Author Archives: Dan Lentell

EdFringe Talk: Gogo Boots Go

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“Don’t get me wrong, it’s exhausting, and the come down post-Fringe is like no other. But it’s so worth it.”

WHO: Cecelia Quant

WHAT: “Charlie runs a bridal shop. Clelia is getting married. The two women exist as strangers, their lives running in parallel without ever touching, until their paths intersect. As they search for the perfect dress, they spill secrets, laughter and desires with a familiarity that defies logic. It becomes clear that Clelia and Charlie share a connection that’s more than skin deep. A razor-sharp and heartfelt comedy exploring the shame we carry from childhood, the speed at which women become intimately connected and the people we meet briefly who leave an indelible imprint on our lives.”

WHERE: ZOO Playground – Playground 3 (Venue 186) 

WHEN: 14:40 (60 min)

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Is this your first time to Edinburgh?

This will be our third time at the Fringe as a company, but we’ve all been here as audience members a couple of times before. For us, Fringe every year is kind of a reset. It might sound odd since it’s so high intensity and it’s nerve-wracking to bring a new show to the biggest arts festival in the world, but it really is the place where we feel most energised and focussed. It’s such a unique place where you’re surrounded by some of the most engaging and interesting people who are all there with brilliant new work.

The energy is unreal – having pints at Summerhall after a show like Hungry (Paines Plough, 2021) where the whole courtyard is just buzzing with this mad feverish excitement that you’ve all seen something so new and special, there’s nowhere else that has that atmosphere. Don’t get me wrong, it’s exhausting, and the come down post-Fringe is like no other. But it’s so worth it. Going into the Autumn having seen some fantastic new shows, made some great professional links, and met friends too, and just feeling generally really connected to the wider UK Fringe scene. It’s a fantastic end to the Summer.

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

I think the biggest one is that you can’t do everything on your own and you shouldn’t, it’s not good for you, your company, or the show you’re working on. It’s hard advice to stick to, especially when you’re a bit of a control freak, but it’s definitely a lesson that benefits everyone. Also, pushing ourselves outside our comfort zone and not being afraid to take risks. Our new show has Amber and Rosalie performing as well as writing which is very new to us. We’re definitely still a bit terrified to see what this play is going to look like but I think what we took away from last year’s Fringe is that it’s fringe! It’s the time to take risks, experiment, play – essentially you have the freedom to make your show whacky as fuck. Edinburgh Fringe audiences are one of the most open, giving, and generous you can perform to – take advantage of that because it’s rare.

And then for Fringe specific advice – pack a raincoat, pace yourselves (no, you don’t have to see 20 shows a day), have a favourite coffee shop you can escape to for a bit of peace and quiet/laptop time. And if you’re really at the end of your tether and just need some encouragement, head to Alby’s on Buccleuch Street and get one of their mega sandwiches. Promise they can cure a lot of sins.

Tell us about your show.

We co-founded the company in 2022, off the back of our first Fringe! The three of us have been putting shows on since. Gogo Boots Go is particularly exciting because Amber and Rosalie are writers/performers for the first time which is new and scary territory but makes this show feel really special. It’s not at all autobiographical but it is based on the real feelings of two female best friends and the intensity that comes with that. Putting those experiences into the worlds and minds of two characters is very fun – and cathartic in a way? We want the show to feel as intense as we did, but for it also to be celebratory, and hopefully hilarious.

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

‘Gay Disaster Musical’, ‘Gwyneth Goes Skiing’. All the Roundabout shows; ‘Playfight’ and ‘How I Learned to Swim’, I’m particularly excited to see.

There’s a whole bunch of other wonderful Bristol creatives coming up to the Fringe as well this August that we’ll definitely be catching. They’re up with a variety of different shows! There’s ‘The Emu War: A New Musical’, ‘To Watch A Man Eat’, ‘My Type on Paper’, ‘Hardly Working’, ‘Would You Like A Bag?’, ‘Boardroom’, ‘Bachelor Girls’ and ‘Flytrap’. We’ve got to shout out the Bristol gang!

And then comedy wise, it’s got to be Ania Magliano, Sarah Roberts, and I’m really excited to see Dylan Mulvaney’s new show.

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EdFringe Talk: In the Lady Garden

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“This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity and we intend to relish and enjoy every single moment.”

