the only thing getting me through the day was the fact that I had to teach. Showing up for the kids is what got me through that difficult time. I took it to Selwin Hulme-Teague in the Spring of 2023 who claims that he begged me to direct it. I’m not sure that’s true but I’ll take it. We were sitting in a Vietnamese restaurant in Angel and he said it was one of the best things he’d read in a long time. The rest is history, we’ve been rehearsing it and getting it ready for Fringe ever since. Together, we developed the script a bit more, we added more meaning to Squidge and got the show on its feet, showing a few iterations of it to friends along the way.

Squidge is now being co-produced by Ray Productions and White Noise Theatre. Myself and Selwin, also artistic director of White Noise Theatre, found Linda-Ray Ndlovu on Twitter in the Autumn of 2023 and have been blessed ever since. Linda-Ray scored us Ace funding for a mini-tour of Squidge this Spring/ Summer and has been a source of light, honesty and hope along this whole journey. Her presence is so bright and loving. She’s also based in Leeds which has meant I’ve got to go up there for previews and do some workshops for kids in disadvantaged areas up North.

Both Selwin and Linda-Ray embody Squidge in that Squidge stands for love and light and hope. They have carried me though this process on a bed of feathers and hard work.
We finished our preview’s yesterday in Leeds. I performed to an audience of four and it was one of my favourite performances yet. Afterwards a rather tall man with a northern accent asked Linda-Ray if he could speak to me. She said he was sobbing. He told me he doesn’t really go to the theatre but he was deeply moved by my piece and he just wanted to tell me that. It made my day, my week in fact. It proves that this isn’t about numbers or awards, as long as I reach someone, as long as I can show someone that they are not alone. That is everything.

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

Deffo see some clowning – it’s so in right now. I recommend Lil Wenker and Luke Rollason. Carlos Sandin. Christ East and Ben Goldsmith (My Brain is Soup, Your Hands are the Spoons & CrimeLandTown), SO good. For some LGBT music fun see Alexis Sakellaris’s A Stan is Born, to find out what a stan is.

For some political pieces pop down to Summerhall to see Gabriele Uboldi’s Lessons On Revolution and The Space to see Jojo’s Hagar: War Mother.

For comedy vibes, I love the Cave sisters too, deffo recommend both their shows. Bebe Cave is just after me at the Pleasance. Sue Perkins is great. I love everyone my agent represents – they have good taste haha.

The artists on Soho Theatre’s Edinburgh Lab list this summer are fabulous and funny. Highly recommend all their shows. That’s Alex Kitson’s Must I Paint You A Picture, Claire Parry’s x2 Shows! Nerine Skinner’s The Exorcism of Liz Truss, Charles’s Four More Short Plays Loosely Linked by the Theme of Crime, the hilarious duo (John & Christian) with their Battle Counters!, Florence Lace-Evans’s Yes, We’re Related, Sarah Cameron-West’s Karen, Gabriella Foley’s Flicker, Sam’s Dear Annie, I Hate You – a personal piece about her brain aneurism called Annie, deffo catch channel 4’s new writer, Ella Evans doing her one woman show Femme Fatigue. And make sure to support Mirren Wilson, she’s actually Scottish and has an amazing play called PALS.

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EdFringe Talk: Tending

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“This time I feel a tiny bit more seasoned and wise, but I imagine any built up confidence will leave me as soon I reach Edinburgh in August.”

WHO: Eleanor Birdsall-Smith

WHAT: “There are 400,000 nurses in the NHS today. This is their story. Tending offers a heartbreaking, hilarious and very human look at the experience of the nurses on the frontline of our health service. Based on over 70 interviews with nurses of all ages, backgrounds and nationalities, Tending immerses you in their day-to-day lives. It asks an essential question: when the system’s under pressure and lives are on the line, who takes time to care for the carers? ‘One of the most timely plays of the Fringe’ **** (Scotsman). ‘Truly extraordinary’ ***** (ScottishField.co.uk). ‘Compassionate… beautiful, and master-crafted’ ***** (BritishTheatreGuide.info).”

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

WHEN: 14:15 (60 min)

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Is this your first time to Edinburgh?

This is actually my second time at the Fringe, I was up last year producing ‘Cowboys and Lesbians’ at Pleasance. I’d never set foot in Edinburgh before then, so it was quite a shock to the system! This time I feel a tiny bit more seasoned and wise, but I imagine any built up confidence will leave me as soon I reach Edinburgh in August. However I’m incredibly excited to have the chance to participate in another year of it, as mad as it may be!

