Author Archives: Dan Lentell

EdFringe Talk: Unforgettable Girl

Posted in *Written Interviews, EdFestivals 2023 by

“There will be people who are going to ‘not get it’, give it a one-star review, or generally find it distasteful—you just have to move on without blaming anyone or losing your stride.”

WHO: Khai Ramli

WHAT: “Money can’t buy love, but £19.99/month can get you a mail-order bride directly from the wasteland of Asian stereotypes. Follow her journey as she strives to become unforgettable, but what lies beneath her shiny surface? And how is she forced to transform, destroy and rebuild herself in order to survive? An irreverent, no-holds-barred, bouffonesque myth about the violence our culture inflicts on bodies of colour. Winner of the Pleasance’s Charlie Hartill Fund, Best Show (Offies, 2021) and Best Performer in a Play (The Stage Debut Awards, 2022). ‘A stand-out show’ ***** (Stage). ‘Beautiful’ **** (BroadwayBaby.com).”

WHERE: Pleasance Courtyard – Beneath (Venue 33) 

WHEN: 15:40 (60 min)

MORE: Click Here!

Is this your first time to Edinburgh?

I went up last year with Flabbergast Theatre’s Macbeth at Assembly Roxy and was completely blown away by the energy and the #SpiritoftheFringe! This is my first year going up with a show that I have conceived, written, produced and will be performing—I’m amazed to have even made it this far. If it wasn’t for Pleasance’s Charlie Hartill Fund, The Keep It Fringe fund and our crowdfunder, we would not have made it this far. So we really feel like even getting here has been a huge accomplishment.

What are the big things you’ve learned since 2022 and have you absorbed any of the lessons yet?

You’ve got to keep the show going for the people who need to hear it, who are going to love it and be inspired and maybe even changed by it. But also, there will be people who are going to ‘not get it’, give it a one-star review, or generally find it distasteful—you just have to move on without blaming anyone or losing your stride. That’s the reason why the fringe catalogue is half an inch thick, there’s something out there for everyone! I think this is an especially important lesson for us as we take ‘Unforgettable Girl’ to the Fringe—the piece seeks to confront difficult truths and it won’t do so without leaving a few bruised egos.

Tell us about your show.

‘Unforgettable Girl’ revolves around our main character: Vaccine is a mail order bride who breaks out of an Amazon prime box in the beginning of the show. Contrary to the promise of a woman for sale, Vaccine makes the audience laugh, squirm and wince, and reveals our shared complicity and desperation in the face of a tyrannous standard of beauty and femininity that renders women like Vaccine irredeemable. The piece engages with bouffon, a form sometimes called the ‘anti-clown’—historically they were outcasts of society who had no stake in preserving humanity’s dignity and often only had power when they were entertaining and performing. Louise Peacock once said that while we make fun of the clown, the bouffon makes fun of us (with diabolical humour).

‘Unforgettable Girl’ has ignited and excited audiences; from our 2-night run, we received critical acclaim including a 5-star review from The Stage, an OffFest Award and Best Performer in a Play by The Stage Debut Awards.

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

There are so many amazing shows to see! One of my favorites this season is Theatre Ad Infinitum’s ‘Beautiful Evil Things’—if you want to be swept away by the electrifying energy of a kick-ass performer (Deb Pugh) and also immersed in a feminist retelling of Greek myths, check it out!

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EdFringe Talk: The Brief Life & Mysterious Death of Boris III, King of Bulgaria

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“We are excited to root out the brilliant stories that need to be told and are especially keen to see if there are other performances by Bulgarian makers in the festival programme.”

WHO: Claire Gilbert

WHAT: “Bulgaria just told Hitler to f*ck off, saved nearly 50,000 Jewish lives… and lost a King. ‘Whether a jazz fan, a history buff or just someone who loves gripping real-life stories, this is a must see.’ (Kyril, Prince of Preslav, Boris III’s Grandson). A camel. A fox. A difficult choice. Meet the men who could’ve done more, the women who did the most, and the reasons the world forgot them. Five-star award-winning ensemble blending history and live folk tunes.”