WHO: Deborah Edgington

WHAT: “At 69, Alice wonders: if she hadn’t been expelled from convent school and had sex with Keith from the sausage rolls section, what might her life have been? Will Alice shake off the shackles of the patriarchy and live out the rest of her days with outrageous abandon? Find out in this rip-roaring feminist comedy, created by three women over 60.”

WHERE: Pleasance Courtyard – Bunker One (Venue 33) 

WHEN: 14:15 (60 min)

MORE: Click Here!

Is this your first time to Edinburgh?

It’s going to be a very different experience. For a start I am older! I never ever expected to be making my Edinburgh debut at my time of my life! None of The Lady Gardeners did. We are a theatre company of three women all over 60 making our Edinburgh Fringe debut with our feminist comedy ‘In the Lady Garden’. This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity and we intend to relish and enjoy every single moment. We are tremendously excited about welcoming audiences to our show, seeing lots of other shows and catching up with old friends and making new ones.

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

The biggest thing I have learned is that it is okay to change your mind. Until the end of last year, I assumed the time to take a show to Edinburgh had long passed me by. I wasn’t sure I’d have the energy for starters. As a punter, I have seen thousands of artists vying for a spot on the Royal Mile using every outlandish marketing stunt possible (nothing was off limits), pounding the streets and popping into every bar giving out flyers in the hope of getting an audience. It’s exhausting just thinking about it, notwithstanding all the hilly streets you have to climb in Edinburgh. But all these initial concerns disappeared when our show, to our surprise, was selected as one of the seven Edinburgh National Partnership shows. Knowing we have the support of the Pleasance and Theatre Royal Plymouth has renewed my energy and vigour. The Lady Gardeners are ready to take on the madness and excitement of everything the Fringe encapsulates – even the hilly streets! We can’t wait.

Tell us about your show.

‘In the Lady Garden’ is presented by The Lady Gardeners – writer Babs Horton, director me, Deborah Edgington, and performer Julia Faulkner. The play centres on Alice, who at the age of 69, wonders what her life might have been if she hadn’t been expelled from convent schools and had sex with Keith from the sausage rolls section. Will Alice shake off the shackles of the patriarchy and live out the rest of her life with outrageous abandon? Come and find out! We will be performing at Bunker One at the Pleasance Courtyard between 31 July and 26 August.

We first discussed bringing the play to the stage in 2021. Eighteen months later it had a short run in The Lab at Theatre Royal Plymouth, which sold out immediately and received great feedback. We are therefore extremely thrilled to have the support again from the Theatre Royal Plymouth, and on this occasion, the Pleasance too, as we make our Edinburgh debut. The script has been tweaked a bit since our original production and now, two years later, we are raring to put it in front of new audiences in the Scottish capital. We would love to tour the show afterwards and have already had a few enquiries from programmers, so we’ll see what happens next.

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

There are so many interesting and fabulous sounding shows coming to Edinburgh, it is really hard to choose. But if audiences enjoy ‘In the Lady Garden’ then they will probably enjoy Miriam Margolyes’ show and vice versa. Babs’ daughter, Laura, also has a show on at Summerhall called Lynn Faces, which sounds great and a friend of mine is directing The Cambridge Impronauts at the Gilded Balloon and another friend is directing Macbeth and Treasure Island, both on at The Space. The Lady Gardeners are really looking forward to seeing lots of different shows of all genres during our stay in Edinburgh and soaking up the atmosphere.

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EdFringe Talk: Swamplesque

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“I can’t wait for Edinburgh audiences to experience the delightful mix of campiness, stupidity, and pure magic that Swamplesque is.”

WHO: Trigger Happy

WHAT: “After taking Australia by storm, everyone’s favourite ogre-inspired burlesque and drag parody is finally coming to Edinburgh! Swamplesque is the award-winning, critically acclaimed, burlesque parody show from Far Far Away! This ‘outrageously fun’ (Advertiser, Adelaide) show offers its audience a smörgåsbord of performance styles. ‘Brilliantly executed, side-splittingly funny’ ***** (TheUpsideNews.com). ‘A high quality, raucous and silly fairy tale adventure’ ***** (WeekendNotes.com). ‘The surrealness is unmatched, unlike any burlesque show you’ll probably ever see’ ***** (TheCuriousWriter.net). Winner, Best Cabaret Weekly Award (Adelaide Fringe). Winner, Best Cabaret Weekly Award (Fringe World).”

