Author Archives: Dan Lentell

EdFringe Talk: Tartan Tabletop in a Dungeons & Dragons Comedy: The Never-Ending Quest (Ends Aug 27th)

Posted in *Written Interviews, EdFestivals 2023 by

“The show is different every night, meaning that I, as the Dungeon Master, essentially have to write 25 shows rather than just one.”

WHO: Josh Aitken

WHAT: “A quest that began on the free Fringe last year, makes it’s full Fringe debut – the popular Dungeons & Dragons podcast team lands at Gilded Balloon with the Never-Ending Quest – improvised comedy at the roll of a dice, expect teamwork, nerdy jokes and guest star comedians playing Noblin the Goblin. Don’t worry about the plot, we don’t! Expect laughs, adventure and random acts of sorcery from the Tartan Tabletop gang of misfit adventurers – produced by Off Fest-nominated Future Artists.”

WHERE: Gilded Balloon Patter Hoose – Nip (Venue 117) 

WHEN: 17:40 (60 min)

MORE: Click Here!

Is this your first time to Edinburgh?

As most of our cast are recovering theatre kids and drama students, we’ve all been to the festival before – however this show is something we’re bringing ourselves, rather than our high school production of ‘Grease’.

All of our cast are Scottish, and some conveniently from Edinburgh… One of them, Alex, as a younger man thought that the festival was comprised of Jugglers only, and couldn’t understand the mass popularity. He’s since been informed he is not required to juggle in our show.

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

So the show is different every night, meaning that I, as the Dungeon Master, essentially have to write 25 shows rather than just one. A steep learning curve for me was remembering not to write the show the morning of… wether this has absorbed or not we are yet to see.

Alex has also asked me to let you know he has learned to juggle, I will reiterate however that this isn’t necessary for our show.

Tell us about your show.

The show is a group of friends sat around a table playing Dungeons and Dragons and we want you to feel like a part of that! That’s literally how the show started, we were a group of friends who would meet every Friday night to escape our mundane everyday responsibilities by rolling dice and speaking in funny voices… and then we decided to monetise our hobby.

As the Dungeon Master I write the entire show other than the characters played by my fellow cast members – those are completely improvised and developed personally by the actors. They get to be the heroes and I get to be the trees, rats and slimy goblins. Its a thankless and some might say humiliating job, but thats showbiz baby!

The show is being produced by Future Artists and we are incredibly thankful to them for the opportunity. As for the future, well it depends how many of you lot come and see us.

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

A friend of the show has wrote a play called ‘The Rejects’, which is on at TheSpace on the mile, We caught there preview and its hilarious! You should definitely check it out.

For something more Dungeons and Dragons-esque there’s an improv comedy show called ‘Mistakes Where Made’ on at CC Blooms, we’re planning to go see that, it looks right up our street.

LIKE WHAT YOU JUST READ? FOLLOW US ON TWITTER! FIND US ON FACEBOOK! OR SIGN UP TO OUR MAILING LIST!

INTERESTED IN BEING INTERVIEWED TOO? CLICK HERE!

EdFringe Talk: Magic for Animals

Posted in *Written Interviews, EdFestivals 2023 by

“I’m never as happy as I am onstage and that I love to be around other performers and creative people.”

WHO: Liz Toonkel

WHAT: “Magic for Animals is a one-woman magic show about agency, consent, and animal rights. Liz Toonkel uses sparkling, incisive humour to offer a refreshing antidote to the gendered and speciesist tradition of magic. It examines how we treat animals, and urges us to reconsider how we treat one another. By day, Liz is a production designer who’s shaped the look of such films as Marcel the Shell with Shoes On and Emily the Criminal, by night she’s a performance artist and magician.”

WHERE: Greenside @ Infirmary Street – Olive Studio (Venue 236) 

WHEN: 23:25 (50 min)

MORE: Click Here!

Is this your first time to Edinburgh?

I am excited, and insanely nervous, to be a first time Fringe performer! Last year I had the opportunity to visit the festival and I had the best time seeing so many incredible shows and was really struck by the sense of community. That camaraderie is what inspired me to take the plunge and bring my own show this year. I just returned from performing at the Cincinnati Fringe Festival and by far, my favourite part of the experience was spending time with the other artists so I can’t wait to do that again on a larger scale.

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

I’ve learned that I’m never as happy as I am onstage and that I love to be around other performers and creative people. The pandemic was really challenging for me and in the past year I’ve pushed myself to be more of an active community member. I’ve learned so much from spending more time with fellow artists and it’s made me happier and my work stronger. In 2022, I thought a lot about how I can be a better ally to those around me and how to try and foster spaces of safety and respect. This is something I work on every day and even though I often make mistakes I try my best to learn from them rather than give up which I am wont to do since I’m a perfectionist. My perfectionism is the biggest hurdle I’ve been working to overcome this year. I hope by trying to embody the spirit of the fringe I can push myself further along in doing so.

