Author Archives: Dan Lentell

EdFringe Talk: Three Bed (No Living Room)

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“I’ve experienced the Edinburgh Fringe as a performer, punter and worked Front of House, and I can’t wait to finally bring my own work to this vibrant, one of a kind festival.”

WHO: Ruby Leslie

WHAT: “How do you learn everything about being queer as quickly as possible? Beth has some catching up to do. Luckily, her two best friends have her back. A new, funny and truthful play set in a student flat in Edinburgh about navigating the queer dating scene in the 2020s, in your twenties.”

WHERE: theSpace on the Mile – Space 1 (Venue 39) 

WHEN: 14:15 (50 min)

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Is this your first time to Edinburgh?

This is Laldie Theatre’s first time to the Edinburgh Fringe, but it’s certainly not mine! I was born and raised in Edinburgh, and found my love of theatre at the Edinburgh Fringe. I spent my teenage years performing in as many plays and musicals as I physically could, and dabbled in writing for stage for the first time. Since I moved away from Edinburgh to go to drama school, it has always been my aim to bring my work back home. I’ve experienced the Edinburgh Fringe as a performer, punter and worked Front of House, and I can’t wait to finally bring my own work to this vibrant, one of a kind festival.

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

Last year’s Edinburgh Fringe taught me so much about queer theatre. I felt privileged to see so much fantastic new work, and while I saw hilariously funny and uplifting moments, there was also a lot of necessary, but hard to watch content around coming out and homophobia. These pieces absolutely need to exist, but I wanted to create something that celebrated how joyous being queer really can be.

Tell us about your show.

‘Three Bed (No Living Room)’ is a funny and truthful new play set in a student flat in Edinburgh, celebrating queer love and community. A talented and exciting collection of freshly graduated talent takes us through a whirlwind weekend in the lives of Beth, Cynthia, and Ezra, from a Pride night out gone wrong, to finding romance closer to home than expected… With a light hearted tone and realistic conversations, this show is a must see for queer and young people alike, promising a heart warming representation of queer love and community.

Laldie Theatre is brand new company committed to giein’ it laldie, or giving it their all! Made up of and founded by 2024 graduates from East 15 Acting School, ‘Three Bed (No Living Room)’ made its debut at a new work festival within East 15 to an overwhelmingly positive reception. After Edinburgh Fringe, we would love to take this show to queer venues and festivals all over the UK!

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

I’ve got to plug Tellus Theatre, another company from my graduating year at East 15. They’re bringing a show called ‘Night Train’, a philosophical comedy with physical theatre and a brilliant ensemble. I’ve been lucky enough to see some snippets of how ‘Night Train’ is developing, and it’s not to be missed!

PIAP Theatre’s show ‘Off The Bench’, a play about women in football, also features some East 15 grads and looks like a fantastic piece of feminist theatre.

As for other shows, I cannot recommend Reuben Kaye and Yuck Circus enough, they were my highlights last year!

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EdFringe Talk: Aquapella

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“It is really about creating a family bond between all of our members and working together to perform and showcase this thing we all love to do.”

WHO: Holly Perrin

WHAT: “‘Forget Pitch Perfect, Aquapella are the real deal!’ (TheWeeReview.com). Bath’s premier award-winning a cappella group are back for their eighth year at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe! Subsequent to their success performing on Broadway last year, the group seeks to showcase the power of the human voice through an array of unique arrangements. From indie and pop bangers to contemporary ballads, their latest set delivers a diverse and eclectic selection of music genres that ensures there’s something for everyone. With a passion for performing, Aquapella invite you to experience vocal music like never before.”

WHERE: Gilded Balloon Patter House – Doonstairs (Venue 24) 

WHEN: 13:00 (60 min)

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Is this your first time to Edinburgh?

No, this is not our first time to Edinburgh. This is actually Aquapella’s 8th time performing at the Fringe Festival. It is such a special festival, full of so much talent, so much variety, and so much appreciation for all kinds of art forms. It’s such a creative space, and we absolutely love performing here each year.

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

Since 2023, our group has a new committee and 8 new members. We have really learned how important it is for everyone in the group to have the same aims and things we would like to achieve. It is really about creating a family bond between all of our members and working together to perform and showcase this thing we all love to do.

Tell us about your show.