WHERE: Assembly Hall – Main Hall (Venue 35) 

WHEN: 22:20 (60 min)

MORE: Click Here!

Is this your first time to Edinburgh?

This is my first time in Edinburgh producing a show but my second time as a performer/punter. My first Edinburgh Fringe was in 2022 – I arrived in Edinburgh with 2 performances and left doing 52 shows in 26 days and saw over 40 shows! I was absolutely hooked and knew I wanted to bring Swamplesque, it’s taken 2 years but I am so THRILLED to be bringing the show and I can’t wait for Edinburgh audiences to experience the delightful mix of campiness, stupidity, and pure magic that Swamplesque is.

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

We have just finished a mammoth 15 week tour in Australia and it has taught myself and everyone in the cast exactly what we need to do to keep being successful! Having done so many shows, day after day, it’s hard as performers to keep the show fresh but knowing that we have a new audience in every show – they laugh at different things, the scream and cheer in points of the show other audiences don’t, they are continually keeping us on our toes and pushing us to do our best!
I think the biggest lesson we learnt was keeping our bodies nourished both physically and mentally. We take time before each show to check in on each other, we eat a vegetable every now and then and have the most intense games of Skip-Bo you’ll ever see! We have really bonded with eachother and it’s made the show better, tighter and funnier.

Tell us about your show.

I (Trigger Happy) have been performing my solo ogre act since 2017 and toured all around the world with it – in late 2019 I thought why not create a fringe show with all the different characters from the movie and put out a casting call to the Australian Burlesque community! I got back dozens of applications and narrowed it down to a cast of 8 (5 of which are still in the show today) and we debuted the show in January 2020. Since then, we have performed Swamplesque close to 100 times at different festivals and theaters across Australia.

The creation of the show has always been a collaborative effort, each individual performer chose their music and created an act, then we would piece together the show. It’s been a 50 minute show, a full 2.5 hour theatre show and now runs at a very tight 60 minutes! Over time acts get upgraded, performers change but the essence of the show will always be the same – a special shout out to Bebe Gunn and Henny Spaghetti (who were both in the original show) and still to this day do the same duet on stage that debuted in January 2020.

What’s next for Swamplesque – we hope some really big things! Coming to Edinburgh was on our bucket list and we hope that being exposed to some many industry folk and new audiences will mean we can keep touring this show all around the world!

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

Apricity – Casus Creations. It’s such a stunning piece of contemporary circus, truly a jaw dropping beautiful show!

Batshit – Leah Shelton. Leah is a fellow Brisbane performer, her work is INCREDIBLE. Every time I see her perform I’m left in awe, walking away going what did I just watch – in the BEST POSSIBLE WAY. Truly a master of her craft!

Reuben Kaye. See any of Reuben’s shows – Live and Intimidating or The Kaye Hole, Reuben is an extraordinary performer, one of the quickest wits and is also generally a really lovely person. The perfect storyteller that makes you want to sit up and listen, he’s funny, he can sing and he will probably make fun of you.

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EdFringe Talk: Reels of Regret: Confessions of a Failed Filmmaker

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“A great festival has top tier talent, walkability, and cheap accommodation.”

WHO: Christina Jobe

WHAT: “You know those people who tell you to aim for the moon and you’ll land on the stars? Yeah, those people are a**holes. Filmmaker Christina Jobe’s new stand-up show explains how a strict Conservative Christian upbringing isn’t the best foundation for a career in entertainment. From accidentally going on a date with a septuagenarian, escaping the grasp of a frenzied holistic nutritionist, filming people who are filming porn, with a smattering of opioids along the way, this show explores how what you get is rarely what you want.”

WHERE: Gilded Balloon Patter House – The Penny (Venue 24) 

WHEN: 21:00 (60 min)

MORE: Click Here!

Is this your first time to Edinburgh?

No, I visited with my cousin who attended a conference for physicists. Her husband bailed (probably because of how boring it sounds) so I took his spot. I was smarter than everyone there so I chose not to attend any lectures and just wandered around Edinburgh looking for Harry Potter. I found him, he looked rough to be honest and kept asking if I knew if Hermione was asking about him? Don’t meet your heroes. I ended up walking into an Edinburgh Fringe show to avoid yet another awkward coffee with Harry, and I realized how great the Fringe Festival is.