Tell us about your show.

By utilizing a popular form such as a magic show for its curb appeal, I am drawing in an audience that wants humor, entertainment and spectacle. Already the pivot in my practice towards the magical has invited in audience members who have told me they would have never approached performance art. And if that helps save one more pig, cow or possum then I am one happy clam. I have deep joy for the craft of magic and am thrilled to devise a piece that takes the comedy and razzle dazzle to a deeper level.

Los Angeles Performance Practice is producing my show and they came onboard after I performed a workshop version at their 2021 LAX Festival. I really admire the ethic of their organisation and the way they lift up a diverse set of voices and help support solo work. A workshop version of the show was presented at Aarhaus Festuge 2022 with Live Art Denmark and the show had its world premiere as part of the primary lineup at the 2023 Cincinnati Fringe Festival in June. I hope to book a full tour of the show after Edinburgh and will be presenting it at the Center for the Arts at Kayenta in Utah in early 2024.

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

I’d love to suggest three fellow women artists who are also bringing their solo shows from Los Angeles.

Claire Woolner is an amazing performance artist and clown who is going to be my roommate in Edinburgh. We supported each other in building our shows and I love her hilarious and personal show A Retrospection at PBH’s Free Fringe at Banshee Labyrinth.

Brianna Ahlmark and I study clowning together and without her guidance I wouldn’t have finished my applications in time to find a venue in Edinburgh! She is truly my fringe guardian angel. Brianna has so much fun onstage and is impossible not to love, check out her show Dillis at PBH’s Free Fringe at Banshee Labyrinth.

Courtney Pauroso is a performer who I greatly admire. I saw a workshop of her new show and can’t wait to see a more developed version of Courtney Pauroso: Vanessa 5000 at Pleasance Courtyard.

LIKE WHAT YOU JUST READ? FOLLOW US ON TWITTER! FIND US ON FACEBOOK! OR SIGN UP TO OUR MAILING LIST!

INTERESTED IN BEING INTERVIEWED TOO? CLICK HERE!

EdFringe Talk: Rizal Van Geyzel: Arrested

Posted in *Written Interviews, EdFestivals 2023 by

“Freedom of speech is fragile in Malaysia.”

WHO: Rizal van Geyzel

WHAT: “Rizal Van Geyzel (as seen on Comedy Central Asia) was put in jail for telling jokes about his Islamic heritage. After a year under fire from right-wing extremists, a hostile government, and a sedition hearing, Rizal Van Geyzel comes to the Fringe for the first time to tell the story of how it happened, and what it means for the role of comedy, and the impact it has had on freedom of speech in Malaysia. Don’t worry, all this sounds a bit heavy but the show is really funny.”

WHERE: Laughing Horse @ Bar 50 – Upstairs (Venue 151) 

WHEN: 21:00 (60 min)

MORE: Click Here!

Is this your first time to Edinburgh?

Coming from Malaysia, this festival will be exciting for me on so many levels. We do not have any arts festivals of this magnitude back home, and on top of that, The UK is a much older nation compared to Malaysia and I will be keen to explore the city and all its historical sites. The EdFringe will certainly open my eyes and expand my understanding on the many different genres of the performing arts.

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

2022 will be remembered as the year Stand-up Comedy came under attack. The Comedy Club I ran for 8 years was vandalised, and shut down by the authorities. I received death threats, got arrested, remanded and charged by the high court for uploading my Comedy clips with jokes that allegedly insulted race and religion. All thanks to the oscars and Will Smiths wife!

Jokes aside, one of the many lessons I learnt is that freedom of speech is fragile in Malaysia and stand-up comedy may not be the universal language I so thought it was.

Tell us about your show.

The show is produced by RGB Monster, a production company with a lot of experience running festival shows all over the world namely, “Not My Audience”, “Inside The Robot”, & other lineup shows. This show “Arrested” however, will be produced by them for the first time and will be debuting internationally at the Edinburgh Fringe after a successful run in its home country, Malaysia.

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

The Asian Comedy Showcase at 2.45pm at the Laughing Horse will be featuring loads of talents from countries where Comedy is banned!

Sam See’s Government Approved Sex! will be at the same venue at 7.15pm. Sam is one of the most lightning quick comics I’ve seen come out (in more ways than one) of the grassroots of Singapore’s Comedy Scene.

Ollie Horn “Not Much”, happening at Just The Tonic at 6.25pm. Why Ollie Horn isn’t a household name in the UK is beyond me. He’s extremely clever, and exudes a very British like charismatic charm thats good enough to colonise countries.. again.