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

Most of the things I learned last year were small and specific silly things, like how many flyers are needed in advance, and needing double sided flyers! We just had the poster on our flyers last year which was a big mistake. I also learnt how unfortunately effective flyering is, and as a result how there are no excuses not to do it (a lesson learnt the hard way when my director refused to do any for the day and our audience halved in size).

Tell us about your show.

Our show ‘Tending’ is the first verbatim play to explore the lives of NHS nurses, using over 70 interviews with real nurses, it offers a heartbreaking & hilarious look at the frontline of our health service. It was created by El Blackwood, whose childhood best friend is a nurse for the NHS and who inspired the show. It’s being directed by the wonderful John Livesey and I’m producing it! John and El brought a reduced workshop version of it to Greenside last year and got such an amazing response they decided to bring it back, and this time as a fully fledged play and for the whole month at Underbelly. I was brought in for this iteration and it has been amazing, I cry in every rehearsal, it’s such a moving and beautifully put together piece. After Edinburgh the show is going to Brixton House as part of their Housemates festival which is very exciting and then after that who knows!

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

We would love to recommend ‘Abrasion’ by Meg Rose Dixon, which is about Endometriosis, ‘You’re Needy (sounds frustrating)’ from taste in your mouth, both shows that Charlotte Anne-Tilley is bringing to the Fringe; ‘oh, calm down’ and ‘Serious theatre from serious people’ and finally the amazing Love Song Productions are bringing ‘Seconds to Midnight’ to Pleasance

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EdFringe Talk: Beyond Krapp

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“Scotland is one of the best places in the world to be a young creative.”

WHO: Peter McCormick

WHAT: “Cormac is dead, and he’s not happy about it. Trapped in Purgatory, he is taunted by the echoes of his funeral as his Spotify Wrapped plays into the void. But when voice recordings from his ex resurface to haunt him, Cormac faces a critique of his life that is a far cry from what he thought he left behind. With pitch-black comedy, deep sincerity and the campest of soundtracks, Beyond Krapp is an existential reckoning of ego and achievement that celebrates the endurance of love in the battle to make our lives count.”

WHERE: Pleasance Courtyard – Cellar (Venue 33) 

WHEN: 13:45 (60 min)

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Is this your first time to Edinburgh?

It’s my first time being mad enough to actually take a show to the Fringe. I’ve lived in Glasgow for four years now, having first moved over for drama school with no clue and big and ambitions, and then realising that Scotland is one of the best places in the world to be a young creative. Having the Fringe next door made it feel more accessible and attainable as a goal, and over the last few years I’ve met people and had friends in shows and seen how much they’ve learnt from the experience. I saw ‘Sugar’ in 2022, written by the wonderful Mabel Thomas (who will be bringing ‘Serious Theatre for Serious People’ to Gilded Balloon this year) and that sealed the deal. Sugar was such an incredible piece of work and I was resolved to slide into Mabel’s DMs and demand to know how she pulled it off. She’s been kind enough to help me along the process of bringing Beyond Krapp to the Fringe this year. It’s that type of generosity and ‘why not’ that makes the Fringe special – that sounds disgustingly American, but it’s true.

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

As but a humble punter in 2023, I’ve learnt that there’s so much more work required than I’d ever have imagined (cause I’m naïve and foolish). But seeing the Fringe from the other side is incredible, because you realise just how many passionate, equally stupid people there are here with you.

Tell us about your show.

‘Beyond Krapp’ began when my writing mentor, the extraordinary Meghan Tyler, asked what scared me. I read Beckett’s ‘Krapp’s Last Tape’ a while back and couldn’t shake the fear of failing to understand love in my lifetime. Fast forward two years and I’d turned that fear into a black comedy for the Fringe.

The play is written to toy with emotions and swerve between comedy and tragedy just as any discussion of love and death tends to. It’s very Irish – stoic, sarcastic, tragic and crude. There’s a future for it amongst any audience that is ready to laugh and is willing to have their heartstrings pulled while considering what can happen if we only want to face love on our own terms.