This is my first time performing at Edinburgh Fringe Festival. I am very excited to be here, a place that launched Emma Thompson, Phoebe Waller-Bridge, and the guy on Netflix who got stalked. I think a great festival has top tier talent, walkability, and cheap accommodation. Edinburgh Fringe has 2 out of 3! Pretty good!

I’ve changed my name so Harry doesn’t realize I’m here. There are only so many times where you can be lectured about the differences between hippogriffs and griffins before even butter beer can’t give you the will to live.

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

My 2 cats have learned to come when I call their names. It’s adorable. I don’t know if this is a life lesson, or just a really charming thing that happens now.

Tell us about your show.

Working in Hollywood for over a decade has given me a wealth of ridiculous stories. I’ve always been fascinated with the idea of “making it”, or what is success in a subjective business? I thought I would bring this ridiculousness to Edinburgh so a bunch of foreigners (anyone not Californian) can tell me if I’m the crazy one.

I wrote the show and Ines Worth is producing it. I was connected to Ines through another Edinburgh Fringe performer. She has a record of excellent shows and her support has been invaluable in the process.

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

For me, the best show TO EVER COME TO THE EDINBURGH FRINGE–or any fringe festival in the Western Hemisphere (excluding Toronto)–is How to Mate: The Ted XXX Talk. Please, do yourself a favor and check out the show, it is truly excellent! My friend Lucy is producing it, and she is the coolest person alive!

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EdFringe Talk: Always Aphrodite

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“When I got the email that said, “Welcome to Edinburgh Fringe Festival,” I couldn’t sleep. I knew my life was about to change in some way forever.”

WHO: Lauren Maxwell

WHAT: “That’s enough! Goddess Aphrodite is soooo done with love. So, where does that leave the rest of us? With her own tales of lust, loss and spectacular incompetence, Aphrodite invites you to explore the very real, and completely unquestionable, existence of love. It’s time to rethink the stories we’re told.”

WHERE: PBH’s Free Fringe @ Whistlebinkies – Arch Room (Venue 158) 

WHEN: 16:15 (55 min)

MORE: Click Here!

Is this your first time to Edinburgh?

“Edinburgh Fringe Festival…” The name echoed in my ears when I was a Friday Afternoon 30-minute Talk Show Host at an NPR affiliate radio station in Orlando. I was only 19.

It was the first I ever heard of it, and the Orlando Fringe Festival was its offshoot. I was promoting both Fringes, and as I was telling people to come celebrate arts and culture, a secret seed planted itself in my soul. I wanted to debut a work of art at Edinburgh Fringe Festival one day. I didn’t know how I’d get there or with what, but I wanted it bad, and that passion scared me.

I spent the next 15 years denying that seed only for it to blossom at age 35.

When I got the email that said, “Welcome to Edinburgh Fringe Festival,” I couldn’t sleep. I knew my life was about to change in some way forever. It’s been the most exciting and terrifying journey I could ever embark on. I don’t know how it’s going to go and whether this will be my lucky break, or just the beginning of a whirlwind journey? The latter being most likely, but I have no idea what to expect. That’s the risk I’m taking as an artist, and I’m ready to jump in and find out.

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

In 2023, my whole life changed. I had worked in corporate for 15 years and the company I worked for was liquidated. I lost my job – my security. At the same time, my marriage fell apart and I divorced my husband. Consequently, I was homeless, living (gratefully) from couch to couch for two months.

It was in my darkest time that I had this conversation (more or less) with myself:
“If there’s no such thing as certainty, why not pursue what I’ve always wanted? What do I have to lose?”

This moment continues to be my guiding light, and it offers me lessons as I navigate the uncertainty of being a writer/performer/producer. During these moments, I remind myself that certainty is a construct, and it helps me to let go in order to create and produce.

However, my brain is neurodiverse, and my depression and anxiety often get the best of me. It makes it difficult for me to see this light, therefore, this lesson on the path to self-trust (and a bit of faith) often comes with two steps backward and one step forward, but I’m navigating.

Tell us about your show.

That’s enough! The Goddess of Love, Aphrodite, is done with love. Where does that leave the rest of us?

The story, Always Aphrodite, was inspired by my recent divorce and a rollercoaster of a 20-year dating history. I interweave my own overly-romanticized version of love through personal stories mixed with Aphrodite’s own tales of tragedy and struggles. The story encourages us to rethink the romantic fairytales we’re told.