LIKE WHAT YOU JUST READ? FOLLOW US ON TWITTER! FIND US ON FACEBOOK! OR SIGN UP TO OUR MAILING LIST!

INTERESTED IN BEING INTERVIEWED TOO? CLICK HERE!

EdFringe Talk: After Shakespeare

Posted in *Written Interviews, EdFestivals 2023 by

“I’ve had Long Covid ever since; with fatigue and brain fog filling my every day. Everything is a chore and requires a huge amount of effort – even answering these questions!”

WHO: Andrew Slade

WHAT: “What happens to Shakespeare’s best-loved heroes and most reviled villains after the curtain falls? Come and join a host of familiar Shakespearean characters as they reflect back on their lives: including Lady Macbeth, Portia, Hamlet and King Hal (Henry V). Lexi Wolfe weaves together Shakespeare’s words, historical research, and her own dramatic spark, as she transforms into four distinct characters, to follow their onward journeys. Winner of Best Actress, Buxton Fringe 2021. ‘Lexi Wolfe is a formidable actor’ (Buxton Fringe).”

WHERE: theSpaceTriplex – Studio (Venue 38) 

WHEN: 16:05 (60 min)

MORE: Click Here!

Is this your first time to Edinburgh?

This is my first time, however by business partner, Lexi Wolfe (who is the writer and sole actor in the show) tries to visit when health allows (last time was back in 2016, I think), and last performed in Edinburgh back in 2009! So we’re both really excited to be making this journey as 2 people with disabilities this has been a real challenge – but we know we have a show with legs, even if ours sometimes let us down! We’re hoping the energy and enthusiasm, and sheer excitement of Edinburgh (a city we both love) will carry us through!

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

Oh wow. I guess don’t get Covid. I caught it twice at the start of 2022, and I’ve had Long Covid ever since; with fatigue and brain fog filling my every day. Everything is a chore and requires a huge amount of effort – even answering these questions! Fortunately I’ve just started a new treatment program, which I’m hoping will at least help me survive next month!

Tell us about your show.

Sooooo……After Shakespeare was the brainchild of Lexi. We both love our Shakespeare, but she took it a step further by making the thesis of her Masters at LIPA about the Bard, and so it was always going to happen at some point that we did something Shakespearean. She wrote it during lockdown as a way to not go stir crazy. We often have conversations about characters in books, TV and films wondering about how they got to where they are, or what their lives looked like after, and after a night of no or very little sleep I guess she took it to Shakespeare and asked the question about what Shakespeare’s characters would think about after their shows. Even the dead ones. So we have Henry V, Hamlet, Portia and Lady Macbeth lamenting and being generally perplexed about the state of their lives (except Portia, I think she’s generally really happy with her lot). The show is dramatic, funny and insightful as Lexi has woven in some historical facts about some of the characters along with the Shakespearean stories. We debuted the show over Zoom during lockdown, and then cut it down to a festival version that we wanted to bring to Edinburgh. We took it to Buxton Fringe first, were we were nominated for Best new Writing, Best Production and Lexi also won Best Actress – so enthused from that, we’ve ended up checking in to Edinburgh for the full run! As for the future….we have another performance booked in September, and we’d really like to tour it, or one of our other shows, so I guess watch this space!

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

Good question! Well I know a couple of others performing this year, and I think variety is so important – so I’d suggest going to see Mark Simmons show called New Jokes – he’s had jokes nominated for best joke at the Fringe for the last 2 years I believe, and is incredibly funny. Also go and see “Let The Bodies Pile” starring the amazing Emily Carding – you’ll get the combination of an award-winning writer, with an award-winning actress and a highly respected Director all in one show (a bit like ours, I guess!)

LIKE WHAT YOU JUST READ? FOLLOW US ON TWITTER! FIND US ON FACEBOOK! OR SIGN UP TO OUR MAILING LIST!

INTERESTED IN BEING INTERVIEWED TOO? CLICK HERE!

EdFringe Talk: Juliette Burton: No Brainer

Posted in *Written Interviews, EdFestivals 2023 by

“Every show, every set is a lesson waiting to be learned. The biggest lesson I’ve learned is to say ‘fuck it’.”

WHO: Juliette Burton

WHAT: “Everyone’s got a brain, although some work differently to others. In fixing her broken brain, Juliette learned a lot. Tired of mental health problems? Now is the time for solutions. Join award-winning comedian Juliette as she shares a manual for the mind. Not another awareness-raising show, but a change-making show. Is getting better a no-brainer? As seen on BBC One, ITV, BBC Radio 4 and BBC Radio 5 Live. Edinburgh Fringe total sell-out, 2015 to 2018. ‘Joyous’ (Times). ‘Fringe favourite’ (Guardian). ‘Hilarious’ ***** (EdFestMag.com). ***** (Mirror). ***** (BroadwayBaby.com). ***** (VoiceMag.uk). **** (Sunday Express). **** (One4Review.co.uk).”

