Author Archives: Dan Lentell

EdFringe Talk: Holy Shit Improv

Posted in *Written Interviews, EdFestivals 2024 by

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“What I’m most looking forward to is the vibrant energy of so many creative people in one location. The love for performing and sharing your talents and in some cases life’s work with each other. That and to get a break from the August heat of Los Angeles.”

WHO: Casey Feigh

WHAT: “‘LA’s very best improvisers’ (TheComedyBureau.com) create an hour of comedy so funny you’ll be screaming ‘Holy Shit!’ See why Bobby Moynihan (Saturday Night Live) says ‘Holy Shit Improv is fucking great!’ and Scott Auckerman (Comedy Bang! Bang!) claims they’re ‘the funniest people alive, and they might be even funnier than the dead ones!’. Fast, funny, silly and smart. As consistently hilarious as any written show. You won’t believe it’s improv! Watch past performances at Patreon.com/HolyShitImprov.”

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

WHEN: 21:00 (60 min)

MORE: Click Here!

Is this your first time to Edinburgh?

I came to Edinburgh in March to headline the Edinburgh Improv Festival and fell in love with the city. How easy it was to get around via public transportation, the lack of guns…you know, all the things Americans love when we travel. I kept telling people how much I was enjoying myself and they kept telling me, “you should see it during Fringe.” After enough people told me that, I decided “you know what. I WILL see it during Fringe.” So I applied (very late in the process) and am gearing up for my first Edfringe! What I’m most looking forward to is the vibrant energy of so many creative people in one location. The love for performing and sharing your talents and in some cases life’s work with each other. That and to get a break from the August heat of Los Angeles.

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

I have learned very little since 2023. I’ve been working in therapy to connect with my wants and express them without fear of how they’ll be perceived. Trying to look internally more and follow my happiness rather than focusing externally and giving people what they want. Is that what you were looking for with this question? Probably not, but I’m not gonna worry about that. I said what I wanted to say and that’s all that matters to me. Please send my therapist a copy of this. He would be so proud.

Tell us about your show.

My show is called Holy Shit Improv and in my opinion it’s one of the best comedy shows in the world. Every show is completely improvised, meaning it’s all made up on the spot and no two shows are alike, other than they will both be hilarious. The cast has been performing in Los Angeles as HSI for 3 years in July, but we’ve all been studying, teaching and performing improv for a collective 100+ years. I truly believe I’m performing with some of the best improvisers on the planet. Every show is so fun and challenging and exciting! It’s very addictive. To be that in the moment and to try and make every second be the most fun/funny it can possibly be.

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

This is my first time at Edfringe so most of my recommendations are things I’ve seen in LA. Natalie Palamides is a clown genius and I’ll watch any show she’s doing. I always leave in awe and inspired to push my work farther, to work harder, to be funnier. Her Edfringe show is called WEER. Zach Zucker is another LA comedian who has built an empire with his Stamptown crew across the globe! I will for sure be seeing a Stamptown Comedy Night show and I recommend you all do too. As for improv, I’m fond of the London based group The Free Association. They’re putting on a couple shows at the Festival (St. Doctor’s Hospital and 3 at Assembly Studios) and I may even jump in on one of them, to get to play with new people and try something a little different. I can’t wait! So check them out too.

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EdFringe Talk: I Am Yours Sincerely

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“I am so excited to experience the buzz of the city during Fringe time, there’s nothing quite like it.”

WHO: Ed Saunders-Lee

WHAT: “I Am Yours Sincerely is the true, untold story of John Cox, a member of the Special Operations Executive during the Second World War. This play goes through his life, from university student to soldier to spy. This year marks the 80th anniversary of his first mission parachuting into France. John Cox is also Ed’s step-grandfather and after hearing his story was moved to create this solo show.”

WHERE: theSpaceTriplex – Studio (Venue 38) 

WHEN: 14:55 (60 min)

MORE: Click Here!

Is this your first time to Edinburgh?

This is my first time performing at the Edinburgh Fringe, I have been before with a show but i was part of the creative team and I am so excited to perform at theSpace Triplex Studio. I am ready for the same experiences as before: flyering, early starts and late finishes. I am so excited to experience the buzz of the city during Fringe time, there’s nothing quite like it.

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

I insisted my drama school training earlier this year so I could not make it to the Fringe last year, however I learnt a lot during my time at the Fringe in 2022. The biggest thing I learnt was to bring good shoe insoles! But on a more serious note it is so important to remember just how busy the fringe is and not to see other shows/performers as competitors, but to see them as comrades. We are all trying to sell our shows so it is important to support each other.