Our show is an a cappella show. We are a multi-award winning a cappella group from Bath, who recently performed in New York as one of the top ten collegiate a cappella groups worldwide in the ICCAs (International champtionship of collegiate a cappella) for the 3rd time. The group has been around for 12 years, founded originally in 2012 by two students of the University of Bath. We perform all around the country at gigs and competitions, this year even travelling to Italy to perform at Solevocci Voice Festival. We perform an eclectic mix of songs, from pop bangers to emotional, heart-warming songs. With choreo, vibes, and good music, we hope to put on a show that everyone can enjoy.

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

After they have seen our show, a lot of our friends perform in other a cappella groups that are also amazing! The bristol suspensions and the northern lights are also incredible a cappella groups we are proud to support!

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EdFringe Talk: ShakeItUp: The Improvised Shakespeare Show

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“Edinburgh really is the best melting pot of creativity in the world! As a punter, Edinburgh is the live performance equivalent of Netflix: so much choice that it can feel impossible to know where to start!”

WHO: James Alston

WHAT: “Shakespeare hasn’t written anything new for an age, so we thought we would give him a hand… Using your audience suggestions and our overactive imaginations, we create a brand-new Shakespeare play live on stage, complete with live music, songs and plenty of laughs. Join ShakeItUp for bard-based bedlam! ‘Quick witted, inexhaustible and absolutely hysterical’ ***** (LondonTheatreReviews.co.uk). ‘Brilliantly bonkers… one of the best improvised shows at the Fringe’ ***** (WestEndBestFriend.co.uk).”

WHERE: Gilded Balloon Patter House – Dram (Venue 24) 

WHEN: 13:00 (60 min)

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Is this your first time to Edinburgh?

No! As ShakeItUp, we made our Fringe debut last year in 2023! As it was our first time last year we really didn’t know how it was going to go (we’d all heard tales of performances to nearly empty audiences and long rainy days flyering on the Mile) so went for just two weeks to test it out. While we did have quite a lot of rain (it is Scotland, after all), our show surpassed even my expectations! We gained five star reviews and sold out audiences, so this year we’re coming back for the full month! I’m looking forward to having the opportunity to reach more audiences and also as the show is improvised I am looking forward to seeing the huge variety of new Shakespeare stories we’ll tell on stage. Expect the unexpected!

Edinburgh really is the best melting pot of creativity in the world! As a punter, Edinburgh is the live performance equivalent of Netflix: so much choice that it can feel impossible to know where to start! Really, you just have to throw yourself into it and go from there – you never know where you’ll end up (most likely sat on the floor of the tiny back room of a pub at 1AM while a comedian leads you in a group chant, as happened to me last year!) but that’s all part of the fun.

As a performer, Edinburgh is totemic as a sort of rite of passage for a show – everyone has their Edinburgh experience: some become regulars, while for others one trip to Auld Reekie is enough. But it has an undeniable pull as a place to reach a huge audience and be part of a vast outpouring of creativity, which is hard to come by these days. But let’s be honest: it is daunting, can be exhausting, and comes with a huge financial cost that even performers with big budgets can struggle to bear. However, despite all that, it can be so much fun and there is nowhere else like Edinburgh in August! I have also found a really supportive network of fellow artists at the Fringe – we’re all in this together!

I can’t wait to go back.

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

When you’re part of a theatre company that’s growing and taking on more and more exciting opportunities, that can feel really thrilling – but it can also put a lot more pressure on us all – myself included! I think what I’ve learned is to try and relax into it a bit more, focus on what I really enjoy: going on stage and playing with my friends, in front of a wonderful and witty audience, and making up some brand new Shakespearean epics! I think everyone who is a performer gets into it because they enjoy it more than anything, and sometimes with all the stresses of the industry we can lose sight of that but it’s so important – if you’re not enjoying it then what’s the point? Focus on having fun, giving the audience a damn good show, and the rest will follow.

Tell us about your show.

Writer: William Shakespeare.

No, really! All of our shows are authentic plays dreamt up by the Bard himself…he just never bothered to write them down at the time, so it’s up to us (with a little help from you, the audience) to help him out!

We improvise our plays live on the spot, using the language and themes of Shakespeare. They can be Comedies, Histories, or Tragedies (chosen by you), but no characters or plot are decided beforehand, this is Shakespeare completely off the cuff (or should I say, “ruff”?) The audience can also write their very own Shakespearean “lines” which are given to us just as the show begins, and which we can pull out whenever we like. However, we’ll have no idea what the lines say before we read them and they can often send the plot in all manner of crazy directions! It’s fast, hilarious, and completely unpredictable – true Bard-based Bedlam, just as Bill would have intended!