WHERE: Gilded Balloon Teviot – Wee Room (Venue 117) 

WHEN: 19:20 (60 min)

MORE: Click Here!

Is this your first time to Edinburgh?

I’ve been performing in Edinburgh for over a decade now, sold out 4 years in a row, won a few awards and found my home, myself, my family thanks to the festival. A great festival is made by audiences. I might create a show but audiences make a show. All the sold out shows and awards mean nothing without an audience there to enjoy it. Audiences in Edinburgh helped me find a higher calling and my direction in life. I even moved to Edinburgh after falling in love with the city, and a man who lived there. When that relationship didn’t work out, I turned it into a show. Just like everything in my life, I wrote to cope. I wrote to communicate meaning, to find meaning and to galvanise others to take action to change the world. Thanks to the Fringe I toured in Australia and New Zealand, I met fellow change makers who craved progress and saw the arts and comedy as a vehicle for that. Edinburgh festival gave me my greatest successes and my greatest lessons. It shaped who I was and the direction of my life. I’ve had a longer relationship with this festival than any romantic relationship. However the pandemic changed everything. The pandemic ripped the live circuit away. It left me bereft. To cope, I wrote. And I took my time before returning. This is the year I will return.

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

I didn’t perform in Edinburgh in 2022. I spent the last 4 years rebuilding. In 2020 I was in the middle of my second UK tour funded by the Arts Council which was cancelled due to lockdowns. I’ve spent the last few years sitting back and watching, learning from observing others, witnessing. This year I’m dipping my toe back in because I feel something building inside for the next step. Have I absorbed any of the lessons yet? I’ve spent the last 4 years absorbing, patiently waiting. I’m constantly learning. Every show, every set is a lesson waiting to be learned. The biggest lesson I’ve learned is to say ‘fuck it’. Life is short. Performing is the greatest joy I have ever found in life. To have the opportunity to do it is a privilege that thanks to the pandemic I will never take for granted again. I am there to serve the audience by playing, by having fun and being a conduit for fun for them.

Tell us about your show.

Back in 2021 I applied for Arts Council funding to write a show about hope and how to find hope when things seem hopeless. A week after I got the funding I had a huge mental health breakdown. I’ve had a fair few in my time. I was sectioned under the mental health act aged 17, I was hospitalised 5 times for mental illness, been in therapy for 20 years and I’ve been diagnosed with 15 mental health conditions. I know what a breakdown looks like, and this was a big ‘un. I’ve rebuilt myself a number of times and this show showcases what I learned in this rebuild. I learned a lot in the past 4 years and I’ve taken my time to make this self development hilarious comedy content. We’ve all suffered one way or another in the last few years, so I wanted to share everything that has helped me so that audiences can help themselves. The show was meant to be about hope – that’s the light and fluffy side of me I used to perform as. This is grittier, more real, stronger. And if you like this you’re going to love what’s about to come… My show was written by me, Liam Bierne and Gareth Gwynn, it’s performed by me and all the parts of me I’ve healed. And it’s produced by Ingenious Fools, who are super supportive and have been during my difficult past few years. With this show I sold out at Machfest, Nottingham Comedy Festival, Leicester Comedy Festival and previews so far prove audiences seem to really love it in a “we really needed this” kind of way. So come see for yourself.

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

Definitely see Sooz Kempner. Sooz and I have known each other for almost as long as I’ve been performing in Edinburgh. During the pandemic especially we stayed in close touch. She’s a grafter, has worked her socks off to get to where she is right now and deserves all the good things coming to her. If you miss out on seeing her now, you’re missing a zeigeist. She’s channeling something bigger than herself and we’re just lucky to be around her while she’s doing so. Also Rachel Creeger who is another great friend and anyone performing at Gilded Balloon – they’re a terrific venue who are supporting great acts.

LIKE WHAT YOU JUST READ? FOLLOW US ON TWITTER! FIND US ON FACEBOOK! OR SIGN UP TO OUR MAILING LIST!

INTERESTED IN BEING INTERVIEWED TOO? CLICK HERE!

EdFringe Talk: Wildcat’s Last Waltz

Posted in *Written Interviews, EdFestivals 2023 by

image of event

“I realised this year those ‘conditions’ don’t really exist and at some point, you have to go for and realise that the doing it in the first place is an achievement not what might or might not come next.”