Tell us about your show.

I have taken on a large undertaking, I have written produced and am performing in this one man show. (It’s been a bust few months!).

I have a small team made up of my fantastic director Lillie Prowse and my sound designer Dan Hill. We are premiering I Am Yours Sincerely at the New Wimbledon Theatre at their FromTheFringe festival and then later at the Etcetera Theatre in Camden so I can bring some of the reviews and feedback up to Edinburgh Fringe.

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

After they have seen I Am Yours Sincerely, I hope that my audiences will be in the mood for some more solo shows. I have a few that I would recommend:

Jewels written and performed by Tanwen Stokes, a hilarious and moving one woman show.
Wet Feet written and performed by Michael Neri, co starring Mathew Edgar. A deeply moving dark comedy about growing up gay under Section 28.

Boiler Room Six & Out of Woodstock written by Tom Foreman starring Max Beken. A fantastic writer doing two shows! The first about an engineer on the titanic and the second follows a decent into madness of a guy at the Woodstock 99 festival.

Fragility of Man & In Loyal Company by David William Bryan. I am a big fan of his. In Loyal Company is another true, WWII story! He has been a big inspiration for my work and I cannot wait to see his show(s) myself!

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EdFringe Talk: Andrew Doherty: Gay Witch Sex Cult

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“I loved be kinda ignored by reviews/awards.”

WHO: Andrew Doherty

WHAT: “A sticky, spooky horror comedy about gender-reveal parties, demons from hell, and a Gay Witch Sex Cult (a sex cult for gay witches). ‘A comedy masterclass’ ***** (SpyInTheStalls.com). ‘Had me in a perpetual chuckle… Andrew Doherty’s performance is one of outstanding precision’ ***** (AllThatDazzles.co.uk). ‘Perfectly crafted and controlled’ ****½ (LondonPubTheatres.com). ‘The most I’ve laughed at a show, probably ever’ (LostInTheatreland.co.uk). ‘You’re a part of something special by the end’ (BingeFringe.com). London Pub Theatre Standing Ovation Award nominee. VAULT Origins Award nominee.”

WHERE: Pleasance Courtyard – Attic (Venue 33) 

WHEN: 23:00 (60 min)

MORE: Click Here!

Is this your first time to Edinburgh?

No! I performed there as a member of the Durham Revue from 2014-2017, and with my sketch duo Megan from HR in 2019 alongside Ambika Mod. Ambika Mod went on to be an award winning actress who starred in This is Going to Hurt and One Day, and I went on to write a show called Gay Witch Sex Cult, which I think goes to show you that Edinburgh Fringe makes your dreams come true 🙂

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

I actively feel I’ve gotten stupider since 2023, but whilst I wasn’t at the Fringe back then, it was very eye opening to see that so many incredible shows and performers I loved be kinda ignored by reviews/awards. I think there’s something there- Edinburgh is about so much more than official recognition, it’s a marathon with a different set of people cheering you on each day. That’s a really beautiful thing I said, and I’ve not said that before, so you’re welcome for this exclusive.

Tell us about your show.

I wrote it! I was trying to come up with a show that my comedy partner Ambika Mod (the award winning actress who starred in This is Going to Hurt and One Day) would hate, and I said the words Gay Witch Sex Cult, and she said “why?” and here we are!

I’m a huge fan of horror comedy, and knew that I wanted my debut show to be a testament to that, so it’s a mix of very very silly laughs and some slightly spookier moments. We’ve had successful runs at The Kings Head Theatre, Pleasance Islington, Soho Theatre and the Brighton Fringe where we were delighted to win the Best of Comedy award! So please come see it!

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

There are literally so many. I saw Sarah Roberts do a preview of her show Silkworm and it was so so funny, and I’ve heard such good things about Alex Franklin’s show Gurl Code and Lil Wenker’s Bangtail, so check those out! Also Aidan Pittman’s debut show Dr. Dolittle Kills a Man is one of the funniest things I’ve seen in my life, so you must go see that!

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Bedfringe 2024 Interview: One and The Other

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“More and more young men are cut adrift, lost in a world that describes their very nature as toxic. The basic state of being a human male, they are told repeatedly, is poisonous. Testosterone is the juice of all evil.”