WHERE: Pleasance Dome – QueenDome (Venue 23) 

WHEN: 17:20 (70 min)

MORE: Click Here!

Is this your first time to Edinburgh?

As a company this is our first time at The Edinburgh Festival. Our Exec Producer (& Co-Writer) Joseph Cullen has visited previously when at university, but this is the first time for Sasha Wilson (Artistic Director) and Out Of The Forest Theatre. We are really excited to be bringing an international story to the International Festival, and we have been fortunate to receive support from The Bulgarian Embassy in London, so we are hopeful that the show may have a future international life in 2024 and beyond. We have had a brilliant time at VAULT Festival in London, and this feels like the next big step on the Festival ladder. We are excited to root out the brilliant stories that need to be told and are especially keen to see if there are other performances by Bulgarian makers in the festival programme.

What are the big things you’ve learned since 2022 and have you absorbed any of the lessons yet?

As a company we are three people in their early 30s and have so far been operating on a ‘let’s just make the shows and if we make money, we make money’ basis, which was fine, for a bit. As our priorities have shifted and our aims matured, we have really worked hard in the last year to be more focused in the way that we communicate with each other, weekly check-in meetings and regular updates etc. This has helped us as we all branch out individually as well, so we are being respectful about each other’s time within the company. In 2022 we tried to stage a tour of our 2021 ‘Louisa & Jo (& Me)’, but we just did not have the capacity between us to make it happen, and we made the decision to pull the tour and regroup when we were ready. This was definitely the right decision and encouraged us to focus instead on ‘The Brief Life & Mysterious Death of Boris III, King of Bulgaria’, which is a story about the Heroic Rescue of Bulgaria’s Jewish Population during WW2 – a story that needs to be passed on!

Tell us about your show.

We are the stories we tell ourselves, and our societies reflect the stories that we pass on. Sasha’s Opapa (grandfather, who passed away in 2022 at the ripe old age of nearly 101!) passed on the story of this Heroic Rescue via the book ‘A Crown of Thorns’ by Stephen Groueff. In 2017 we were given this book, and in 2019 we opened it, and by 2020 we were staging ‘The Brief Life & Mysterious Death of Boris III, King of Bulgaria’ at VAULT Festival, one week before the first Covid lockdown.

Co-written by Sasha Wilson & Joseph Cullen, with additional help by members of the company and Dramaturgy by Hannah Hauer-King. Produced by Claire Gilbert for Out Of The Forest Theatre, and with great thanks to our Production Assistant Lorra Videv and the whole company. We have also had the privilege of working with Dessi Stefanova (London Bulgarian Choir) who has passed on instrumental knowledge about Bulgarian choral singing.

We are actually performing the show on the 80th Anniversary of Boris III’s death in 1943, August 28th (our final show), and we have been very fortunate to be invited to stage a one-off performance at The Bulgarian Embassy in London the following week. We have a few dates confirmed for a tour next May/June – so keep your eyes peeled as we announce venues!

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

We have been so fortunate to see the work made by James Rowland over the last few years – his show ‘Piece Of Work’ at Summerhall will be brilliant, as will Adam Scott Rowley’s ‘You Are Going To Die’ (Summerhall).

Callum Patrick Hughes ‘Thirst’ (Pleasance) we have seen 4 times now, and will watch again. Callum’s mate David Shopland’s company Fake Escape is bringing ‘Raising Kane’ to Assembly. We are keen to see the comedy of Janine Harouni, Joe Wells, and our friend Gabi MacPherson AND our Production Assistant Lorra Videv have places in So You Think You’re Funny? Edinburgh Heats and we cannot wait to see them as well!

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EdFringe Talk: Super

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“I learned that you could buy prawn cocktail Quavers in select supermarkets, Rib ‘n Saucy Nik-Naks have not been discontinued as I had thought, and I prefer the Red Leicester variant of Mini Cheddars.”