WHO: Joshua Welch

WHAT: “Move over Dame Jude – there’s a new national treasure in town! This bold piece of theatre pierces to the heart of love, life and grief. It is a truly unique theatrical experience. The self-proclaimed ‘Wildcat of Sheffield’ faces the end of her days after the death of her beloved Geoff. With her razor-sharp wit and larger-than-life personality, she looks back on her past, her outrageous youth, falling in love, marriage, motherhood, ageing and loneliness. ‘Utterly captivating… full of life and light and fun… powerful and poignant… fearless acting… side-splitting’ ***** (LondonPubTheatres.com).”

WHERE: Assembly Rooms – Front Room (Venue 20) 

WHEN: 19:45 (60 min)

MORE: Click Here!

Is this your first time to Edinburgh?

With my own show? YES! I came once when I was at University to watch shows, the moment I got off the train the heavens opened and I got drenched and never really got dry. Let’s hope the sun shines on 2023! I can’t wait to be there again, it the idea that when you begin your show you know that hundreds of other show are happening at the same time is soo exciting!

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

I’ve been doing Wildcat’s Last Waltz since 2019 and I’ve always been pretty nervous about bringing it to the Fringe and found an excuse not to do it every year, “I’ll wait for a producer” ” I’ll wait for funding” “I’ll wait until I’ve got good PR” I guess waiting for the ‘perfect conditions’ to take the show in. But I realised this year those ‘conditions’ don’t really exist and at some point you have to go for and realise that the doing it in the first place is an achievement not what might or might not come next.

Tell us about your show.

I wrote the show, Kelly Hunter directs and there’s amazing accompanying music from; Mercedes Maresca, Catherine Kay and Carina Torres. I came into theatre not long after my Mum passed away, I joined a AmDram group that created an alternative family that weren’t in the world of tragedy, they were in the world Ayckbourn comedies and pantomime. It saved my life. After University, I wrote Wildcat’s Last Waltz after being inspired by long drives with my own grandmother in my clapped-out VW polo. My grandma and I shared stories of each other’s grieves , fears of death and funny stories and became an unbreakable bond because of it. This play is my tribute to her and all the other strong, loving and wildly fierce mothers I have met along my way.

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

WASTE-MAN – ASSEMBLY ROOMS- George Square Studios – Looks amazing, can’t wait to see it !

DRAG QUEENS & VAMPIRES – UNDERBELLY COWGATE – I went to Uni of York with these Queens they were hilarious then and always have been!

DANIEL KITSON – SUMMERHALL – Pure class of a comic

PLAYING LATINX – SUMMERHALL – Written and performed by Guido Lueches who is an amazing performer and you will have a fantastic time

DAINA: THE UNTOLD AND UNTURE STORY – PLEASANCE DOME – Something I’ve been meaning to see for ages and I can’t wait to final see them

NOT CRICKET PRODUCTIONS – THREE MEN IN A BOAT – C VENUES – Went Uni with these guys, they adapt classic novels for children with creative flare, care and beauty!

LIKE WHAT YOU JUST READ? FOLLOW US ON TWITTER! FIND US ON FACEBOOK! OR SIGN UP TO OUR MAILING LIST!

INTERESTED IN BEING INTERVIEWED TOO? CLICK HERE!

EdFringe Talk: Flat and the Curves: Divadom

Posted in *Written Interviews, EdFestivals 2023 by

“As a performer it’s really easy to get bogged down in audition drought and imposter syndrome. What the Fringe gave to me was autonomy over my career, the opportunity to build connections with brilliant creatives and develop appreciation for the variety of roles that span the arts.”

WHO: Issy Wroe Wright

WHAT: “The Chortle Award 2023 finalists bring you their glittery comedy cabaret of unbridled fun! The comedy quartet delivers their self-penned songs celebrating sex and sisterhood in a bra-burning evening of mischief. The powerhouse vocalists will take you on an X-rated ride with riotous anthems that are as wide-ranging as their dating escapades; from the plight of online pornography to the perils of flat-pack furniture. Expect big voices and bold statements in a sparkly spectacle filled with hilarity and full-frontal vulgarity. ‘Truly remarkable!’ ***** (BroadwayWorld.com). ‘Fierce, intoxicating and gloriously indecorous’ (Chortle.co.uk).”

WHERE: Pleasance Dome – QueenDome (Venue 23) 

WHEN: 21:50 (60 min)

MORE: Click Here!

Is this your first time to Edinburgh?

This will be Flat & the Curves first full month up at the Fringe. We performed a short 2-week run last year at The Stand. At the time we had no idea what to expect; luckily we got brilliant feedback and some of our comedy idols even ended up in our audience; Dillie Keane of Fascinating Aida (a huge influence for us) and comedy legend, Stewart Lee, even gave us a shout out at the end of his show. That’s the beauty of the Fringe, it helps to even out the playing field and that’s a huge part of why we’re going again this year!