WHO: Kent Stetson

WHAT: “In One and The Other, two young men grapple with nihilistic twenty-first century hatred, hatred to which one succumbs, hatred over which one triumphs. From its shadowed depths, the play rises toward the constant light which buoys the human heart.

Canadian-born Zaydan Khalil, a linguistically talented fourteen-year-old boy, is abandoned by his father at a Taliban compound in Afghanistan. Zaydan is gravely injured then captured during a US/Taliban firefight. He’s transported to the United States military prison at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, where he is held for ten years without a formal charge. Did Zaydan throw the grenade that killed an American medic? Despite the lack of evidence, the boy is lost to his family and all but forsaken by his country. Zaydan Kahil, boy to man, endures ten years of gross human rights abuse, deprivation, isolation and torture.

A life of privilege and heightened natural ability is no shield against Kerry Long’s darkening aspirations. The naïve, gifted, rudderless young man becomes a conduit for the nihilistic hatred of North America’s extreme right. We watch with growing unease as Kerry Long assembles a cadre of like-minded nihilists. Under the influence of the faceless Colonel, his conversion is swift and inevitable: Kerry Long murders eight men at prayer in the Grand Mosque of his Canadian hometown.

“No one” Zaydan tells Kerry, “deserves to live without hope.”

WHERE: Quarry Theatre

WHEN: 31 July 2023 @ 19:30 (60mins)

MORE: Click Here!

Is this your first time to Bedfringe?

Yes indeed. This is my very first trip to the Bedfringe. We’re delighted to be offering you the world premiere of a new Canadian work for two young actors titled One and The Other.

What appeals to me about the Bedford Festival is its manageability, from both a presenter and audience POV. I like the size of the undertaking and AM impressed by the wide-ranging quality of the work on offer. When I look at the listings, you folks are clearly operating at a very high level in terms of content and style.

We are a perfect fit. One and The Other navigates dark territory with a good heart, its compass steadily pointing to the north and south, east and west of hope, forgiveness, kindness and, that most perfect of impulses, love.

I don’t know what makes a great festival, (this is my first) but I imagine it is the honesty and the simplicity of material and in relation to its presentation. I’m hoping that our exchange with your audience will be as direct and engaging as the work itself. Our play will move audiences to rage and tears. But we won’t leave you looking for a razor blade or rouching home to play our beloved countryman Leonard Cohen tunes.

No! Wait, Leonard Cohen is the perfect post show swallow!

We’ll help you celebrate the beauty of the human condition while deploring the cruelty we humans can inflict one upon the other.

In the end, One and The Other is a provocative, tender play about love and hope.

I’m hoping THAT is what makes a great festival (Ask me again next year!)

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

What have I been up to? Getting better at doing what I love.

I’m pleased to report that despite the fact fringe festivals have tended to appeal to younger audiences and artists, they are becoming more and more important to old farts like me! I just turned 76 in July. For a while there I was afraid, that because I am an accomplished old white male the world had heard quite enough from me. But no! I discovered that I’ve gotten so good at what I do… well, it’s like my dear old Dad used to say: It takes me longer to do what I used to do more often, but now I do it better!

Come see One and The Other and prove me wrong! I dare you!

So yes… that’s what the experience of writing this wonderful new show has been for me. The big lesson is this: the more you write, the more you understand; the longer you live the more hope you nurture. The big payoff? The more kindness each of us experiences and shares, the better we all become.

Tell us about your show.

I won’t repeat the promotion material here. But what I can tell you is this: More and more young men are cut adrift, lost in a world that describes their very nature as toxic. The basic state of being a human male, they are told repeatedly, is poisonous. Testosterone is the juice of all evil.

This is harsh, cruel, unnecessary, vengeful nonsense. Young men are still as beautiful and strong and potent and kind and weak and wonderful as they’ve always been. The demonization of our boys and young men has done nothing but harm us all. Three generations have been raised now in circumstances where they are blamed for inhabiting their very biological nature. Let me repeat. This is cruel false misleading propagandistic nonsense.

If you know a young man whom you love, if you are a young man who needs to learn to love himself then come see our show. One and The Other will help.
Guaranteed.

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

Producer/Presenter Bob Paisley from Kansas City’s Central Standard Theatre has worked a bit of magic in the marriage of Just Like Hollywood and our show, One and The Other. We’re all cool Canadian passion. Our American cousins are often baffled by our reticence. But only briefly. They’ve learned in our two hundred year history of mutual forbearance that a slow burn ain’t a low burn. When we wintery Canadians come to a boil, the steam will mesmerize.