ShakeItUp was founded by a group of us who all went to drama school in Guildford, where we learned all about performing Shakespeare. We loved doing Shakespeare, but we hated learning lines so decided to make up our own – and thus, ShakeItUp was born. We started out in a tiny room above a pub in Putney; we had to build our own stage every night using pallets, and then break it apart and store it in the beer cellar after we were done! We’ve come a long way since then, and we’ve performed the show across the UK and even abroad to Italy, Poland, and Germany! We’ve performed at some iconic venues, including The Other Palace in London and Cornwall’s world-famous Minack Theatre, as well as the Edinburgh Fringe.

We don’t get much time to rest after Edinburgh as we’re heading straight over to Wales to perform for two nights at Theatr Clwyd; we’ll also be making a return to The Brighton Open Air Theatre in September, and the Georgian Theatre Royal in Richmond (Yorks) in October. We have plenty more in store for 2024 and beyond so watch this space…

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

Improv comes in many flavours, and there is a huge amount of choice at Edinburgh! I would really recommend our good friends PinchPunch and their show “Locomotive For Murder” which is an Agatha Christie-style improvised whodunnit! It’s a great show, and they happen to be performing in the same venue as us (Gilded Balloon Patter House) at 3PM! So you can come and see us at 1, maybe grab a bite to eat in between, and then go and see them at 3PM upstairs! There you go, I’ve just sorted out a few hours of your schedule for you! You can thank me later.

After some more improv? I would HIGHLY recommend seeing Showstopper! The Improvised Musical at the Pleasance. If you’re a musical theatre fan especially, then you will love this show! They’re so quick and funny, and their musical improv abilities are quite spectacular. A must-see in my opinion.

And if you’re a fan of alternative comedy, or just want to see something that’s a bit different, then you must see Absolute Monopoly by Benjamin Alborough at Assembly George Square. It’s ridiculous, hysterically funny, and much more fun than the actual board game of Monopoly!

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EdFringe Talk: No Dragon No Lion

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“Sometimes, it is quite stressful when you don’t have got enough reviews and audience. However, it is very rewarding when you find there are some good reviews as well as there is a long-line of walk-in audience.”

WHO: Andy Lo

WHAT: “Re-creating the classical Lion Dance and Chinese Opera as contemporary performance, this dynamic Kung-Fu dance-circus mixes beat-boxing, martial arts, tricks and parkour. Live beat-boxing replaces traditional Asian percussive music. Experience the historical and present-day cultures of Asia through a vibrant journey of discovery and transformation, highlighting the common bonds of humanity. Made in Hong Kong. Opening act, New York Times Square New Year’s Eve 2023. Winner, Best Show, Asian Arts Awards 2022. ‘No Dragon No Lion isn’t just a spectacle, but an exploration of Hong Kong’s soul, a dance between the past and the present’ (FringeBiscuit.com).”

WHERE: C ARTS | C venues | C aurora – main house (Venue 6) 

WHEN: 13:50 (50 min)

MORE: Click Here!

Is this your first time to Edinburgh?

No. This is already our 4th time to Edinburgh. Edinburgh Fringe is an adventure to us, you will never know what is gonna be happened there. It always has very unexpected outcomes that are very useful for the team and the artists. Sometimes, it is quite stressful when you don’t have got enough reviews and audience. However, it is very rewarding when you find there are some good reviews as well as there is a long-line of walk-in audience.

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

We have learnt that Edinburgh Fringe is the very important place to so-call “test the market” and make you easier to position yourself as an artist and art group. It is because there are a lot of audience from all over the world with different background. The audience sometimes are helping you to further define the position of yourself as well as the show.

Also, we have learnt that there might be a possibility to make a “long-running” show in Edinburgh Festival Fringe, which we are trying to do it.

Tell us about your show.

Choreographer of No Dragon No Lion is Hugh Cho, and he is also the artistic director of TS Crew. TS Crew is a professional performing arts group with members from different backgrounds, including film, drama, xiqu, dance, martial arts and stunting, and motivator of Hong Kong-international dance platform “Hong Kong Soul”, is a three-year grantee of the Hong Kong Arts Development Council. TS Crew is active in the international art scene and various platforms, such as New Year’s Eve Countdown 2023 at Times Square in New York, Busan International Dance Festival, Sziget Festival in Budapest and Edinburgh Festival Fringe. No Dragon No Lion received the Asian Arts Award for Best Show from Asian Art Fund Scotland at Edinburgh Festival Fringe 2022.

This show is first premiere in 2018 and be brought to Edinburgh in 2019, it was known as “Along”. Hugh keep develop the show in 2020 and 2021, it came back to Edinburgh again in 2022, and the show got the Best Show Award at the Asian Arts Award 2022. And then we come back with the same show at 2023, and then this year.