The best thing about going to drama school in Glasgow was getting to know some incredibly creative people who are also immensely generous with their time, and so many of them were keen to get involved with the show. My director, Ben Standish, offered to come on board after seeing an early version at a scratch night, while he also works on Vanishing Point’s ‘Love Beyond’ at the Festival. Our production team are also recent graduates who are working on both ‘Beyond Krapp’ and some of the larger festival shows, and the immensely talented Lucianne McEvoy and Aishat Lawal got involved when I sent them a cheeky message and told them how crucial it was to have voices that really understood the weird cocktail of comedy and stoicism that is served at Irish funerals. I’m so emotionally invested in this show and I think they all felt sorry for what a desperate sap I was being and said they’d help out if I’d just shut up about it. But I believe in it and I’m ambitious for it.

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

They’ve got to see ‘Serious Theatre for Serious People’ at Gilded Balloon. It’s one of those shows that you can go into with absolute confidence that you’re going to get value for your ticket and watch bankable, brilliant talent deliver a properly funny show about actors trying to climb the treacherous ladder of fame and glory.

If you’re yearning for some naughty nuns, you’d be mad to miss ‘Bad Habit’ at The Space, where Glaswegian humour meets Californian sexiness from two fantastic new writers. And ‘The Sound of the Space Between’ also touches on grief but in a brilliantly creative way, using sound and technology to create an immersive live performance.

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EdFringe Talk: Anthony Williams and Dawn Bailey: Solo Show (As Told by Two People)

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“Every comedian has EdFringe on their bucket list and to be able to go and perform our show is incredible.”

WHO: Dawn Bailey

WHAT: “When you met your future spouse in maths class, how do you cope with dating, paying the bills and coping with life as a newly single 40+ year old? An hour of joke-heavy storytelling with a twist by two people living lives they never planned. Dawn Bailey is one of the circuit’s hottest properties. A regular at comedy clubs up and down the UK, she has been described as the female Peter Kay. Anthony Williams is a natural storyteller who is taking the comedy scene by storm.”

WHERE: PBH’s Free Fringe @ BrewDog Lothian Rd – The Garage (Venue 102) 

WHEN: 18:05 (60 min)

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Is this your first time to Edinburgh?

This will be our first year performing at Edinburgh, although as a punter, I’ve experienced the magic of EdFringe several times before. There’s no festival quite like it and having the privilege of not only attending, but also performing is going to be one of the highlights of my year.

Every comedian has this on their bucket list and to be able to go and perform our show is incredible.
I’m also really looking forward to seeing shows by friends in the industry and hopefully meeting some new friends too.

Getting the chance to perform every day for almost two weeks is a real privilege and will help hone our skills too.

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

Having taken the show to Leicester Comedy Festival, the biggest thing we’ve learned it that every show is unique. We’ve got a story to tell but each time we tell it, we have a new audience. Being able to adapt to what they enjoy helps the show develop. Unlike a play, comedy is always interactive, so we can’t wait to share our story with people.

Our show is very relatable and people have told us how they have been through similar journeys. This has really helped us work on the show.

Tell us about your show.

This is a story about how life doesn’t pan out the way you expected it to and how you can either mourn the life you lost, or embrace the one you have. It’s really the stories of the two performers’ last 6 years, the trials and tribulations of middle aged life and how taking every opportunity can lead to some interesting outcomes.

Dawn and Anthony are both comedy circuit regulars and have different perspectives on a shared experience.

The show started out as a work in progress idea in 2022 and has evolved through gigging on the comedy circuit. We will be taking the show to various festivals in the UK throughout 2024/2025

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

The great thing about being on the circuit is seeing fabulous comics doing club sets and seeing ideas evolve into fully fledged shows. Anyone who goes to Edinburgh and doesn’t see Scott Bennett is missing out on seeing comedy’s best kept secret. We’ve worked with Scott loads and he never puts on anything less than a world class show. We love the diversity of thinking in comedy so would always recommend checking out Harriet Dyer, Jenny Hart and Frankie Monroe. For a great night out that will give you a feelgood factor, go and see Patrick Monahan. It’s impossible to see him without leaving with a smile on your face.

We will be splitting our time between catching up with friends and checking out new acts and for this we recommend the free fringe venues.

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EdFringe Talk: 44 Sex Acts In One Week

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” I’m having a fabulous life! and so excited for this Edinburgh adventure.”