WHO: Matthew Radway

WHAT: “On Hollywood Boulevard, a group of actors are posing as famous characters for photos with tourists. Right now it’s 100°, Batman has just punched Robin in the face and the whole thing is about to be on TMZ. Captain Jack Sparrow has fainted and Catwoman is screaming. It’s all gone a bit wrong. Super is a darkly comic drama about ambition, love and overwhelming failure told by two not-very-super heroes. Previous work: **** (ThreeWeeks). **** (EdFringeReview.com). As heard on BBC Radio 4.”

WHERE: Pleasance Courtyard – The Cellar (Venue 33) 

WHEN: 13:45 (60 min)

MORE: Click Here!

Is this your first time to Edinburgh?

It’s not my first show but it’s my first time bringing a play. I love coming to Edfringe because it’s the ultimate creative hub – a great place to meet fellow artists and show my work to all those lovely industry types. That’s the boring answer. The real answer is that it’s the only place I can get a good scotch pie. Shoutout to Piemaker for their sterling work.

What are the big things you’ve learned since 2022 and have you absorbed any of the lessons yet?

I wasn’t in Edinburgh last year so I’m going to expand this answer to my entire life. I learned that you could buy prawn cocktail Quavers in select supermarkets, Rib ‘n Saucy Nik-Naks have not been discontinued as I had thought, and I prefer the Red Leicester variant of Mini Cheddars. Were all my lessons snack related? Yes. Have I absorbed them? Repeatedly.

Tell us about your show.

It’s written and directed by me (Matthew Radway). I’ve been working on the show for over ten years so it’s about time I got round to actually putting it on stage! It’s a two-hander and casting it was remarkably easy because I happened to already know two fantastic actors. It’s produced with RBM Comedy who really know their Edinburgh onions so I’m excited for people to see it! Beyond Edinburgh, we’re hoping for a tour.

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

The most obvious show to see after ours is Picnic by Charlie Vero-Martin which is a bonkers character comedy bonanza with a dark twist. Charlie also happens to be in Super but I’d recommend her show anyway!

Also check out Hole by Holly Spillar which is a hilarious, moving insight into vaginismus with the help of songs and a loop pedal.

A show I’m yet to see but am very excited to is Pleasure Little Treasure – an autobiographical solo show about growing up in the first post-Soviet strip club in Estonia.

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EdFringe Talk: Stuntman

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“The challenge is trying to keep that approach of care for ourselves, our collaborators and our audiences, while also being a part of the noisiness and vibrance of the Fringe.”

WHO: Pete Lannon

WHAT: “An intensely physical, funny, and tender duet by two men wrestling with their relationship to violence – both onscreen and off. Fusing the Pow! Biff! and Wallop! of over-the-top stunt fights with personal stories of real encounters with violence from the performers’ lives, Stuntman explores the relationship between violence and masculinity and the impact this has on our perceptions of men. A show for anyone who has ever enjoyed a violent action movie (but felt a bit weird about it). ‘A thoroughly exhilarating 60 minutes that certainly pulls no punches’ ***** (TheRecs.co.uk). MadeInScotlandShowcase.com”

WHERE: Summerhall – TechCube 0 (Venue 26) 

WHEN: 17:50 (60 min)

MORE: Click Here!

Is this your first time to Edinburgh?

As a company we’ve been a couple of times before, but this is our first time back since 2019. What makes it special for us is the opportunity to have our work seen by lots of people who wouldn’t normally get the chance, and to see performance from all over the world that we don’t get to see in Scotland the rest of the year. It’s a pretty unique chance to get inspired by seeing a massive range of work.

What are the big things you’ve learned since 2022 and have you absorbed any of the lessons yet?

In general we’re thinking a lot about trying to work a bit slower, with more care and more sustainably. Sometimes that is at odds with how the Fringe works and feels. So the challenge is trying to keep that approach of care for ourselves, our collaborators and our audiences, while also being a part of the noisiness and vibrance of the Fringe.

Tell us about your show.

Stuntman is an intensely physical theatre show performed by two men who are trying to figure out their relationship to masculinity and violence. It’s silly and raucous and full of over-the-top stage combat and play fighting, mixed with real stories from the performers’ lives and some heartfelt and moving moments. It’s directed and created by Pete Lannon (one of SUPERFAN’s co-artistic directors) and devised with the cast (the incredible David Banks and Sadiq Ali). It was in development for about five years and last year we premiered and toured it around Scotland before this Fringe run, and it’s ready to take on the rest of the world after Edinburgh! SUPERFAN created it and are bringing it to the festival in collaboration with the brilliant Stories Untold Productions.