Always Aphrodite will be premiering at Edinburgh Fringe Festival. This is my first Fringe festival ever. I’ve created this story, produced it and am performing in it. I’ve co-written and co-directed it with Phillip Melchers. We’re both storytellers in Amsterdam and tour around the country telling both personal and mythological stories.

We met at the Netherlands Film Festival where we premiered a storytelling performance at the festival. We’ve been inspired to smash traditional narratives ever since and help people embrace their truer selves.

After Edfringe, we’ll be producing it in Amsterdam and let’s see what happens after!

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

I would love it if audiences saw Little Tiny Wet Show (Baptism) by Lara Ricote. She’s a fellow storyteller from Amsterdam and a brilliant woman who explores relationships and what makes them successful. Additionally, Serious Theatre from Serious People by Charlotte Anne Tilley and team, a comedy led by women and for women. And lastly, I would recommend Horses by Elf Lyons. She’s unapologetically herself and her show blends absurdism with what really makes her tick. She’s paving the way for other women to be unconventional and free of expectations.

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EdFringe Talk: Gabey Lucas: A Berkshire Boar Walks Into a Bar (and Gets Shot in the Face)

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“I think in North America, due to multiple factors – among them a different comedy infrastructure and different comedy historical “origins” and culture – we tend to box ourselves in to certain forms more rigidly.”

WHO: Gabey Lucas

WHAT: “‘Witty yet strangely informative’ Gabey Lucas (Rip City Comedy Festival, Martin Foundation Full Artist 2020 finalist) wants to talk to you about hard-hitting subjects like unicorn propaganda, snake abs, and kidnapping Abe Lincoln – who could totally beat the crap out of Alexander The Great, by the way. Unfortunately, to do so she first has to stop getting sidetracked by the silliest pig-based almost-war in human history. She’s not great at that. ‘A f*cking great writer’ (Patrick Borelli, The Tonight Show).”

WHERE: Gilded Balloon Patter House – The Penny (Venue 24) 

WHEN: 14:20 (60 min)

MORE: Click Here!

Is this your first time to Edinburgh?

I was there for a hot minute last Fringe just to sus it out, but this is my first Edinburgh show, yeah. It’s so unlike anything else – the atmosphere reminded me of being at the Olympics back in 2010, I’ve just never been anywhere else where everyone is seemingly all there to celebrate the same thing.

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

Just as a punter last year (minus the panel show or two I hopped on), I think my main takeaway or reminder was how limitless human creativity in comedy can be. I think in North America, due to multiple factors – among them a different comedy infrastructure and different comedy historical “origins” and culture – we tend to box ourselves in to certain forms more rigidly. Stand-up there doesn’t tend to overlap with sketch, improv, clowning, hell even puppetry all at once in the same way these overlap here. The media of live comedy can be so much more fluid than we tend to consider in North America, and Edinburgh was such a reinvigorating reminder of that.

Tell us about your show.

Berkshire Boar is a stand-up show that is definitely, DEFINITELY not about the stupidest pig-based near-war of all time. It is simply a joke show with jokes. About things like unicorns being a propaganda conspiracy, giving the Mona Lisa a gun, my favorite Bible verse, and a lot of accidentally exploring our species’ oddest quirks.

I didn’t actually realize how unified my material was there until putting it all together. Previously, if you’d asked me to describe my comedy, I didn’t have a good answer because I felt it was just dumb smart comedy or smart dumb comedy. Then I realized that’s because I accidentally talk about humans and human-adjacent shenanigans a lot, and we’re the stupidest smart thing or smartest stupid thing out there. Except for snakes. You will also learn about why big snakes can suck it.

But again, crucially, you will definitely not learn, in in-depth detail, about the UK and US and Canada’s most ridiculous episode and all the farm animals and national grudges and logistics involved. (Hint: The Welsh and Irish were… petty. Which rules.)

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

Timmy Booth’s Manhole, as well as Andrew Frank’s two shows: Pastor! and Monkey Sermon are both so great. The two of them are so creative and funny, plus lovely people, I’m so so excited for people to discover them. Also, Ashley Gutermuth! We did shows together all the time until she had to move to the East Coast, and I just found out this week she’s doing Edinburgh too!

Otherwise, looking forward to some of the people I met the first time I did stand-up in the UK back in 2019: Alex Kitson, Louise Leigh, Helen Bauer (whose profile has deservedly skyrocketed since we met – she’s stupidly funny), and some of those I saw last year. That includes Burt Williamson and Alfie Packham, who both crushed when I saw them in well-lit rooms in the middle of the afternoon, which any comedian can tell you is almost impossible.