Before staging at Edinburgh, No Dragon No Lion will be presented at the Warrington Arts Festival in July and Tokyo in June.

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

This is Kung-Fu, Contemporary Dance and Circus. The TS Crew unique performance style is achieved by extracting the essence of the traditional form of Chinese performing arts and blending it with martial arts, physical tricks, parkour, capoeira and dance. The live beatboxing is added to replace the traditional percussive music. A journey of discovery and transformation, TS Crew explores the idea of an unique brotherhood, common to all humanity, but rooted in Asian culture.

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EdFringe Talk: Hamstrung

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“I’ve done Edinburgh as a punter and as a reviewer — both brilliant, magical and hilarious experiences.”

WHO: George Rennie

WHAT: “Alas, poor Yorick! Though he’s not dead… Hamlet’s legendary jester is back to dig up the bones of his misspent life in this irreverent resurrection of Shakespeare’s greatest tragedy. Join Yorick as he reconnects with his lost love of performance, embarking on a high-spirited journey to discover what really happened in Elsinore. Hamstrung is a stirring and impactful interactive ghost story about the space between live theatre and the afterlife. To see or not to see? There is no question. ‘Cleverly taps into the timelessness of one of Shakespeare’s most famous works’ **** (FringeBiscuit.co.uk).”

WHERE: Pleasance Courtyard – Baby Grand (Venue 33) 

WHEN: 11:30 (60 min)

MORE: Click Here!

Is this your first time to Edinburgh?

I’ve done Edinburgh as a punter and as a reviewer — both brilliant, magical and hilarious experiences. Last year I reviewed ten shows in three days — it was madness, but I saw some amazing work, including Lucy McCormick and Body Show, both next-level amazing. I’ve wanted to take something up myself for years, and was even booked to come up with a play in 2020, before the pandemic put an end to that. There’s something about the atmosphere and possibility in Edinburgh that can’t really be found anywhere else. The quality of the work is so high and yet there’s something so makeshift and DIY about it that makes it feel very special. People take risks and put their full creative selves on the line. It’s beautiful!

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

I’ve been following David Bowie’s advice of just doing everything that scares me, pushing myself to try new things and share that process with others. I wasn’t going to perform Hamstrung myself at first, but gradually challenged myself to take it out in front of audiences, discovering more with each step and deepening my understanding of this story. Being able to trust in my instincts is the best thing I ever learned as an actor, and this feeds into producing, writing and also just living life. It’s all a process, and you have to start small. Any effort can lead you in the right direction, you’ve just got to keep turning up and having faith that the things that need to happen will. And be nice to people!

Tell us about your show.

I am the writer, performer and producer of this peculiar little show. Initially I just wanted to write it, and got an actor to perform it at a scratch night in March last year — on the King’s coronation, no less! After that, I did script reading at the Cockpit (myself), followed by a full WIP performance at the Old Red Lion in October. My director, the fabulously talented Lisa Millar, has been my closest collaborator, and we’ve been working on the show together for over a year. Along the way, I have had input from many dramaturgs, actors, designers, technicians, friends, colleagues and producers to build the show into a well-oiled machine, and the finished product is the sum of all these interactions. I think the combination of working openly like this, while maintaining a strong sense of ownership and direction, is the only way to go.

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

There is so much that I want to see! A lot of it is at Pleasance but that’s partly because I have just devoured the programme. I like things that are spooky and/or queer, so am looking out for Gay Witch Sex Cult, Beyond Krapp, Ginger Johnson, You’re Needy (sounds frustrating), Dan Wye and A Letter to Lyndon B. Johnson or God. For other comic reworkings of classic theatre, it’s got to be Sh!tfaced Shakespeare and The Importance of Being… Earnest? Garry Starr is pure genius and Yoga With Jillian is such a unique theatrical experience… Am sure there are hundreds of shows that I don’t know about yet that I will absolutely love.

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EdFringe Talk: Sam Lake: Esméralda

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“I can’t tell you how much easier it makes doing the fringe when you can do your show and go back to your own home where all your stuff and husband usually is.”

WHO: Sam Lake

WHAT: “An uplifting new show about coming out as Spanish, grief and the Ice Age movie franchise. Award-winning stand-up Sam Lake uncovers the mystery behind his mother’s powerful last words. ‘Super stand-up. Continually witty and charming’ (The Quinntessential Review). ‘A certified comic star’ (TheWeeReview.co.uk). ‘Roaring with laughter’ (BroadwayBaby.com). ‘This is a clear winner’ (Chortle.co.uk). Winner of Leicester Square Theatre New Comedian of the Year. As seen on All4, Dave and BBC Radio Four.”