WHO: Trent Suidgeest

WHAT: “A fruity apocalyptic rom-com from the razor-sharp pen of Fringe First winner David Finnigan. Girl meets boy. Girl hates boy. Girl f*cks boy 44 times. The world collapses. Some seriously naughty actors go down on their microphones, mangos and melons in this slippery, subversive take on a classic radio play, a clever and uproarious response to humanity’s decision to go harder, faster, FASTER! towards the end of the world. ‘Brilliantly horny and unhinged.’ **** (Time Out). ‘You’ve probably been waiting all year for something to make you laugh this hard’ **** (Sydney Morning Herald).”

WHERE: Pleasance Dome – King Dome (Venue 23) 

WHEN: 16:40 (70 min)

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Is this your first time to Edinburgh?

First time in Edinburgh!! I’m so excited to experience the masses of shows and punters, the collections of beautiful artists and performers all together. The parties and fun times! I can’t even comprehend what it’ll be like, but I’m here for it all. I think a really great Artist’s Hub makes a great festival. A space for people to come and enjoy a relaxing space and let the adrenaline adjust again. Nowadays I also personally love an Artist’s Pass or AAA lanyard – haha – I love a backstage area.

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

My life motive of 2023 was ‘yes and?’ (Ariana Grande has sampled me) and I’m building on that in 2024 with ‘Shoot Your Shot!’ so that might give you some indication of the chunk of life journey I’m currently on. Ready for anything life is throwing at me, pursuing and saying yes to as many life experiences as possible. I’m having a fabulous life! and so excited for this Edinburgh adventure.

Tell us about your show.

We are bringing 44 Sex Acts In One Week from playwright David Finnigan. He is a previous Edinburgh First winner. We are from a collective called Club House Productions which came into formation after first meeting while making David’s other play entitled KILL CLIMATE DENIERS.

David is a fascinating writer. He has a particular flare for smashing big climate and philosophical ideas against unlikely form and genre. He’s very funny and has a great Aussie larrikin sensibility while pushing us lots of huge ideas. And the form is interesting. We’ve created a kind of radio play around it. Lots of unusual prop gags. A fast-moving WILD show.

We made this production at Belvoir in Sydney, we then played Sydney Festival, Brisbane Comedy Festival and Canberra Theatre Centre. There’s lots of interest around Australia and we’re hoping for international after our Edinburgh outing!

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

Go and see our Edinburgh Student Accomm housemates from Pony Cam presenting BURNOUT PARADISE. They are smashing it in Australia. Their show is a wild ride on treadmills that everyone here is talking about. We’re sure we’ll be Edinburgh besties by the end of our stint in a ten bedroom apartment together, what could go wrong?

And my good friend Virginia Gay has made a new gender-flipped CYRANO. We worked together on a hugely popular CALAMITY JANE in Australia and now she stars in this new version of Cyrano she has written. I haven’t seen it yet either but top recommendation!

I have also heard amazing things about Leah Shelton’s show BAT SHIT, coming from Brisbane. Can’t wait to see that one too!

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EdFringe Talk: 16 Postcodes

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“The process of making this show is one giant learning curve and I think it’s only going to get steeper going into the festival.”

WHO: Jessica Regan

WHAT: “Twenty years, 16 postcodes, one city. In her debut storytelling show, Jessica Regan (BBC, Channel 4, Guilty Feminist) shares lessons lived and learned from a life in no particular order. Each show is drawn from true tales of love and landlords, of mice and men and more, told with help from the audience who will play their part in her odyssey as she moves North, South, East and West, finding out which is best. This is a journey through an impenetrable city with an all-too-open heart. You’ll laugh, you’ll cry, you rent cos you can’t afford to buy…”

WHERE: Pleasance Courtyard – Bunker One (Venue 117) 

WHEN: 15:30 (60 min)

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Is this your first time to Edinburgh?

I’ve been to the fringe many times as a student, improviser, punter, actor…my first time was in 2001 in a devised student production and I had the time of my life despite living on sliced pan and cereal and playing to audiences in single digits. Being able to access theatre and dance and cabaret and everything else day and night, it was like Christmas every day. I went back in 2008 with an improv show and that was tough… I think that was the Edinburgh people got actual Trench foot it rained so much. My third time was in 2012, in a terrific show, ‘Coalition’ written by Tom Salinsky and Rober Khan. Third time was a charm! It was a really special show and cast and a hard act to follow, I’ve only been back since as a punter. But the idea of this ’16 Postcodes’ wouldn’t leave me alone and so the only thing for it was to go as writer-performer. So 2024 is the big one for me!