As a producer/performer, this is not my first rodeo. I’ve been a Fringe devotee since 2015, when I brought my first show, Shit-Faced Showtime. I was straight out of drama school, incredibly naïve and inexperienced. With help from (what was then) Magnificent Bastard Productions (Shit-Faced Shakespeare), the musical sister-show, went from strength to strength, 8 years down the line, the show play’s in the West-End at The Leicester Square Theatre during their Christmas Season. The Fringe is beautiful for what it does for creatives who don’t fit a particular commercial mold.

To me, the Fringe signifies a freedom to be creative. As a performer it’s really easy to get bogged down in audition drought and imposter syndrome. What the Fringe gave to me was autonomy over my career, the opportunity to build connections with brilliant creatives and develop appreciation for the variety of roles that span the arts. That’s the plus side, I can’t deny the elephant in the room when it comes to the cost of taking a show up there. Flat & the Curves are only able to make it up this year with the help of outside funding, Leicester Square Theatre providing sponsorship alongside the Keep it Fringe Fund. It’s important that bigger more financially stable companies continue to lift up the emerging ones, that’s what’s going to keep the Fringe alive.

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

Since the last day of the Fringe last year we’ve been planning our show for this year…almost obsessively. We learnt last year that we needed a much bigger run up to the Fringe. We’ve organised our flyers, our press and most importantly, accommodation, much further ahead than we did last year. The main thing I find is to keep a cool head; there is so much stimulus when you’re there that worrying about these things on the ground is just a hindrance. Other more trivial things we’ve planned ahead: Sleepover rota’s, to negate the politics of pals kipping on your sofa and packing a receptacle for what we (in the professional world of drinking) affectionately call ‘journey juice’ i.e. on-the-go booze to save money in bars. Pack a hip flask and ear plugs and you’ll have a ball.

Tell us about your show.

Flat & the Curves is a 4-part comedy girl-group that formed 3 years ago. All 4 of us had worked together across cabaret, function-bands and musical comedy; Our fabulous fire-head Katy Baker headed a previous iteration, the award winning comedy group, ‘Four Femmes on the Thames’, our resident little weirdo, Charlotte Brooke was writing her own comedy and was a best newcomer at the Musical Comedy Awards, the fabulous Arabella Rodrigo was a hugely in demand session singer/West End performer and myself, Issy Wroe Wright busy putting my liver through the ringer, producing and performing in Shit-Faced Showtime.

Our plan was to write original comedy music that not only hit the tone comedically, but also sounded and looked like a professional girl band. Our show is a gig-style musical show that explores the modern-day female experience. Our shows are a cabaret of unbridled fun. As classically trained musicians and singers, we’ll sing anything, from Operetta to Euro-pop and all done dressed tit-to-toe in sequins.

When we were coming up with the concept for this show (we’re all involved in the writing and direction), we had been discussing the word ‘diva’ and its negative connotation in describing assertive women. ‘Divadom’ is about taking ownership of patriarchal labels. We took inspiration from the musical diva’s we admire, operatic prima donnas, 90’s brit-pop girl bands or 80’s rock goddesses, writing songs that emulate their music and then putting in a funny feminist twist. We’ve been described in the past as, ‘Fascinating Aida, meets the Inbetweeners, meets the Spice Girls’, which I think is quite fitting. Our show is uniquely different from most things you might see at the Fringe, it’s a late night uplifting party that will send you out into the evening in a fabulous mood.

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

My main tip is to go and see things you wouldn’t usually be able to see in your hometown. My personal hot-tips are Lorna Rose-Treen (Taking her show ‘Skin Pigeon’). I recently saw a snippet of John Tothill’s show, ‘The Last Living Libertine’ which made me howl (@johntothill). If we’re talking about musical comedy, I’m really excited about seeing Rosie Sings show about her priceless vagina (@MyVspriceless).

LIKE WHAT YOU JUST READ? FOLLOW US ON TWITTER! FIND US ON FACEBOOK! OR SIGN UP TO OUR MAILING LIST!

INTERESTED IN BEING INTERVIEWED TOO? CLICK HERE!

EdFringe Talk: Inside The Robot: Kids vs Chaos!

Posted in *Written Interviews, EdFestivals 2023 by

“I knew that the principles there, with some good production and the right story, could make a spectacular show.”