WHERE: Monkey Barrel Comedy – Monkey Barrel 2 (Venue 515) 

WHEN: 13:30 (60 min)

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Is this your first time to Edinburgh?

No, it’s my third show at the fringe, and also I live here. I’m such a big deal they just built the world’s biggest arts and comedy festival on my doorstep. Very nice of them. I can’t tell you how much easier it makes doing the fringe when you can do your show and go back to your own home where all your stuff and husband usually is.

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

Well one thing I learned was that if you come up with a vaguely sexy title for your show, it will attract a particular type of audience. My last show was called ‘Aspiring DILF’ and that was largely attend by lovely big gay bears. And they were such a nice audience each show, I would strongly consider having some bears in. If that’s a struggle, put your show on in the woods, they love it there.

Tell us about your show.

‘Esméralda’ is show all about me and my mum. She passed away 14 years ago from breast cancer, and this show is sort of the ultimate tribute to her and everything she’s taught me, even if some of the lessons she taught me I didn’t fully understand until now. It is a stand-up comedy show, so although there’s a serious context, we will have a laugh. Because the thing about me is, I just love a laugh.

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

I always say book one or two shows ahead of time that you like the look of. Then in-between those shows, have a wander in town, grab a couple flyers and just go see something. go see the first thing someone hands you a flyer for. If it’s good, you’ve just discovered a new favourite act. If it’s bad, you now can bond with other audience members over your new found trauma!

I’ll also shout a couple of people I like. Chris Weir is a fellow moustached gay comedian who’s doing his first show this year. Kathleen Hughes is also another local who’s doing their first show, they are brilliant. Long time faves for me are Josie Long, Olga Koch, Chloe Petts & Huge Davies.

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EdFringe Talk: One Sugar, Stirred to the Left

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“The Fringe has the one thing that is crucial to any great festival – energy!”

WHO: Jon Lawrence

WHAT: “A heart-warming, poignant and, at times funny play about palliative nurse and ex-singer/songwriter Bronwyn, who is commissioned by her patient (Henry) to write an album of music based on secret poems he had written for his late wife and son (Justin) – words he couldn’t say in person. A premiere from writer and award-winning composer Jon Lawrence, it is based on his own experience and proves that love and life can exist in the strangest places. With brand-new acoustic music, it will have you laughing, crying and singing. A must see!”

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

WHEN: 14:15 (70 min)

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Is this your first time to Edinburgh?

No, this will be my second time at the Fringe. I brought two one-man shows to the fringe last year – one music show for kids, which was great fun, and one for the mums and dads about my treks through five deserts on five continents to raise money for a cancer charity in memory of my late father. The great thing about The Fringe, apart from the great depth and breadth of artistic expression, is the camaraderie. Everyone seems to show support for everyone else. I think I thought that there would be lot more egos flying around, but that really wasn’t my experience. It was just a place where some creative, crazy and wonderful people came together because they all had something to say or to share with audiences. The Fringe has the one thing that is crucial to any great festival – energy! It comes from both the performers and the audiences. The audiences come with open minds and are almost willing the performers on, while the performers enthuse the audiences with their stories, their music and their originality. It’s a wonderful symbiotic relationship.

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

Last year was a big learning curve for me. I wanted to see how the mechanics of the festival worked. That’s why I brought two small-ish shows to The Fringe. The main thing that I learned was that planning and finance are essential to putting on a show. I learned that one needs to invest in promotion otherwise one could be playing to empty theatres. I also learned that one needs stamina to sustain energy through a run. However, I also learned that Edinburgh is the place for someone like me, someone whose ideas are a little left-field and probably wouldn’t get a sniff in many theatres where revivals seem to be playing at the expense of new work rather than alongside it.

Tell us about your show.

Two Sugars, Stirred to the Left was inspired by the wonderful people who looked after my father during his last days in a hospice (LOROS) in Leicestershire. My father was diagnosed with lung cancer in September 2017., by which time the disease had spread to his spine and hips and he was given weeks to live. The doctor and nurses at the infirmary struggled to manage his pain – particularly at night. It was horrible to watch. However, my sister managed to get my father into the fantastic hospice (LOROS) and what I witnessed there will stay with me forever. The staff did everything they could, and more, for my father. They got his pain under control but they also showed a kindness and compassion which was way above what might be expected. I learned far more about life than I did about death at LOROS.