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

With the Writers and Actors Strike coming so soon after the pandemic on top of the continual gutting of the Arts under the Tories I’ve learned that finding different ways to tell stories or give yourself any kind of autonomy in your creative process has gone from preferable to essential.
The process of making this show is one giant learning curve and I think it’s only going to get steeper going into the festival. I’ve learned there’s no such thing as a solo show. This is the most daunting thing I’ve ever undertaken creatively but it’s so much more fun than it has any right to be because of my amazing collaborators.

Tell us about your show.

16 Postcodes is a deeply personal storytelling show comprising of monologues drawn from my real-life city stories of love and landlords, of mice and men, and everything else besides…I had the idea for the show when I totted up all the places I’d lived hence the title. I was telling my good friend Tom Salinsky about it in a pub in Camden one Sunday as we often bounce ideas around-one of which led to our podcast ‘Best Pick’- and he offered to produce it much to my surprised delight and take it to Edinburgh and it all just went from there. I did a play last year (‘Strike!’ at the Southwark Playhouse) and worked with a fantastic movement director, Ira Mandela Siobhan so I asked him to work with us and was thrilled when he said yes. My genius sister Claire Regan is composing the music, a brilliant actor I lived with Ruth Everett is doing the artwork and I’ve enlisted associate artists such as writer and auteur Joy Wilkinson and comedian and sketch artist Sean Burke to consult on the text…bringing so many people I admire to work on one project has been the best part so far.

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

Please check out the utterly brilliant Sean Burke and his show ‘Burke in Progress’ for Just the Tonic at the Caves. I saw a preview of Joe Sellman-Leava’s latest show ‘It’s the Economy, Stupid!’ and it’s an excellent, salient show. The Guilty Feminist with the luminous Deborah Frances-White at the Gilded Balloon, 12-14th of August is your best bet for guaranteed laughs and riveting chat and performances. I see the legendary Jo Caulfield every time I’m in Edinburgh, she’s a masterclass in comedy. Her show ‘Pearls Before Swine’ at The Stand 3 this year.

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EdFringe Talk: Must I Cry

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“The Fringe is the world’s largest arts festival, featuring thousands of performances across Edinburgh over several summer weeks. As a producer, it provides an unparalleled global platform. The atmosphere is electric.”

WHO: Bonni Chan

WHAT: “‘At that time, I told myself not to cry, and so I didn’t.’ Inspired by the writings of renowned Hong Kong author Xi Xi, whose whimsical tales became a defining portrait of a city transitioning away from British rule; and the story of the last male northern white rhinoceros, Sudan, whose death marked the end of a species on the brink of extinction. Through the interweaving of texts and narratives presented in a poetic form, accompanied by live music and projections, this performance aims to explore the themes of memory and disappearance in an ever-changing urban city.”

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

WHEN: 20:45 (60 min)

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Is this your first time to Edinburgh?

No. Actually, our company was found in Edinburgh in 1995 and later relocated to Hong Kong. Our show in 1995 “Fish Heads and Tales – a tender war “which received five stars review and was picked as the critic’s choice.

The Fringe is the world’s largest arts festival, featuring thousands of performances across Edinburgh over several summer weeks. As a producer, it provides an unparalleled global platform. The atmosphere is electric.

From an audience view, the Fringe offers diverse programming spanning art forms. You can discover emerging and established artists in intimate, unique venues. The vibrant cultural scene makes for a magical experience.

The Fringe’s strengths are artistic excellence, lively engagement, and openness to discovery. As both producer and audience, I’ve found it unmatched in fostering creativity, innovation and community. It’s an event I always look forward to.

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

I learned that since the summer of 2023, when our theatres were allowed to fully open again, we are no longer restricted to rehearse 1.5 m away from each other while wearing masks. The whole company of story bearers can now be in one scene together instead of just 3 at a time. The live theatre experience is truly incomparable to any Netflix, YouTube, or theatre experience on digital domains! The whole theatre breathes together, our thoughts link, and emotions move together in a grand, encompassing way in the theatre space.

I have once again been convinced of the power and preciousness of the theatre. Yet by 2023, I have also become very interested in how to engage video media as part of a character to unfold a multi-dimensional story onstage.

“Must I Cry” is a fruit of the four long years of multiple semi-lockdowns and the unpredictable period of the environment. It is a propelled discarding and gathering of ideas among our artistic core.

Tell us about your show.