The wonderful power of John Clancy’s mesmerising, unsettling Just Like Hollywood is this: It comes on at full boil then turns u the heat! It provokes and unsettles. It excoriates and reveals. This is no nip and tuck: Just like Hollywood is a flat out full facial peel. Wonderful and courageous. Bless your heart, John. You pull no punches. It’s good to hang out with another old fart who doesn’t give a %*£k and says what needs to be said!

I’ve only read the text but can’t wart to see it. So looking forward to meeting the Just Like Hollywood cast and crew in Bedford. Well matched Bob!

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EdFringe Talk: Failure Project

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“This dramedy captures the chaotic balance of work and life in a way that’s both hilarious and heartwarming.”

WHO: Yolanda Mercy

WHAT: “A comedy drama… or “dramedy” about Ade, a successful writer, or so it seems. She has everything she has ever wanted; her career is flying, she’s (kinda) moved out of her mum’s house, her situationship isn’t as complicated as she expected. Life is perfect?! But things don’t always go how you plan, and Ade is about to find that out. Failure Project explores what it means to “fail” and if it is possible to recover?”

WHERE: Summerhall – Anatomy Lecture Theatre (Venue 26) 

WHEN: 13:30 (60 min)

MORE: Click Here!

Is this your first time to Edinburgh?

I did edfringe in 2017- and I was the underbelly tapped award winner. I performed my show Quarter Life Crisis, which went on to be pick up by BBC radio, then led to me expanding my writing practice and me securing a BAFTA nomination for BBW. Plus I’ve written an episode on the upcoming Channel 4/ Disney series Queenie.

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

To be open and talk about failure. Which is why I’ve written “Failure Project”. “Failure Project” is a timely story that will resonate with many. It’s funny, yes, but it’s also real—like the candid moments on your finsta page. This dramedy captures the chaotic balance of work and life in a way that’s both hilarious and heartwarming. Written with the audience in mind, it takes you on an unforgettable journey through the highs and lows of modern life.

Tell us about your show.

“Failure Project” is a comedy-drama, or “dramedy,” about the rollercoaster life of Ade, a seemingly successful writer who’s always on the go. Written and performed by BAFTA nominee Yolanda Mercy, the show delves into the often unglamorous reality of being a jobbing writer in the UK. Ade’s career is soaring, she’s (kinda) moved out of her mum’s house, and her situationship isn’t as complicated as she expected. Life is perfect, right? Well, not quite.

As Ade juggles deadlines, personal aspirations, and the occasional existential crisis, she’s constantly reminded that life rarely goes as planned.

Do you feel seen? Yeah I wrote this show for you babes!

The show captures the hilarity and heartache of trying to maintain a work/life balance—if such a thing even exists. Ade’s journey is a relatable and humorous exploration of what happens when your professional success doesn’t necessarily translate to personal happiness.

Through witty dialogue and heartfelt moments, “Failure Project” invites the audience to laugh, (and maybe cry)….but hopefully laugh

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

during fringe i defo think audiences should be super curious and go check out some shows. I’m excited to see Shit theatre cause I know them very well (we were on an international fellowship together in Egypt and Belgium) so I’m buzzing to see their work.

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EdFringe Talk: Amy Mason: Free Mason

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“I know it’s going to be tough, but as am much more used to playing to all kind of audiences – including ones who actively dislike me – I’m hoping things will be a bit better.”

WHO: Amy Mason

WHAT: “After an encounter with a wildlife enthusiast, the Funny Women Award finalist explores what it means to be a human animal (nightmare, tbh). Expect coming out in your 30s, rinsing homophobes and forming a coven with your kids. The debut stand-up hour from the ‘brilliant’ (Bridget Christie) comedian and writer. 11 million views on TikTok. Heard on BBC Radio 1, Radio 5, Radio 4. ‘Amy Mason is so good; I was laughing before she said anything’ (Bridget Christie). ‘So funny’ (Jessica Fostekew). ‘Absolutely enthralling’ **** (BroadwayBaby.com). ‘Charmingly poignant and funny’ (Herald). ***** (WhatsOnStage.com). **** (List).”

WHERE: Pleasance Courtyard – Cellar (Venue 33) 

WHEN: 20:00 (60 min)

MORE: Click Here!

Is this your first time to Edinburgh?