In the hospice there was a cafe area with an electric piano which I would often play to entertain my Dad or whoever wanted to listen. I thought to myself that if there was a nurse who played piano, they would probably play to entertain patients in their break, such was their kindness. This led me to thinking about the character of Bronwyn.

The play tells the story of Bronwyn, a former singer-songwriter who gave up music to retrain as a palliative nurse, having been inspired by the nurse who looked after her late sister. She befriends a new patient, Henry, who arrives one day with his son Justin. Unbeknownst to his son, Henry has kept a diary of poems, lyrics and stories about his feelings for his late wife Maggie and Justin, which nobody has ever read. A true baby boomer, Henry found it hard to tell his family how he felt about them and so commissions Bronwyn to write a collection of songs which his son can have after he dies. As Justin hears Bronwyn practicing the unknown songs, he starts to fall in love with her – falling love to the songs his father wrote for his mother.

However the play also represents the wider community at the hospice. Amala is a quirky Tibetan tea lady, while Dr Choudry is an Indian oncologist with a heart of gold and a fixation for ‘proper’ Indian tea. Nurse Carole offers tough pragmatic love, while Hamish, a former glaswegian comedian, is in bed next to Henry.

The play is about moments and a reminder that profound life affirming moments can come to us in the strangest places and when we least expect it. I expected the hospice to be all doom and gloom, but I saw that it was a place where life love and music could be found. So the play is, in places, dark, but the overriding feeling is that of love and life affirmation. It also asks the audience to think about our own attitudes to death, and how by seeing how other cultures address the matter, we can take away some of the fear.

This is the first production for our newly formed production company Karekare Productions. We are premiering the play at I, along with my dear friend and sounding board, Lance Mortimer are producing the show, and it has been a real learning curve. Lance’s background is in business psychology while my background is as musician and second-rate teacher! We were both out of our comfort zones but it has, on the whole, been a really rewarding experience. We are looking to take it on tour after the Fringe.

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

I would say, check out Wallis at the Space. There are some fantastic actors in that show, not least Rhys Anderson – one to look out for. I would also recommend checking out some of the fantastic musicians that busk each day on the Royal Mile. I am quite new to The Fringe so I am still finding out about many of the great acts.

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EdFringe Talk: Villains: A Dizney in Drag Parody

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“When we came over last year, we felt like we were in a Hogwarts-inspired fairytale. We’d all just quit our jobs to take the show on the road and we were filled with fear, excitement, anticipation, and gratitude.”

WHO: Jae West

WHAT: “Mirror, mirror, on the wall, who is the evilest of them all? Well come find out for yourself in The Hairy Godmothers’ new sinful sequel. What could be more devilishly delicious and tantalisingly twisted than a vivacious vaudeville of villains in drag? Come peer into this cave of wonders and find a treasure trove of misunderstood “outcasts” of society and the evils that shape the world. Featuring the hottest and darkest miscreants, scoundrels, reprobates this side of the elephant graveyard. ‘A hysterical, well-written show’ ***** (StageWhispers.com.au).”

WHERE: Assembly George Square – Gordon Aikman Theatre (Venue 8) 

WHEN: 22:35 (60 min)

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Is this your first time to Edinburgh?

No, this is the second time our group has come to Edinburgh, we’ve learned a lot since the first year! When we came over last year, we felt like we were in a Hogwarts-inspired fairytale. We’d all just quit our jobs to take the show on the road and we were filled with fear, excitement, anticipation, and gratitude. Some of the performers came from non-traditional performance backgrounds e.g. lawyers, engineers, and venue managers, so taking a leap of faith out of the 9 am-5 pm working day felt huge. We’ve been slowly finding our groove over the last 1.5 years, so we’re excited to come back to Edinburgh with a little more knowledge of how it all works. There’s still a lot to learn, especially around getting your name out there, so one step at a time! Edinburgh Fringe is a melting pot of creatives, producers, directors, tech wiz’s and so much more, so getting out there and meeting new people is what is most exciting. You never know who you’re going to meet, it’s a fun mystery.

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

JOMO, the joy of missing out!! Edinburgh is a playground of opportunities, as most of the Fringe circuit is. Learning to cultivate the ability to say no, allows a deeper ability to find your yes. It’s all about balance. Trust when the body is tired, listen to it, and get some rest so you can show up wholeheartedly the next day. There were many nights out where I’d just be staring blankly out into the ether because I was tired! However, the nights that you feel vibrant, excited, and ‘on’, they are the nights where fun synchronicities and fun opportunities arise. Follow the magic!