Theatre du Pif returns to the Edinburgh Fringe this year with their new production “Must I Cry”, which will have its premiere at the festival. The play draws inspiration from the literary works of renowned Hong Kong author Xi Xi, particularly her piece “Hong Kong Island I Love” from 1968, which explores themes of memory, loss, and the changing landscape of the city.

“Must I Cry” is deeply connected to Hong Kong, examining the universal experience of memory and the inevitable loss associated with it, as well as the contrast between the loss of memory and the loss of humanity caused by development and urban change. The production encourages reflection on where we can channel our grief amidst the constant transformation of the city.

After the festival, we plan to tour the production to share the stories and perspectives of Hong Kong with audiences around the world.

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

I’d recommend you check out the diverse performance programs of Hong Kong’s groups spanning theatre, dance, and music – especially the programmes by the Hong Kong Soul ensemble. This would provide an opportunity for you to experience the blend of contemporary and traditional influences that characterize Hong Kong’s vibrant arts scene.

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EdFringe Talk: 5 Mistakes That Changed History

Posted in *Written Interviews, EdFestivals 2024 by

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“EdFringe is the Olympic Games for the Arts, so you’re trying to enjoy everything at the festival, but your sole priority is putting on the best show for your audience”

WHO: Paul Coulter

WHAT: “We all make mistakes, but rarely do they change the course of history. Fresh from sold-out runs at Edinburgh, Sydney and Adelaide Fringe Festivals, the smash-hit historical storytelling show returns with a new show and new stories about five people and how their mistakes changed the world. Historian and comedian Paul Coulter brings history to life in a hilarious way. If you hated history at school, this is the show for you. If you loved history at school, stop looking and just book the show. Class credit not provided.”

WHERE: Assembly George Square Studios – Studio Three (Venue 17) 

WHEN: 16:40 (60 min)

MORE: Click Here!

Is this your first time to Edinburgh?

Thanks for having me! This is my second time at Edinburgh – I brought my show 5 Mistakes That Changed History to Edinburgh in 2023 and had a fantastic run, the show sold-out before we even arrived in Edinburgh. This year, I am very excited to be back with a new show for 2024.

Experiencing a festival as a performer and producer is a completely different experience. I visited Edinburgh as an audience member in 2022 and binged on 6-7 shows a day, slept so few hours I was barely functioning and had the best time.

As a performer, it’s a completely different experience, you’re performing every day for a month. It’s the Olympic Games for the Arts, so you’re trying to enjoy everything at the festival, but your sole priority is putting on the best show for your audience

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

2023 was my first year touring and I learnt an enormous amount. I performed in every possible variety of theatre: from tents in 40-degree heat to shipping containers directly under a busy flight path. I once had to stop the show, let an A380 jet pass overhead before continuing. You had to be ready for everything.

When you’re touring you get it all: every weather condition, every tech failure, wardrobe malfunction – if it can happen, it will happen! It’s fun and challenging.

Tell us about your show.

5 Mistakes That Changed History – is a History, Storytelling and Comedy show. In the show I take the audience through 5 Mistakes from History and how they’ve changed the world. This year I’m back with five entirely new stories from History. Its John Oliver meets Horrible Histories.

The show premiered at Sydney Fringe Festival in 2022 and has grown from there. The real break for the show was Gluttony at Adelaide Fringe Festival in 2023. Adelaide is the world’s second biggest fringe festival after Edinburgh. From there I got picked up by Assembly who brought the show to Edinburgh in 2023.

The show keeps growing, it keeps selling out to History loving audiences and we get many audience members returning. I try and chat to as many people as I can after the show and it’s fantastic seeing many familiar faces again! Hopefully, we’ll just keep growing and get to tour the show to more festivals and theatres in the future.

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

I would encourage my audience to take a risk and keep space open in their calendars to try something new. A huge amount of Edinburgh is experimentation and exploration. Your new favourite show could come from trying out a show last minute or chatting to a flyerer on the street.
I originally come from an improv comedy background, and we are lucky to have the world’s best improvisers performing at the Edinburgh Fringe:

Baby Wants Candy – a ridiculously talented group of improvisers take just one suggestion and transform it into an entire musical made up completely on the spot. It is hilarious and overflowing in talent.

Shamilton – The same performers as Baby Wants Candy but in the theme of Hamilton, transforms audience suggestions into an improvised rap musical. I never cease to be amazed.