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

We are excited to see Laura Murphy’s A Spectacle of Herself and Katrine Turner’s An Alternative Helpline for the End of the World who are also at Summerhall. Plus Solène Weinachter’s After All and Concerned Others by Tortoise in a Nutshell which are part of the Made in Scotland programme along with Stuntman.

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EdFringe Talk: Stark Bollock Naked

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“It’s fine to have days of doing stuff that’s completely not Fringe related.”

WHO: Larisa Faber

WHAT: “Is the motherhood question bugging you too? An international smash hit about our reproductive shelflife and what (not) to do with those (ageing) eggs. Featuring stunning video mapping, comedy-infused storytelling and a live score of gynaecological instruments, stark bollock naked is a multimedia show with a real naked body and an honest conversation about reproduction, abortion and the biological clock. Game Ovar-ies. ‘Winningly hilarious and visually enthralling’ (FringeBiscuit.co.uk). ‘A satirical homage to eggs. Perfect comic timing’ (Luxembourg Times). VAULT Festival Pick of the Week (Lyn Gardner).”

WHERE: Assembly Roxy – Downstairs (Venue 139) 

WHEN: 15:10 (50 min)

MORE: Click Here!

Is this your first time to Edinburgh?

Not my first time, no, but last time I was at the Fringe was 2013, I’m curious to see what / if it has changed. I first went in 2009, where I performed at Forest Fringe which was an incredible place to nurture weird experimental performance! Then went again in 2010, 2011, and 2013, each time with Little Bulb, the company I’m an Associate Artist of. EdFringe is special in the way it groups in one place over one month lots of exciting artists from the UK and abroad. It’s such a unique experience, bumping into friends I don’t see enough of the rest of the year, artists I admire, taking a chance with a show I have a hunch might be for me, going to see comedy big names… and the fact that the shows happen at all times of the day really contributes to making it feel like a month outside of ‘normal’ time.

What are the big things you’ve learned since 2022 and have you absorbed any of the lessons yet?

My learnings from past Fringes are: to get as much sleep as possible, eat my greens, drink lots of water and it’s fine to have days of doing stuff that’s completely not Fringe related, it really helps switch off. I recommend a walk up Arthur’s Seat.

Tell us about your show.

The show I’m going to EdFringe with is called stark bollock naked, and I am a performer musician in it. I play gynaecological instruments, among other things. The show was written and created by Larisa Faber, who also performs in it. Larisa is a multi-talented plurilingual Romanian-Luxembourgish artist, and she also self-produces the show. She has gathered a really lovely international team.

Larisa approached me at the end of 2022 to ask if I was interested in replacing the brilliant Catherine Kontz who composed the music for the show, in the performer-musician role. Larisa had seen the work of my company She Goat in London and thought I would be a good fit for the world of the show, and she was right! I feel at home. I’ll be job-sharing the role with my She Goat other half, Shamira Turner, who’ll be performing in the 13-23 August dates. The piece had a few outings, in London and a few places in Luxembourg, but because of the fact that the performer-musician part will now have had three different people do it, it feels like each performance has its own unique flavour. It feels very alive in this regard.

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

Lucy and Friends, by Lucy McCormick. Lucy is a truly incredible artist and one of the best performers around. Her work is daring, moving, tender and brutal all at once. It takes you on a real journey as an audience, and makes you feel such tenderness and weirdness and connection. She’s also very funny.

Nan, Me and Barbara Pravi by Hannah Maxwell. Hannah is a brilliant performer, and this show looks like a very exciting exploring, on of family relationships, oh and there’s a bit of French in it too! Repping the French speakers at the Fringe!

Everything in the Horizon showcase: some of the most exciting, stimulating, inspiring and challenging work made in the UK today, I’ll be sure to catch all of these shows.
Victor Esses’ The Life and Death of All of Us, an exploration of family secrets and ties across countries and timelines, it sounds like a powerful journey into History with a big H and personal history.