Tell us about your show.

We’re a group of Australian friends who got together 5 years ago to write a fun fringe show. We had no idea at that point that it was going to take us around the world. The concept for Dizney in Drag: Once Upon a Parody came together after reflecting on the influence of fairytales and childhood movies on our belief systems and ideals. The theme that kept coming up strongly was the narrative of a hero trying to find their ‘one true love’. We wanted to play with that idea and see what was possible when we deconstructed the predictable endings to stories. I won’t spoil the messaging of the show, you’ll have to come see it for yourself, but let’s just say it’s not a predictable ending.

We’re bringing our brand-new show VILLAINS: A Dizney in Drag Parody as well! This show explores the devilish delights of evil characters and how they can be misunderstood. You follow a main Villain on their quest to be the evilest villain of them all. They learn interesting and insightful things along the way which has them reflect on power, purpose, and passion in a whole new light. Of course, The Hairy Godmother is always there to guide them along and have a beer!

We (The Hairy Godmothers) all self-produce our shows. It’s a big job but we’ve learned a lot through the process. The acting side of things is the smallest portion of what we do now, there’s a lot of work behind the scenes. Thankfully we all get along with each other and support one another in learning new skills or consolidating old ones. We’re a well-oiled machine now!

Being away from home from Brighton Fringe (May) to the end of Edinburgh Fringe (end of August) gets us a little homesick. So, it’s back to Australia for us after the season, maybe with a cheeky little retreat and relaxation time in Europe on the way back.

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

Garry Starr: Classic Penguins – not only is he a fellow Aussie but he’s extremely talented and funny. We were able to help out with a part of the show in Brighton and loved it! We’ve seen a number of his shows and can’t get enough. If you want a guaranteed laugh with clever writing, see the show!

MESSY FRIENDS – another Perth drag group with so much passion, heart and colour. They are top notch drag, the dancing is incredible and the drive and purpose behind the show really does shine through. They recently won best cabaret at Adelaide Fringe, and it was very well deserved. If you want to see an impeccable show with feelings and fabulous outfits, this is the show for you.

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EdFringe Talk: Ketch Sketch

Posted in *Written Interviews, EdFestivals 2024 by

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“I had no idea that I would return to Edinburgh again and again.”

WHO: Ketch

WHAT: “Japan’s best silent comedian is back! And you’re invited to his pet Max’s birthday party… After 15 years at the Fringe with the award-winning duo Gamarjobat, Ketch returns with his explosive new solo comedy show. He needs your help to throw the best birthday party ever, jam-packed full of juggling, clowning, music, magic and mime. Don’t miss this heartwarming and hilarious hour of slick, silent and silly slapstick for all ages.”

WHERE: Gilded Balloon Patter House – Doonstairs (Venue 24) 

WHEN: 16:00 (60 min)

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Is this your first time to Edinburgh?

Yes, this is my first time bringing a full solo show, but I’ve been coming to Edinburgh for many years, both as part of Gamarjobat(Japanese silent comedy duo) and privately.

Summer In 1992, while I was a student in London, I first visited Edinburgh. I travelled around England, Ireland, Wales and Scotland on my Honda 70cc motorbike. It was freezing the whole time. At that time, I had no idea that I would return to Edinburgh again and again.

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

When I was younger I never liked teaching, I preferred to do shows when I had the time to teach. I now realize that I enjoy teaching more than I did before. Especially after giving a 30-hour physical comedy workshop in Italy in May, I thought, “I want to do it again! Someone organize one for me!” Because up until then, I had only done 7-hour workshops and the results were limited.

Tell us about your show.

I created this show in Fukuoka, Japan during the COVID-19 period in 2021. Since then, Ketch Sketch has toured nine cities in Japan, with five more due to be shown in October.

At the beginning, there were a lot of “COVID-19 gags” that worked, but now they’ve mostly disappeared.

A Japanese entertainment company IMPRESARIO is presenting my show. I met the boss of IMPRESARIO, when he was 20 years old. Now he has his own company and is doing well.

I met my co-producer in Melbourne, Australia in 2020. She was my Airbnb host, but she was also a physical theatre producer!! What a coincidence!

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

Trygve Wakenshaw. My co-producer introduces us online. I’ve only seen his show on video, but it was amazing! I’ll definitely watch his show. (I just texted him and found out that he doesn’t do twitter.)

Sometimes I dream of doing a show like his. No words, no props, no costume changes, no skill showing-off, just me, my body and the audience’s imagination. But then I think oh no! I can’t do it. It’s too scary for me! And I can’t help showing off my skills!