Lastly, of the higher profile acts, there’s a lot of New Zealanders I’m stoked as crap for. Guy Montgomery, Rose Matafeo, the Williamses (how do you pluralize “Williams”?), Alice Snedden, Two Hearts, Ray O’Leary… I feel like that country just produces a disproportionate amount of weirdly funny people. I love it.

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EdFringe Talk: Vlad Ilich: Vladislav, Baby Don’t Hurt Me

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“For an aspiring professional, the Fringe is also a challenging experience. It’s not necessarily always easy, and it pushes you out of your comfort zone. The more you put in when you’re up there, the more returns and momentum you generate for the rest of the year.”

WHO: Vlad Ilich

WHAT: “In the summer of ’99, six-year-old Vlad played a game of chess that changed his life forever. In Vladislav, Baby Don’t Hurt Me, the multi award-winning stand-up explores his obsession with the game and how it lead him to leave North Macedonia for the bright lights of the UK comedy scene, via Maltese celebrities, performing for the prince of Oman and a desire to rebuild the Ottoman empire.”

WHERE: Pleasance Courtyard – Attic (Venue 33) 

WHEN: 20:30 (60 min)

MORE: Click Here!

Is this your first time to Edinburgh?

This is my first time bringing an hour long show at the Fringe. I’ve visited a couple of times before performing short sets. The Fringe is great for many reasons: Reaching new creative heights, expanding your network and even finding love! (I met my girlfriend there).

For an aspiring professional, the Fringe is also a challenging experience. It’s not necessarily always easy, and it pushes you out of your comfort zone. The more you put in when you’re up there, the more returns and momentum you generate for the rest of the year.

It puts things into perspective and zooms in on that “Make it or break it” moment but in a subtle way. Not that the Fringe will ever be a decider whether you have a career in comedy or not, but it certainly makes you question your life choices after a show with only two people in.

For me, personally, what I always wanted to get out of the Fringe is to find my angle in comedy, and then improve on ways in which I can market that to the Fringe audience. It’s not an overnight thing, it’s a step-by-step process that takes years.

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

Plenty. I was very lucky to be selected for the Pleasance Comedy Reserve last year, I put a lot of work in my set, and it paid off. I watched a lot of debuts and spoke to performers about the dynamics of their show, and the changes one performer must undertake in taking a show from fifteen, to thirty and then sixty minutes. I learned a lot about many aspects of storytelling including how to be disciplined, how to tell a story with conviction, how to deliver a joke the right way and many others. I’d write more, but I’m still absorbing the discipline lesson.

Tell us about your show.

This show is about my journey in learning about the beautiful game of chess and how a game I played as a child with my dad made us closer as a family.

I’ve written and produced the show myself and have had the wonderful pleasure of collaborating with Dom Stephens who’s been in charge of directing. We have a great working chemistry and a different set of skills that match up well together.

I am in talks with a production company to get the show filmed as a stand-up special after the Fringe and we are exploring alleyways with the director to adapt the show on the West End later this year.

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

I’m glad you asked. Go and see Joshua Bethania’s “Coming Home” at the Gilded Balloon. Not only is he a good friend and very funny off-stage too, but he’s also won a good number of awards and for good reason. He’s naturally funny.

“Abby Wambaugh’s: The first 3 minutes of 17 shows” is another show I’d highly recommend. Abby is such a goofy, charismatic performer that you can’t help but fall in love with her warmth and kindness. Her appearance alone is funny.

I’m really excited to see a couple of up and coming shows on the Free Fringe too, one that stands out is “2 Muslim 2 Furious: Mecca Drift” at Dragonfly, a split hour by Hasan al Habib and Aisha Amanduri. Such a refreshing duo, and one that will win awards in the future.

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EdFringe Talk: Do This One Thing for Me

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“The sheer scale of the festival, the diversity of genres, the mix of people from all over the world, the enchanted setting–it’s a recipe for something special.”

WHO: Jane Elias

WHAT: “What does it mean to remember the Holocaust in 2024? How do you bear the legacy of trauma while forging ahead in the 21st century? Jane Elias grapples with these questions through an acute portrait of her relationship with her father, a Greek Holocaust survivor. Realizing she may not be able to grant his wish to one day dance together at her wedding, she instead honors him by taking part in the March of the Living in Poland. A transcendental pas de deux between two generations and a daughter’s love letter to her dad.”