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EdFringe Talk: Showgirls and Spies

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“Be brave enough to ask questions, tear it all apart, trust your instincts and value yourself and your voice in the space.”

WHO: Becca Wilson

WHAT: “The thrilling true story of Florence Waren, an intrepid Jewish resistance fighter and dazzling showgirl leading a perilous double life in WW2. Working fearlessly for the French resistance by day, Florence takes to the stage alongside icons Edith Piaf and Josephine Baker, every night at the infamous Bal Tabarin. Written by Florence’s relative, the ‘breathtakingly skilful ensemble’ (BBC Scotland) jump cut between worlds bursting with bravery, family and feather boas. With their trademark high production values, the ‘superbly multi-talented’ (**** (Scotsman)) Young Pleasance present their modern take on the glitz, glamour and glare of wartime Paris.”

WHERE: Pleasance Dome – KingDome (Venue 23) 

WHEN: 15:00 (60 min)

MORE: Click Here!

Is this your first time to Edinburgh?

I first came to the fringe when I was 17 to perform in a Young Pleasance show and have loved it ever since! You can watch so much great work and learn so much about what theatre can be.

What are the big things you’ve learned since 2022 and have you absorbed any of the lessons yet?

I’ve seen a lot of great theatre over the past year especially in Wales, ‘Es & Flo’ and ‘Making of a Monster’ both at the WMC were inspiring. I have also been lucky enough to be part of some great shows as an actor too including The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time and several shows at the Sherman Theatre most recently ‘Imrie’ written by Nia Morais and directed by Gethin Evans and I’ve learnt tough rehearsals lead to great shows.

Be brave enough to ask questions, tear it all apart, trust your instincts and value yourself and your voice in the space. Focus on creating beautiful moments, focus on detail and keep the momentum going.

Tell us about your show.

Showgirls and Spies is written by Rebecca Wilson and produced by Ellie Simpson and the Young Pleasance Company. YP have been a company for over 25 years now and was first started by Katherine Norton-Smith and her brother Tim Norton. It is now run by them and Jo Billington and will be co-directed this year by Marc Benga and Rebecca Wilson.

The production this year will be premiering in Edinburgh! We don’t know where it will go afterwards, but that is one of the wonders of Edinburgh, you never know what’s just around the corner.

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

I’m personally really looking forward to seeing ex YP member comedian Frankie Thompson’s new show ‘Frankie Thompson and Live Ello: Body Show’ at the Pleasance Courtyard.

‘Salty Irina’ by Eve Leigh with Broccoli Arts at the Roundabout in Summerhall.

‘Showstopper! The Improvised Musical’ is a classic favourite as a musical theatre geek, I love it!
And finally I’m looking forward to seeing comedian Leila Navabi’s new show at the Pleasance, it’s always exciting to see other Welsh creatives in Edinburgh.

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EdFringe Talk: Santi and Naz

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“We’ve learned a lot about our capacity as a company and as theatre makers; what we’re willing and feasibly able to do, and more importantly what we actually want to be doing!”

WHO: Guleraana Mir

WHAT: “Best friends Santi and Naz live in pre-partition India. One Sikh, one Muslim, they have little understanding of how religion will divide them. As the political situation in their country worsens and the threat of separation looms large on the horizon, they decide to take drastic action. Award-winning company The Thelmas explore queer love, identity and loyalty, set against the backdrop of a country soon to be changed forever. Winner of the Pleasance’s Charlie Hartill Fund. Praise for Ladykiller (2018): ‘A smash hit’ ***** (BroadwayBaby.com). ‘Superb’ **** (Scotsman).”

WHERE: Pleasance Courtyard – Pleasance Two (Venue 33) 

WHEN: 13:30 (70 min)

MORE: Click Here!

Is this your first time to Edinburgh?