WHO: Stephen Case

WHAT: “The world’s only theatrical escape room! You are the crew of a robot and everything has gone wrong! Help! The stunning visual effects and immersive interactive technology mean kids aged 5 to 95 will be enthralled in this thrilling, educational and hilarious spectacular. Back with new challenges and a new story for 2023 – fans of puzzles, games and silly dances can’t miss this unique Fringe experience brought to you for a strictly limited run. Come see us in the iconic Big Caves venue like you have never seen it before.”

WHERE: Just the Tonic at The Caves – Just the Big Room (Venue 88) 

WHEN: 13:30 (60 min)

MORE: Click Here!

Is this your first time to Edinburgh?

This is my sixth Fringe and my second with this show. This show -Inside the Robot- in particular benefits from a “trial by Fringe”. What I mean there is that it is very hard to find a space in everyday live entertainment that allows you to do something as unique as “Escape Room Comedy Show on Stage” for 130 people a day with enough regularity to get it to a place where it works. What I like about the Fringe is that the audiences take more chances on shows and, to an extent, understand that they are part of the process of creation. I come from a video game design background where beta players offering a year or mores feedback is the norm before a game officially releases. In many ways the Fringe is that beta environment for live shows.

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

So much! Last year was our first time doing the show. No one, to our knowledge, had ever tried to do something as complex as turning a 130 seater venue into a huge daily theatrical escape room. We did not market it at all last year because we just were not sure if it would work. We are back, so I hope that tells you it did! People kept finding us. The most important thing we learned is that kids are smart! We had planned for an hour long show, but the kids were solving the puzzles too quickly – they were out the door after 45 minutes. We quickly put some new puzzles in during the run. This year I hope that when any kids return for a repeat performance they will be pleasantly surprised by all the cool things we have added.

Tell us about your show.

The show came out of me designing large escape rooms for classrooms. This is an area of creativity in education that has been around for a good decade now. I knew that the principles there, with some good production and the right story, could make a spectacular show. We started off by doing a show for adults in Malaysia (where Escape Rooms are very popular). It was fun, but we found that half the show we were explaining things to people that they really should have remembered from school! We realised, actually, we had a kids show on our hands. This was great because that meant we could lean into the education and the silly. The idea formed of having the audience be the crew of a giant robot in space where everything has gone wrong! From there, we started building out fun games with solid STEM educational foundations (all the cool science stuff!). Luckily our team has a skilled game designer, an amazing programmer and great comedy writer on it so those skills all coalesced to make the show a one of a kind experience.

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

There are a lot of good shows around the Fringe that fit the Lego 3-99+ age bracket, where grandparents and grandkids can have a great time together. I would recommend Board Game Smack Down for this. Just comedians playing boards games on stage but a super fun show that will give you loads of ideas for how to spend a device free camping weekend with the family. I also recommend any of the clean showcases at the Free Festival – not aimed at kids but you can be comfortable that the shows will be PG rated. In this category too is Darren Walsh, lots of puns, puns and more puns! Oh and go see Olaf Falafel too, really silly and fun – you’ll love it.

LIKE WHAT YOU JUST READ? FOLLOW US ON TWITTER! FIND US ON FACEBOOK! OR SIGN UP TO OUR MAILING LIST!

INTERESTED IN BEING INTERVIEWED TOO? CLICK HERE!

EdFringe Talk: Sid Singh: Table for One

Posted in EdFestivals 2023 by

“It’s a cliche set of beliefs, but honestly, nothing is more important than choosing to just keep going.”

WHO: Sid Singh

WHAT: “Award-winning lefty comedian and human rights advocate Sid Singh takes you on a hilarious journey as he figures out how to fight the good fight… as far from home as possible! The last year has had people asking Sid to choose between his human rights work and comedy. Come watch as he tells them to f*ck off while dealing with newly woke parents, a broken hometown, and almost getting deported from India… while still in Germany! ‘Big laughs from unlikely places’ **** (Scotsman). ‘Sid had me bent over wheezing with laughter’ ***** (Comedy Clubhouse).”

WHERE: Laughing Horse @ Cabaret Voltaire – Main Room (Venue 338) 

WHEN: 16:15 (60 min)

MORE: Click Here!

Is this your first time to Edinburgh?

This is my 9th Fringe! I go every year that I can, and indeed, the only year I have missed since my Fringe ten years ago was during the pandemic when it was closed! This is without a doubt the best festival in the world and a great way to push your own show further, meet other creatives, perform for all kinds of different audiences over the month, and get inspired!

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

It’s a cliche set of beliefs, but honestly, nothing is more important than choosing to just keep going. When you keep pushing yourself just to continue, things just naturally start to happen. I’m well aware that everything I just wrote sounds like something ChatGPT would write to promote wellness or whatever, but it’s true! This past year has been one of the weirdest and wildest in my career, but it allowed me to visit even more cities and countries in the world in order to do comedy and honestly the incredibly boring secret was to keep going in the face of whatever that day’s adversity was.