WHERE: Bedlam Theatre – Bedlam Theatre (Venue 49) 

WHEN: 15:30 (70 min)

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Is this your first time to Edinburgh?

This is my first time participating in the Edinburgh Fringe! My first visit to Edinburgh was way back in college when I was doing a study abroad program in London and took a weekend trip to Edinburgh (in winter). But it wasn’t until last summer that I returned to the city to finally experience the festival. Some friends and fellow artists from New York were doing shows that I had wanted to see, so I had an “excuse” (not that I needed one!) to take a quick trip over and catch the last four days of the festival. I had such a great time–saw a wide variety of shows, enjoyed the beauty of Edinburgh, and basked in all the positive creative energy. The sheer scale of the festival, the diversity of genres, the mix of people from all over the world, the enchanted setting–it’s a recipe for something special. I can’t yet speak to the experience of the festival as a producer and performer except from the perspective of planning, of which there is a lot! I’m looking forward both to performing and taking in as many shows as possible this year.

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

Oof. One big thing I’ve learned on a more cellular level is the value of delegating. There are many things one can do oneself, but the fact of being able to do something doesn’t mandate that you do it. It’s much better to focus your energies on the things ONLY you can do, and to collaborate with others with whom you can divvy up some responsibilities. This is true both specifically in preparing for the Fringe, and more generally in art and life!

Tell us about your show.

My show is called DO THIS ONE THING FOR ME and is an autobiographical solo piece that I wrote and perform; it’s being produced by me and A/Park Productions. The play spotlights my relationship with my father, who was a Holocaust survivor who was born and raised in Greece. I’m exploring the ways in which our individual narratives and experiences inform each other, and asking what it means to inherit this particular legacy: What are the responsibilities of the next generations going forward? How do we live our lives staying true to ourselves while at the same time honoring our parents? You know, all the easy stuff! The play has had a life in New York in several incarnations over the last ten years: it premiered in the 2013 EstroGenius Festival, then had runs at the Access Theater and TBG Theatre in 2014 and 2015, respectively, both in NYC. The last production was in 2018 in the New York Fringe. I’m excited to be bringing it back and to share it with new audiences in Edinburgh this summer! Beyond Edinburgh is TBD. Stay tuned!

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

My ever-growing list of shows to see includes: N.Ormes (saw it last year and was blown away–look forward to seeing it again!); Yoga with Jillian (I know the playwright and her other work, and this one comes highly recommended!); A Transcriber’s Tale, Ni Mi Madre, Whore’s Eye View, Lost…Found, Unseen, Leni’s Last Lament (all fellow solo performers); Batsu! (didn’t see it last year, but I hear great things); Bill’s 44th (I met the performers last year when I was visiting but hadn’t had the chance to see their puppet show, and now they’re back!); 13th Morning (because I want to know what happens the morning after Sebastian and Olivia get hitched); Bloody Ballad of Bette Davis (what if Bette Davis were a witch? I’m in); Every Brilliant Thing (I’ve hear so much about this play and have yet to see a production if it, now’s my chance!); 3 Chickens Confront Existence (existential crises in the factory farm–who hasn’t been there?)

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EdFringe Talk: Pippin

Posted in *Written Interviews, EdFestivals 2024 by

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“The huge challenge of Edfringe is probably a big part of what makes it such an amazing and satisfying experience overall.”

WHO: Kyri Antholis

WHAT: “In the dimly lit corners of the stage, shadows whisper tales of a young prince: Pippin. Guided by the mysterious Leading Player, watch as Pippin struggles through a labyrinth of desires, constantly grappling with the call of power, love’s seduction and the allure of self-discovery. But lurking beneath the surface lies a cryptic truth waiting to be unveiled, beckoning Pippin to unravel the mysteries of his own existence. This hilarious yet poignant musical, with lyrics by Stephen Schwartz and book by Roger O. Hirson, is sure to leave audiences spellbound in a realm of mystery and wonder.”

WHERE: Paradise in Augustines – The Sanctuary (Venue 117) 

WHEN: 14:55 (60 min)

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Is this your first time to Edinburgh?

Edinburgh University Footlights has done five shows at the Fringe Festival in the past seven years. As an Edinburgh-based, self-funded, and student-run company, we believe the Fringe Festival is an amazing opportunity for upcoming artists to explore innovative forms of art. In that sense, it is also a time where we can push the boundaries of what we do as a company while also providing our members with an insight into working in the industry, making contacts and being immersed in new theatre.