Paul Currie. I’ve seen his last year’s show and street show. They are both silly and funny! Especially last year’s show was non-verbal, so I understood everything. I do both theatre and street show just like him. They are two very different things but he does both really well.

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EdFringe Talk: Naomi Grossman: American Whore Story

Posted in *Written Interviews, EdFestivals 2024 by

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“They say “you can never go home again,” but I refuse to believe that’s true, and am anxious to prove that axiom wrong.”

WHO: Naomi Grossman

WHAT: “Emmy-nominated actress, Naomi Grossman made a name for herself as Pepper on American Horror Story, the fan-favourite and first crossover character. This side-splitting one-woman show shares her darkly fabulous and profoundly revealing behind-the-scenes experiences leading up to AHS and its afterglow. Winner of the BroadwayWorld Award for Best Solo Production, this love letter to AHS fans chronicles Naomi’s history of hustling, from her odd jobs to her even odder love life. Off-Broadway critics tout, ‘This is a one-of-a-kind performance from a one-of-a-kind person. If HBO isn’t calling, they should be… not to be missed’ (EljNYC.com).”

WHERE: Gilded Balloon Patter House – Coorie (Venue 24) 

WHEN: 21:00 (75 min)

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Is this your first time to Edinburgh?

No, I brought my last show, “Carnival Knowledge” there back in 2010. That experience will forever go down as one of my all-time career highlights. Because, it was just me. I didn’t have big, Hollywood machine with a multi-million dollar payroll behind me. Every laugh, clap, accolade, or rave I could take personal responsiblity for (with thanks to my director, Richard Embardo, supporting me from afar). It was also at a time in my life when I needed that validation. I had yet to experience any significant, commercial success in my career thus far, so surviving those 25 consecutive nights felt not only personally/professionally/artistically validating, but like a real wake-up call and reminder that THIS is what I needed to be doing with my life! I wept when my show closed, and it was time to return home. If that’s an indicator, then I don’t know what is!

Everything’s special about Edfringe! Aside from the personal connection I’ve just described, I found it incredibly inspiring to see what other artists are doing there. I’ve done other fringes, from NYC to Denver, and there’s simply NOTHING in the world like Edfringe. Those other cities all go about their business… whereas Edinburgh triples in size, with theatre happening everywhere from church basements to brothel attics (or so I imagine). So that’s what’s special about it: the whole world coming together in one place to perform, produce, support, and celebrate theatre.

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

I assume you mean since 2010, when I was there last? If so, EVERYTHING. My life has taken a complete turn since I was there last… I’m eager to experience it again through this new lens, knowing what I know now, as an older, wiser, more seasoned producer and performer. They say “you can never go home again,” but I refuse to believe that’s true, and am anxious to prove that axiom wrong.

Tell us about your show.

“American Whore Story” is the third in my trilogy of autobiographical solo shows. A love letter to “American Horror Story” fans, it chronicles my history of hustling– from the odd jobs I’ve held, to my even odder love life. Produced by all-Northwestern University alumni, specifically AWS Entertainment Group (comprised of me, Broadway-bound producer, Kate Atkinson, and veteran documentary filmmaker, Sarah Anthony) in collaboration with Cracked Pepper Productions (Umbrella Pictures’ Robert Jarosinski), AWS first debuted in Los Angeles, then went on to have successful runs Off-Broadway in New York, as well as Boston, Denver, and Taos, New Mexico. The plan after Edfringe is to produce it as a comedy special for streamers. No better way to prep for that than 25 consecutive nights in Edinburgh!

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

Gosh, I don’t know yet! I’m looking forward to arriving at Auld Reekie and finding out! I do know of a dear comedian-friend, Torrance Hill, who’s doing his stand-up, “Cool Beans Comedy,” as well as a friend of a friend here in Los Angeles, Mitch Hara, whose show, “Mutant Olive 2.0” has come highly recommended. But otherwise, I can’t wait to get there, hear the buzz, and just see where my curiosity takes me! Last time, I happened upon a “Naked Brunch,” where everyone– performers, technical crew, waitstaff, ticket-takers, even the audience– was naked. I watched Jennifer Coolidge eat a dozen donuts while talking about her sex-life (turns out we’re eskimo sisters– who knew?!). I saw a solo show by a life drawing model, who encouraged us to draw him as he regaled us with stories in the nude. I watched Bryony Kimmings actually collect audience members’ pubic hair in her one-woman show, “Sex Idiot,” all about chlamydia. So I’m sure there’ll be a whole new array of crazy, new experiences in store!

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