This is my debut comedy hour but I brought a theatre show up 10 years ago. It was tough, I was unprepared – I didn’t even really know what the Fringe was; our producer just suggested we come and so we did! I thought it was going to be this non-stop party and soon realised keeping sane is about the best you can hope for. This time I am much more prepared and have been working as a comedian since 2017 – with gaps to have my kids and for the pandemic. I know it’s going to be tough, but as am much more used to playing to all kind of audiences – including ones who actively dislike me – I’m hoping things will be a bit better. And I can’t wait to see all my friends’ shows. I am still banking on crying daily though.

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

I didn’t even visit in 2023, I was hunkering down knowing that I wanted to bring my show up this year. I managed to see lots of the shows I wanted to catch either on tour or at festivals. This year I’m excited to be in the right place to see shows as soon as people start talking about them.

Tell us about your show.

Free Mason is my debut comedy hour. It’s being produced by Queenie Miller and will on at Pleasance Courtyard at 8pm. The show’s about how I came out as a lesbian in my late 30s, while married to a man, and trying to find a place that I fit as both a parent and a queer person. It’s also about the wildlife in my garden, and my kids, and touches on me stopping drinking a few months ago. I’ve been doing work-in-progress shows all over the place these past few months, but it will be premiering in Edinburgh and then touring early next year (more details on that soon!)

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

I’m excited for Katie Norris’s show, she’s debuting this year and does this surreal musical comedy and I’m obsessed with her. Christopher Hall is going to be debuting too and is going to smash it – he’s brilliant. Harriet Dyer has one of my favourite comedy brains and I can’t wait to see what she’s been cooking up. You can’t go wrong with any of them!

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EdFringe Talk: Eleanor Morton: Haunted House

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“When I was 7, I went to see a play called The Red Balloon, about a red balloon.”

WHO: Eleanor Morton

WHAT: “Have you ever seen a ghost? Comedian Eleanor Morton hasn’t… yet. Could today be the day? Let’s find out. Eleanor Morton is a Scottish stand-up, writer and actor. Notable recent gigs include tour support for Kevin James Thornton, appearances on Breaking the News and You’re Dead to Me. In 2022 her BBC Radio 4 one-off comedy special, The Rest of Us aired, in which she and comics Mary Flanigan and Esyllt Sears explored what it’s like to be British (but not English). ‘A nuanced and exceedingly funny hour’ **** (EdFestMag.com).”

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

WHEN: 12:05 (60 min)

MORE: Click Here!

Is this your first time to Edinburgh?

No – it’s my…14th? I started doing comedy in 2010 and I’m from Edinburgh, so I have free accommodation and no excuse not to be here for all of August.

Unless we mean my first EVER time, which was when I was 7, I went to see a play called The Red Balloon, about a red balloon.

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

I think what I’ve learned since last year (and every year) is that you really ought to back yourself. Don’t come in half arsed, come in whole arsed. Put everything you can into the show and the experience, and if it doesn’t work out, at least you know you did your best.

Tell us about your show.

My show is called Haunted House, it’s stand-up and it was written by me. It’s produced by me and my friend Julia Cloughley-Sneddon who is a behind-the-scenes mastermind and another Edinburgh native. She’s responsible for the show’s incredible special prop (no spoilers) and general hand-holding.

The show is about seeing ghosts (or not seeing them), growing up in the ‘most haunted city in the world’ and what else might haunt us. Its supposed to be a lot of spooky silly fun and I’m really excited about getting it out there.

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

You should definitely see everything else in my venue, Monkey Barrel, there’s not a dud show amongst them. See my pal Sooz Kempner and try and see Seymour Mace, who I think I’ve seen every year since I started, I love his comedy so much. See things you wouldn’t normally see, and see at least one thing you think you might hate. See shows that probably won’t tour or are one-offs. See something you don’t think you’re ‘clever enough’ to understand, and see something that looks so bad its got to be good.

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EdFringe Talk: Rich Spalding: Gather Your Skeletons

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“It feels like you’re at university – wandering around a big campus, constantly bumping into people you know, going out late, drinking too much, sleeping in late, ‘working’ for a couple of hours a day and then hanging out with your mates.”