The Thelmas made our debut at Edinburgh in 2018 with Ladykiller, which was a bit of a cult hit, so we’re excited to be returning this year! Since then, our Director, Madelaine Moore has returned with two more shows; Algorithms and Fatty Fat Fat in 2019. We’ve found that what’s great about the fringe is that there’s access to so many companies and artists that you’d never get to see in one place, particularly international companies. You really get to step out of your bubble as a punter, and as a producer you have a chance to share your work with audiences you may not otherwise have reached.

What are the big things you’ve learned since 2022 and have you absorbed any of the lessons yet?

The lessons we’ve learned have been since 2020 because Santi & Naz is the first thing we’ve produced since then. We’ve learned a lot about our capacity as a company and as theatre makers; what we’re willing and feasibly able to do, and more importantly what we actually want to be doing! We’ve also learned how much an award or support scheme makes a difference to bringing a show to the fringe; Santi & Naz won the Charlie Hartill Fund this year, without which it just would not have been possible to attend, so a big shout out to Pleasance for that!

Tell us about your show.

Essentially, it’s a queer love letter to best friends everywhere. Set against the backdrop of the partition of India, Santi & Naz charts the story of these two besties, determined to stay together despite the, frankly horrific, decisions made by the men in power, the British, and their families in face of this huge historical event. It’s funny and bittersweet, especially made so as the friends are also navigating their sexuality and feelings for each other at the same time – it’s complicated. It will make you laugh, then cry, then want to go and google ‘partition of India and Pakistan’. It’s written by Guleraana Mir and afshan d’souza lodhi, based on an initial story conceived by Guleraana and director, Madelaine Moore. It’s produced by The Thelmas (run by Guleraana & Maddy), who’ve teamed up with Sarah Jordan Verghese as Associate Producer.

There was a shorter, less developed version of Santi & Naz that was at VAULT 2020 where it won and Origin Award for outstanding new work. Since then we’ve developed the script and production and it’s on a mini-preview tour; Mercury, Colchester; Old Fire Station, Oxford; Broadway, Catford and Macready Theatre, Ruby. We’re looking to tour it and do a full London run in 2024, so venues – hit us up!

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

We think you should see @AwkwardProds Diana: The Untold and Untrue Story, because we are Lady Di stans (especially untrue ones), Blueprints by @LoloUnplugged from @Recreate_agency (they have two more too!). Our fellow Charlie Hartill winners @stroudandnotes’ Public – The Musical, @NovTheatre’s Pitch and Unforgettable Girl from @Created_Monster. For International work we’re excited to see what the brilliant @1OntroerendGoed are bringing. Comedy wise, we’re looking forward to tasting @AlisonSpittle’s (no doubt hilarious) Soup.

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EdFringe Talk: Public – The Musical

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“Biggest lesson I’ve learnt, is trust your gut with WHO you want to work with.”

WHO: Kyla Stroud

WHAT: “Usually avoid public bathrooms? Here’s one you won’t want to miss! This award-winning new musical follows four unlikely strangers who find themselves trapped together in a gender-neutral public toilet. With an hour to kill until maintenance arrives, the group navigates unexpected challenges, pungent opinions and some seriously sticky conversations. Created by queer-led theatre collective Stroud & Notes, Public – The Musical explores stories of identity, connection and compassion, alongside an electrifying pop/rock score. This will be a trip to the bathroom you’ll never forget! Winner of the Pleasance’s Charlie Hartill Fund and VAULT Origins Award.”

WHERE: Pleasance Courtyard – Pleasance Two (Venue 33) 

WHEN: 18:30 (60 min)

MORE: Click Here!

Is this your first time to Edinburgh?

First time as team Stroud & Notes! Hannah has been a few times with different shows and Kyla and Nat went as punters for the first time in 2022 and fell in love with the Festival. Liv has never been! I’ve only been as a punter, so I’m really excited to have a new experience this year!

I think what makes a great festival is connecting with all the fellow amazing creatives up in Edinburgh and getting inspired by all their new work. I’ve certainly received a lot of advise about pacing myself! I did 10 shows in 3 days last year and I think that might have to be spread out a little more as a producer. Advice to punters, leave space to see something random! That show in the corner of a basement with no marketing budget might just be the best thing you’ve ever seen! If not, it’s a good story!