Tell us about your show.

My show Table For One is about how I got to help beat the US government and save refugees….basically on accident! It is the story of the crazy journey I took to do so that involves starting comedy in San Diego, becoming homeless in New York City, going to law school in San Francisco, and yet opens by me discussing the weirdness of Portugal and India. More importantly this show will be raising money for the Center for Gender and Refugee Studies! 50 percent of all ticket sales and donations after the show (which is PWYC) will be going straight to them! Then they in turn will keep fighting the good fight as they are the people who beat the US government in court to save refugees on purpose!

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

There are so many amazing shows to see at the Fringe! Go see Olga Koch’s new show or Lara Ricote’s new work in progress if you want to see some of the best of the UK! If you want to see some of the best of the rest of the world (and you should) then you have to see Luana Matei (Romania,) George Zach (Greece,) Ram Arrangi (Netherlands,) Mike Rice (North Korea,) and so so many more!

LIKE WHAT YOU JUST READ? FOLLOW US ON TWITTER! FIND US ON FACEBOOK! OR SIGN UP TO OUR MAILING LIST!

INTERESTED IN BEING INTERVIEWED TOO? CLICK HERE!

EdFringe Talk: Everyone’s Worried About Eve

Posted in *Written Interviews, EdFestivals 2023 by

“I think actually not focusing on everything being perfect and just enjoying the fulfilment of creating something really close to my heart has been good to learn.”

WHO: Alex John

WHAT: “All About Eve? More like, Everyone’s Worried About Eve! The new sitcom! It’s Eve‘s birthday but for some reason this year feels different and Eve doesn’t quite know why. Maybe she could find out if that damn phone would stop ringing! Anyway, the show must go on… We follow Eve as she struggles with grown-up things like a family wedding, dating and even the politics of M&Ms! A neurodivergent show about grief, sisters and how sometimes the scariest thing you can do is to take responsibility for yourself. Yikes!”

WHERE: Greenside @ Riddles Court – Willow Studio (Venue 16) 

WHEN: 16:20 (50 min)

MORE: Click Here!

Is this your first time to Edinburgh?

I’ve only performed at the Edinburgh fringe a couple of times as a student or in amdram. So Everyone’s Worried About Eve will be the first time I have taken something of my own up and done a one-person show at Edinburgh Fringe.

But I’ve always had a soft spot for greenside venues, they really nurture new creatives and I’ve had such a great experience performing at their venues before.

I think what makes a great festival is variety, there is something for everyone and I love that on one random Tuesday afternoon in some former lecture hall, you could have seen one of the best shows ever.

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

Creatively, I think I’m just pleased with how much more productive I’ve been! I think actually not focusing on everything being perfect and just enjoying the fulfilment of creating something really close to my heart has been good to learn. It’s always important to remember you can polish something, you can’t polish nothing’. This is why just developing any little creative nugget is really important to me.

Also, kindness and commitment are two of the most important things in creating a theatre show. They should never be overlooked as they are both equally as valuable.

Tell us about your show.

Plucky Productions is a theatre company I founded to create space for more neurodivergent stories. As an autistic woman the characters I would relate to were often just autistic-coded. This is why I wanted to start a theatre company which does what it says on the tin. I want to express mainly the joy and wonder of being neuro-divergent today and to normalize and celebrate the way we think differently.

Everyone’s Worried about Eve is about an autistic woman, avoiding grief, who transforms her life into a sitcom. It’s partially inspired by my own experiences with grief and how when I couldn’t deal with it I decided to compartmentalize my grief in order to avoid facing it altogether. However, although the show is somewhat personal to my experience there is definitely relatable aspects for the neurodivergent community in terms of recognizable traits such as masking. The sitcom lens serves as how someone with autism may battle the heavy things in life differently. But all darkness aside! it is also funny ! so it will be a hoot and a half.

After the fringe we are hoping to hit London in the autumn.

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

I think you should definitely see ‘Paved with Gold and Ashes’ written by Julia Thurston. 3Dumb theatre are taking that to Greenside, Infirmary Street from the 14th to the 26th. Julia Thurston has a real knack of taking historical pieces in her writing and making them just as relevant to today. She brings a lot of lesser-known tales and so you end up learning a part of history often not covered and the result is something incredibly gripping.

It also features a wonderfully talented cast and brilliant team.

LIKE WHAT YOU JUST READ? FOLLOW US ON TWITTER! FIND US ON FACEBOOK! OR SIGN UP TO OUR MAILING LIST!

INTERESTED IN BEING INTERVIEWED TOO? CLICK HERE!