WHO: Rich Spalding

WHAT: “We’re all alive and we’re all going to die. Let’s have a laugh with it, shall we? Join award-winning comedian Rich Spalding for his hotly anticipated debut hour. A stand-up show about fear and boredom, legacy and regret and, ultimately, the universal experience of working for a living and dying sometime after. Beat the Frog: World Series Panel Prize Winner 2022. Get Up Stand Up Runner Up 2018. Co-host of the Our Dads Died podcast. Tour support for Eshaan Akbar. Pleasance Reserve Shortlist 2020, 2023. ‘Razor-sharp, understated brilliance’ (Tom Ward). ‘My favourite comedian’ (Eshaan Akbar).”

WHERE: Pleasance Courtyard – Cellar (Venue 33) 

WHEN: 21:15 (60 min)

MORE: Click Here!

Is this your first time to Edinburgh?

This will be my first full run at the Fringe, but I’ve been a few times before. Despite being a big comedy nerd, my first visit to the Fringe was in 2019, and it was exactly as I imagined it. Weird hours, weird shows, weird people – all in a really, really good way. There’s no such thing as normal at the festival, and I think that’s what keeps people coming back year after year. My theory is that comedians love it because it makes you feel young. It feels like you’re at university – wandering around a big campus, constantly bumping into people you know, going out late, drinking too much, sleeping in late, ‘working’ for a couple of hours a day and then hanging out with your mates. Of course there’s also the stress and the money and the regular ego deaths and the rain. But that’s all part of the package.

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

The main thing I learnt in 2023 was that I didn’t like my show and needed to write a new one. I was doing a work-in-progress of the show I was planning to bring up for a full run this year, but I realised that it wasn’t good enough. So I’ve spent this year writing that new show – one that’s more about what I want to talk about, and one I’m genuinely excited to do. So I have definitely absorbed that lesson. The other big lesson is that if you go to the same late night pizza place every single day around 2am the staff will start to worry about you even though you’re genuinely fine and just really like pizza. Whether I’ve absorbed that lesson or not, though, only time will tell. I fully expect to be concerning wait staff across Edinburgh once more this August.

Tell us about your show.

Oh, so, the show is called Gather Your Skeletons. It’s a stand-up show. It’s written by me and produced by me. The writing of it has been great fun. The producing of it has been quite stressful, truth be told. I didn’t know exactly what a producer did before I started, and now I still don’t but I do know it’s very hard. But the show itself is about, mainly, death. But don’t let that put you off! It’s about a theory I used to have about the afterlife – something I thought of decades ago and recently remembered, and how that idea has, in a small way, changed the way I live my life. I like it, the show. It’s quite hopeful and kind, I think. I’ve done as many previews as I can get people to attend, so far, and it’s been fun seeing it come together and finding I don’t hate it. Which is rare, for me. There’s loads of good jokes in it, and some funny stories, and, dare I say it, some poignancy. I’d like to think it’s got legs beyond this festival, I’d love to take it around to anywhere that’ll have me, but that depends on how well it’s received. So, if you want to come along and receive it well, that’d be very much appreciated. I’m very friendly and we’ll have a good time together, I really do believe.

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

Oh man, so many things. I could go on forever. First and foremost, my perennial plug, Alexandra Haddow. She’s a superb comedian doing her second show, called Third Party, at Monkey Barrel 2 at 10pm. She was also, until recently, my housemate, and for the duration of Edinburgh we’re getting the band back together (sharing a one bedroom flat where one of us sleeps on the living room floor)! I’ve seen a preview of her show and it’s already great and will continue to get better. She’s also the kind of comedian who sells lots of tickets, so you might want to buy in advance.

Hubert Mayr is another former housemate of mine doing a show this year. His is called Mr Uniworse and plots the course of his life against the course of the only Austrian more famous than him…Arnold Schwarzenegger. Hubert is an exceptional joke writer with a particularly dark view of the world, which makes him even funnier. He’s on at the quite jarring time of 11am at Brass Monkey. If you like perfectly written jokes and general (but very funny) malaise, he is a must see.

Then just loads of others. Sarah Roberts is one of my favourite comics, and she’s doing her debut Silkworm at George Square: The Box 10.35 every night. I’ve annoyingly not been able to see it yet, so I’m going to sprint over after my show finishes one night to catch it. If you see a sweaty man in her audience, panting like a dog, it could be me. It could also just be a pervert. I also was lucky enough to catch an early preview of Alex Kitson’s show Must I Paint You a Picture? and thought it was excellent. I’m very excited to see the final show. That’s on at 10.55 every night at Hoots@Potterrow, The Wee Yurt – which I think is an actual yurt, so that’s fun. Then, obviously, Mat Ewins. You probably know about Mat but if you don’t then be kind to yourself and see his show. It will be, almost certainly, the best thing you see.