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

As a company, we want to take the good reputation we have built up over the last few years and all the experience we have at Fringe to really push the boundaries with what we can do as a company. We are leaning much more into the individual talents of our cast, and we chose a show like Pippin that can be taken in so many interesting directions by so many different characters for this reason. We want to make the show our own by bringing our own style and personality to what is already a fantastic musical.

Tell us about your show.

This year, Edinburgh University Footlights are bringing Pippin to the Fringe, produced by Kyri Antholis and Tom Beazley, and directed by Amy Stinton. This iconic musical has music and lyrics by Stephen Schwartz (Wicked) and book by Roger O. Hirson (Walking Happy).

Edinburgh University Footlights was founded in 1989 as a student-run musical theatre group. The society has been dubbed as “one of the most respected theatre groups in Britain” by the Edinburgh Evening News.

Pippin premiered in 1972 and won the Tony Award for ‘Best Revival of a Musical’ for its 2013 return to Broadway. However, this is the first time Footlights will be performing ‘Pippin’ and we cannot wait!

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

Our sister society, the Edinburgh University Savoy Opera Group is putting on the 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee, so we would definitely recommend seeing that – they always produce shows to a high standard and it promises to be a lot of fun!

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EdFringe Talk: REVENGE: After the Levoyah

Posted in *Written Interviews, EdFestivals 2024 by

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“For me what is so exciting and fun about the fringe is sitting in the Summerhall courtyard and chatting to people. I have made many close friends in that place!”

WHO: Nick Cassenbaum

WHAT: “Nick Cassenbaum’s two-hander comedy heist, directed by Emma Jude Harris, romps through 2018 Jewish Essex. Through madcap comedy and biting satire, this explosive tale blows the roof off what it means to be Jewish in the UK. Twins Dan and Lauren meet ex-gangster Malcolm Spivak at their grandfather’s funeral. Malcolm, who’s ‘had enough’, enlists the siblings in a ragtag Yiddishe plot to kidnap then-Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn. REVENGE: After the Levoyah examines antisemitism in the diaspora, the dangers of collective hysteria, and how far one nonagenarian can throw a jar of chraine from a moving vehicle.”

WHERE: Summerhall – Anatomy Lecture Theatre (Venue 26) 

WHEN: 15:00 (60 min)

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Is this your first time to Edinburgh?

This is by no means my first rodeo! When I was at uni I came up as a technician for pleasance. Then after I graduated I bought an outdoor show to the royal mile. I was a chef claiming to eat a cucumber whole…I still recall the disgust on audiences faces.

I then bought my first solo show Bubble Schmeisis in 2015 which was about going to the Jewish steam baths in East London. So I have been a few times! For me what is so exciting and fun about the fringe is sitting in the Summerhall courtyard and chatting to people. I have made many close friends in that place!

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

What have I leaned from 2023…Jesus. The world is on fire? Everything is awful? We are sleep walking into a far right global North and no one seems to be doing anything about it?

Tell us about your show.

So REVENGE: After the Levoyah, is a two hander comedy heist. It is about twins whose grandfather passes away and at his funeral they meet ex-gangster Malcolm Spivak. He enlists them to help kidnap the then Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn. This show is really funny with loads of multi rolling and looks to ask the question, ‘what happens when a marginalised community is pushed to breaking point?’

Written by me, Nick Cassenbaum, directed and dramaturged by Emma Jude Harris, produced by Becky Plotnek. The fantastic cast are Gemma Barnett and Dylan Corbett- Bader. We ae previewing at Soho theatre and the hope is to tour it after the Fringe.

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

Josh Glanc he’s hilarious. He was the vilian in the Jewish panto I wrote. Sh!t Theatre, my old pals. can you really go to the fringe without seeing them? I don’t think so. Their show this year looks very special. Louise Orwin, she makes such interesting work and to see her in the main space at Summerhall! Not to be missed. And of course my old friend and colleague Olly Hawes has his show at the pleasance ‘F**king Legend’. Olly’s work is not for the feint hearted and this show promises to include all the charm and all the horror of his other works. Olly is one of the engaging performers around. Ask him, he’ll tell you. I have worked with him for many years and will still go and see this show. That tells you something! But yeh defo recommend.

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