Holy Shit Improv: Some of the best improvisers from Los Angeles. When Australia was in lockdown in 2021, I survived by watching live streams of their hilarious shows.

Chris Grace: One of the funniest, nicest and most talented performers at the Edinburgh Fringe.

Emily Markoe: My Little Phobia, Hollywood Fringe sensation and fantastic performer from the San

Francisco/Los Angeles improv scene is bringing her solo show to Edinburgh

Jeromaia Detto: MUSH, Utterly silly, incredibly joyful, bonkers and fun and all round great guy. Sold-out Adelaide Fringe Festival and is definitely one to watch

Given my show is all about History – I would strongly recommend audience members go to the Scottish National Museum. Fantastic place and the curators do brilliant tours.

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EdFringe Talk: Seconds to Midnight

Posted in *Written Interviews, EdFestivals 2024 by

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“I was super determined to be back this year because last August was one of my favourite months – what could be better than four weeks spent watching lots and lots of shows and going for drinks with new stagey friends?”

WHO: Katie Kirkpatrick

WHAT: “What would you want to say to your best friend if the world was about to end? Exploring queer friendship, platonic love and nuclear anxiety, Seconds to Midnight asks what happens in a world with no consequences. Diving into the parallels between beginnings and endings, we follow Jo and Eddie through the first seven minutes of their friendship and the final seven hours of the world. Praise for previous work: ‘A brilliant addition to the queer theatre landscape’ ***** (BroadwayWorld.com). ‘Tender and original’ **** (Skinny).”

WHERE: Pleasance Courtyard – Bunker One (Venue 33) 

WHEN: 11:45 (60 min)

MORE: Click Here!

Is this your first time to Edinburgh?

I first came to the Fringe as a sixteen year old performing in a musical, which could not be further away from what I do now! After working on an online show in 2021, I returned to Edinburgh properly in 2022 as a marketing manager and reviewer, and every year since then I’ve ended up picking up more jobs! Last year I was directing and producing a show, as well as reviewing, and working at Roundabout. Fringe is best enjoyed when you get really stuck in!

I was super determined to be back this year because last August was one of my favourite months – what could be better than four weeks spent watching lots and lots of shows and going for drinks with new stagey friends? The atmosphere during the festival is truly like nothing else, and I’m so excited to see more fantastic shows and meet more fantastic people. That, and I’m excited for discounted drinks at the Pleasance bars!

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

One of the major things we learnt last year was the importance of befriending other companies of all sizes and levels – not only is it crucial for cross-marketing and selling tickets, but it’s how you make friends and lasting connections. We also learnt that it’s important to take time for yourself – living and working with close friends for a month is great fun, but there’s always the risk of spending a liiiittle too much time together. Seeing some shows by yourself, or going off to a gig, a lecture, a beach, or something else altogether is a great way to take a break. I’d definitely say we learnt that you can’t see every show you want to, and it’s important to pace yourself, but I can’t say I’ve absorbed that one yet!

Tell us about your show.

Seconds to Midnight originally came about from a Twitter thread recording some slightly unhinged late night chats between friends. I had been thinking for a while that there was a great play in it somewhere, but it took a while to work out how to make it into one. I was also really keen to make a show about queer friendship, as something I care a lot about but haven’t seen reflected that much in theatre, film, or TV.

I approached my co-director/producer Mati with the idea back in October, and then we went about finding a writer and a cast. From there, we did several R&D sessions, both with the cast and with groups of young queer people, to pull the script together and really find our characters. It was such a satisfying experience watching it go from a concept in my head to a real life show!

The show debuts this week at Riverside Studios in London, and then we’re off to the Fringe – it’ll be a quick turnaround, but we’re looking forward to trying it out in front of an audience before the full chaos of Edinburgh begins.

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

There are so many shows we’re looking forward to catching this year! We’re especially excited about seeing new work from some of the fellow young queer companies we met last year, like Fix Your Mind by Fun Loose Screw and Ugly Sisters by piss / CARNATION – both companies that make really creative new work. Other shows from friends we made last year that we’re also looking forward to seeing include Tending – some fab new verbatim work – and Jobsworth – some sharp new writing.

We’re also excited about Instructions from Subject Object, as big fans of their previous show work.txt. Many of our team are working at Paines Plough Roundabout, so we can’t wait to see their line-up this year, especially Playfight and Bellringers. Roundabout is always such a fab hub for new writing, so you really can’t go wrong with anything there!

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