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EdFringe Talk: Girlhood

Posted in *Written Interviews, EdFestivals 2024 by

“Hopefully our show will sell so well that there will be HEAPS of time to see as much as we can.”

WHO: Sam James, Producer

WHAT: “‘My mother always said she wouldn’t make the same mistakes her mum did.’ Three parties. Three decades. Three life-changing decisions. Over the course of a New Year’s Eve, three women confront the idea of motherhood and how their relationship with their mother has defined most of their lives. Don’t miss the opportunity to see this exciting new play by Tiegan Byrne about the unique bond of female relationships and what our mothers have taught us. Directed by Cecilie Fray and with a cast of six amazing actors – see it first at the Fringe!”

WHERE: Greenside @ Riddles Court – Thistle Theatre (Venue 16) 

WHEN: 18:30 (50 min)

MORE: Click Here!

Is this your first time to Edinburgh?

First time producing which is a WHOLE NEW WORLD!

In years gone by I have loved being both a punter & with my talent agent hat on looking for new clients. The creative buzz and variety of imagination and talent on show is phenomenal. Very much looking forward to seeing our show on stage this year and have developed a huge new respect for everyone involved with the fringe now I can see what’s actually involved. Hopefully our show will sell so well that there will be HEAPS of time to see as much as we can. Fingers crossed. Can’t wait!

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

In 2023 I was on a huge research mission as I knew I’d be producing for the first time this year. So I was looking at venues with our play Girlhood in mind – factoring in our cast of 6 and needing a reasonable size stage. Had to keep reminding myself that I was fact finding as there were so many fabulous shows taking my attention. I came back really fired up and excited to get started with making Girlhood a reality. I’d pretty much decided that a small cast would be key to make it work on the numbers but then I read Tiegan’s play Girlhood and fell in love with it- with a cast of six. So that’s made it a steeper hill to climb but also it is going to be just brilliant! So all worth it I hope.

Tell us about your show.

‘My mother always said she wouldn’t make the same mistakes her mum did.’
Three parties. Three decades. Three life-changing decisions.

Over the course of a New Year’s Eve, three women confront the idea of motherhood and how their relationship with their mother has defined most of their lives.

Girlhood is a really exciting new play by Tiegan Byrne about the unique bond of female relationships and what our mothers have taught us. This is Tiegan’s debut play. Directed by Offie-nominated Cecilie Fray and with a cast of six amazing actors and a superb creative team. The producer is pretty brilliant too 🙂

We’ve got a one night sold out preview at Theatre503 in London on 30th July then heading up to Edinburgh. Plans afterwards – who knows! It definitely deserves a future life!

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

Potty the Plant & their new show Fringe Musical too! Loved Potty last year (so much with my agent hat on that we signed brilliant Baden Burns!) – can’t wait to see both this year.

Juniper & Jules will be fabulous with lovely Carmella Brown & Megan Wilson

A Montage of Monet at Greenside

PALS looks like it’s going to be one not to miss!

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EdFringe Talk: Bangtail

Posted in *Written Interviews, EdFestivals 2024 by

“I’ve run the gamut of Ed Fringe jobs, starting with flyering for Baby Wants Candy in 2019—my first uni summer. I saw over 60 shows in the month and was hooked.”

WHO: Lil Wenker

WHAT: “A hell of a lot can happen in the time you await the results of a pregnancy test. This is the story of a woman staring down the barrel of motherhood, torn between her own ambivalence… and an uncontrollable urge to push. Award-winning Popelei burst out of isolation and onto your screens with their darkly comic theatre production, reimagined for film. Blistering honesty, exhilarating choreography, and one extremely knocked-up performer.”

WHERE: Pleasance Courtyard – Cellar (Venue 33) 

WHEN: 16:15 (60 min)

MORE: Click Here!

Is this your first time to Edinburgh?

No! I’ve run the gamut of Ed Fringe jobs, starting with flyering for Baby Wants Candy in 2019—my first uni summer. I saw over 60 shows in the month and was hooked. In 2022, I had the absolute pleasure of teching Rosa Garland’s TRASH SALAD and a few clown school friends’ late-night madness cabaret night, HOT BOYS BATH HOUSE, which began at 1:30 AM. I think that festival took a few years off my life.