What are the big things you’ve learned since 2022 and have you absorbed any of the lessons yet?

Biggest lesson I’ve learnt, is trust your gut with WHO you want to work with. The reason we’ve managed to get this show off the ground (not to say it doesn’t have a long way to go) in a year, is because we work as a team and we create a working environment based around kindness and enjoyment.

Tell us about your show.

The idea for Public – The Musical was initially conceived in early 2022 by yours truly (Kyla Stroud) and shortly after I began building the Stroud & Notes team which consists of myself: composer / co-writer / co-producer, Hannah Sands: co-producer /co-writer / theatre maker, Natalie Stroud: co-writer / movement director and Olivia Zacharia, musical supervisor. Hannah actually went to stagecoach with us Stroud twins back in the day and Olivia and went to the same primary and secondary school. Edinburgh will be the official international premiere of the show, co-produced by The Pleasance as winners of their Charlie Hartill Fund. This follows on from 2 sold-out work-in-progress shows at The Vault Festival in March where they won the Vault Origin Award.
The future is an exciting mystery! We hope Fringe will open the conversations to theatres and producers who want to help us take the show on tour or even a potential London run!

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

Definitely check out our cast member Annabel Marlow’s solo show ‘Annabel Marlow…Is this ok? She is bloomin’ hilarious and totally brilliant.

Our fellow Charlie Hartill winners November Theatre with their show PITCH is definitely on my watch list. It’s about the relationship between football and the queer community, something I so relate to as a queer person who loves the game.

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EdFringe Talk: Mervyn Stutter’s Pick of the Fringe

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“Producer and punters I think share one basic problem. The Fringe is really big! Maybe 3500 plus shows this year. So, producers need to discover how to get their shows noticed and punters need to discover how to notice the best shows. It’s a very big festival!”

WHO: Mervyn Stutter

WHAT: “It’s like the Royal Variety Show of the Fringe. Mervyn and his team carefully research the Fringe and bring you live extracts from seven top shows in a packed 90-minute lunchtime extravaganza. Every day there is a different selection. Pick the ones you like and then go and see them. Simple! Brilliant! There’s comedy, theatre, cabaret, music, dance, circus and the indefinable. Daily line-ups at http://www.mervspotfringe.com. ‘A vibrant, stimulating showcase of talent’ (Scotsman). ‘Excellent, really, really good!’ (Observer). Celebrating its 30th year!”

WHERE: Pleasance Courtyard – Pleasance One (Venue 33) 

WHEN: 12:40 (60 min)

MORE: Click Here!

Is this your first time to Edinburgh?

No – I’ve been performing on the Fringe for 35 consecutive years now! It is of course the largest Arts Festival in the world and unique in that anyone can attend and perform if they can get a room – and have a suitable budget!

This is what makes the Fringe so exciting. The bigger venues do invite shows onto their menus, but mostly the Fringe is open to anyone – especially now on the Free Fringe.

Producer and punters I think share one basic problem. The Fringe is really big! Maybe 3500 plus shows this year. So, producers need to discover how to get their shows noticed and punters need to discover how to notice the best shows. It’s a very big festival!

What are the big things you’ve learned since 2022 and have you absorbed any of the lessons yet?

I have been learning Fringe lessons since I started back in 1987 – and still learning. From 1987, I was doing my solo comedy and song shows each year. The PR decisions were so different then. There was no internet and no mobile phones. So it was the very basic stuff of festivals – poster and flyers and a lot of energy chatting with people.

Even in my first five years of solo shows, ticket pricing was key. I always felt it best to keep prices very reasonable – low even – to encourage people in. And when I started Pick of the Fringe in 1992, keeping tickets prices low was even more necessary. Firstly, to establish a new show and secondly to provide a good crowd every day to reassure invited guest shows that this showcase was really worth it for them.

The main thing to learn is “Keep up!” The Fringe changed enormously with the tech revolution. And continues to change. Over the years we’ve seen mobiles, emails, texts, WhatsApp, WhatsApp groups (That’s a good one for teams like ours) Pre-booking tickets and now through major ecological concerns the ubiquitous Fringe flyer is fading out. So “flyering” may soon be “Hello. Want to see a good show? Here’s my QR code.”