Last year, I performed for the first time in a bouffon/ballet two-hander called CRAP BALLET. We were up for two weeks, and then I stuck around to watch shows for the last week. But this year is the first solo show/full month/performing madness all coming together at once. I’m so excited and already planning places I can take naps here and there …

I think a great festival really embraces the festival aspect of it all. My first year, I saw EVERYTHING. Circus, stand up, dance, children’s theatre, live music. I’m keen to do this again; the access to so many different genres is really one of the most unique parts of Ed Fringe. Also going to different genres and venues allows you to meet folks from all around the world, which is another hugely unique opportunity Ed Fringe provides.

I’ll say I have never experienced the festival fully as a punter, since I’ve always had SOME responsibility towards a show. However, I definitely feel so much more awareness of the festival at every stage this year as I am producing the full run. Cecily, my amazing director, and I have been in rehearsal since November and filling out applications since December. So the festival has become so much more than August to me, and it’s made me respect all the amazing people who have brought their shows up before me, especially all those who also self-produce. I bow down (and thank the many, many friends who have helped me along the way!!!)

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

Oof, have I absorbed my life lessons yet? I guess we’ll see come August!

But the biggest lesson I learned was the importance of having a really great team. Last year, I felt like I was learning the ropes for the first time, even though I had been to the festival before. Putting on your own show is just a completely different ball game than tech or flyering. There are so many decisions, and the days are exhilarating and exhausting. We performed some absolutely electric shows and then completely dead ones the day after. Having David, the co-performer and co-creator of CRAP BALLET and our company CHEKHOV’S GUM, kept me sane. When I had no energy, he picked me up and vice versa. We saw shows together, celebrated the highs together, ate ice cream when we wanted to think about anything other than bouffon ballet.

This year, David will be up a few days (YAY), and Cecily will be with me the entire festival. She is an absolute force. She always has energy and poise—it’s kind of remarkable. And she is the world’s best advocate and cheerleader. I already know she is going to be there for this pep-talks when I’m tired or nervous or having a bad day.

Tell us about your show.

BANGTAIL is a co-creation between Cecily and myself. It all began when I saw TROLL, the Norwegian clown show Cecily directed at fringe last year. I was just about to move to London from the US and was looking for a collaborator. So I sent her an Instagram DM inviting her to a gig and for a glass of Malbec.

During the drinks, I pulled out my notebook and pitched her the idea for BANGTAIL: a cowboy accountant. I told her about my dad, a Midwestern accountant, and about watching westerns with him as a girl.

It’s so crazy thinking now to our first few weeks of rehearsal—we didn’t know each other at all, but we got right to work on this show. The cowboy stuff all came pretty naturally. We watched some westerns and could see quite easily how to have fun with the movements and characters. The other bits took a lot more time. There are probably a hundred versions of the show out in the world that we created but never stuck with. We once had a version of the show where the main character stops being a cowboy to build the Empire State Building.

Though this is atypical for us both, most of our studio rehearsals were dedicated to talking about men, ideas around purpose, our fathers. Most of the real rehearsal work took place at gigs around London, where we would try 5-10 minute cuts of the show, basically various games at a time, for live audiences. I think I’ve done maybe 60-75 gigs where I’ve tested and refined BANGTAIL material. It’s a really long and delicate process, but it has been a real joy and helped me get to know so many comedy people in London.

We’ve toured the show in the US (NYC, Minneapolis, and Chicago) and are hoping to go back there post Ed Fringe! We would really love to go to LA this time, too! We have also performed at various festivals around the UK including Leicester, Brighton, and Peckham. We are finishing up previews in London over the next month or so with stops at SOHO, 7 Dials, and The Pleasance London. Right before Ed Fringe, we do a night at Creatures Comedy Festival in Manchester.

Post Ed, we’d love to do a more official UK tour. We did a few one-off nights in various cities this spring, but I’d love to settle down in a city for a week or so. More London dates! And the Australian fringes would be absolutely amazing!! Let’s see!!

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

So, so many!!!
Tom Fox: Frankenstein on a Budget
Piotr: Furiozo
TROLL
Rosalie Minnit: Clementine
Ozzy Algar: Speed Queen
Sophie Duker: But Daddy I Lover Her
Posey Mehta: Big Fat Cabaret
Luke Rollason: Let your hair down
Derek Mitchell: Goblin AND Double Dutch
Alex Franklin
Lorna Rose Treen: Skin Pigeon

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