Tell us about your show.

Mervyn Stutter’s Pick of the Fringe (So named because others started setting up shows using Pick of the Fringe and I had to add my name so my audiences knew which was hosted by me) is a daily 90 minute showcase of Fringe talent. Every show that is invited to appear has been reviewed by my team to ensure that only the best shows are selected. It’s a guarantee I’ve given my audiences since I started back in 1992.

From the very first year I’ve always had a team of researchers so audiences can trust the quality of the work we showcase. The seven guests shows each day – and every day there’s different shows – will do a 5 minute piece and then a short interview with me to bring out more details to excite the audience to go and buy tickets! There’s always a wide selection of Fringe acts to be seen each day – theatre, comedy, music, dance, cabaret, circus – the lot really.

Pick of the Fringe does not premier or carry on after the festival. It’s essentially a “service” within each year’s Fringe helping people navigate the 3500 or so shows to find what they like and having seen a trailer to then go and buy tickets.

But there can be a significant post Fringe effect from my Spirit of the Fringe Award though – for
to leave Edinburgh with an award is always useful publicity. One winner, a playwright, told me that my award opened up Fringe festivals around the world for him.

Whether any of these now famous award winners felt the same, I don’t know. But I did give Spirit of the Fringe Awards to The League of Gentlemen, Ed Byrne, Tim Vine, Omid Djalili, Arthur Smith, Henning Wehn, Jess Robinson, Dave Johns, Ross Noble, Phil Nichol, Cal McCrystal, Fascinating Aida, Showstoppers – The Musical, Ben Hart, Jo Caulfield and Jim Tavare.

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

As my show is there to help my audiences choose what to see then ideally, I’d like them to see shows they like from my Pick of the Fringe. And they do. And because it really works for them, audiences will come back two or three times a week because every day there’s a different selection of shows from right across the Fringe.

It’s a great way for acts to meet new audiences and for audiences to meet new acts. And has been for the last 30 years!

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EdFringe Talk: Lucky Pigeons

Posted in *Written Interviews, EdFestivals 2023 by

“Rooted in our unique sense of humour, we weave a narrative that’s as unpredictable and heartwarming as our pigeons are taking acrobatic flight.”

WHO: Toffy (Christoph) Paulweber

WHAT: “A treat for the whole family, BrainFools’ Fringe debut defies gravity to conjure a surreal world where a flock of energetic, curious pigeons dwell. Join us on a journey to a magical space created through incredible contemporary circus skills.”

WHERE: Underbelly’s Circus Hub on the Meadows – The Beauty (Venue 360) 

WHEN: 13:05 (60 min)

MORE: Click Here!

Is this your first time to Edinburgh?

YES, it is our maiden flight to Edinburgh. Navigating the bustling artistic skies of Edfringe for the first time, we’re truly pigeon-eyed with excitement! The festival’s constantly pulsating energy and eclectic mix of talent make it a veritable bird’s nest of creativity.

What are the big things you’ve learned since 2022 and have you absorbed any of the lessons yet?

Since 2022, our coo-llective wisdom has grown significantly. We’ve learned that in this unpredictable world, you need to wing it sometimes. Flexibility, resilience—they’re not just for acrobats!

Tell us about your show.

Lucky Pigeons, a whimsical creation hatched by Finn and me (Toffy), is a testament to our adventurous spirit. Launched on a successful Southwest tour last year, it called for celebration, creativity, and of course, a bit of chaos! Now, we’re taking this show under our wings and soaring towards its exhilarating Edinburgh Fringe debut. Rooted in our unique sense of humour, we weave a narrative that’s as unpredictable and heartwarming as our pigeons are taking acrobatic flight.

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

Once you’ve flapped your wings with our Lucky Pigeons, make sure to book a seat at “Sophie’s Birthday Party.” It’s an uproarious late-night immersive cabaret featuring the crème de la crème of the UK circus scene. Consider it the perfect nightcap after an exhilarating Fringe day—you’re sure to leave with feathers well and truly ruffled from laughter!

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