Author Archives: Dan Lentell

EdFringe Talk: Kevin Quantum: Momentum

Posted in *Written Interviews, EdFestivals 2023 by

“The city comes alive in August, like a child who’s had too much sugar.”

WHO: Kevin Quantum

WHAT: “Epic scale stunts and mind-blowing magic in a spectacle that swings from edge-of-your-seat astonishment to belly laughs. Illusionist and inventor Kevin was trained by Penn & Teller, has had sell-outs at Edinburgh Fringe and reached the final stages of Britain’s Got Talent with his death defying, stunning magic. ‘A mixture of magic, science and derring-do, you’re like a sexy Doctor Who!’ (David Walliams). ‘Astonishing’ ***** (Edinburgh Evening News). ‘Master illusionist’ ***** (Advertiser, Adelaide). ‘Epic Stunts’ ***** (BroadwayBaby.com). Edinburgh Fringe sell-out 2021, 2022. Winner: Best Magic, Adelaide Weeklies 2018, 2019. 2022 Scottish Comedy Awards nominee 2018, 2019.”

WHERE: Assembly Rooms – Music Hall (Venue 20) 

WHEN: 16:45 (60 min)

MORE: Click Here!

Is this your first time to Edinburgh?

I live here, it’s my home. I’ve done Fringe since 2006.

I’ve worked up from a 30 seat church hall in an unpopular part of town, with an average audience of 7 people, to one of the biggest, most comfortable, and most air-conditioned rooms at the Fringe. The city comes alive in August, like a child who’s had too much sugar. I mean the place is lovely year round but in August it’s feckin mental. Human traffic everywhere. Parties, plays, people, polka dancing.

As a resident who wasn’t interested in the arts back in the early noughties, it was a pain in the arse, but now I love it and just couldn’t do my career without it.

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

The main lesson, especially looking at my past shows, was how much of an impact on growth consistently high quality shows give you.

Before you come to Edinburgh, do your show somewhere else. I used to premiere my shows at the Fringe but I will not ever do that again. These days I’ve done at least 30-40 performances before I land in Edinburgh.

This is the biggest arts marketplace in the world, so show your best work.

Tell us about your show.

I wrote the show, perform in the show, directed the show, built the lights for the show, wrote the theme tune, sung the theme tune…

OK, I didn’t do it all… Part magic consultant – part dramaturg Dusty contributes in many ways to the show.

Jack Harris kindly helps me with the lighting.

Set design is really my props, apart from one big huge LED triangle that I designed. So I’m taking credit for that.

And my muse/co-collaborator/co-writer Svetlana McMahon pulls the whole thing together, telling me what’s shit, and what’s not – and – most importantly – offering solutions to every problem.
The team’s been together almost 5 years now so we’re just about getting it right most times…

My thing is Magic, Science and Adventure.

The show is about MOMENTUM, in life and science. The geeky side of me loves the HUGE magic props that I’ve created.

The Harmonic Pendulum that dwarfs the stage is the main item. Kinda like a EPIC sized Newton’s Cradle (one of those science desk toys with the balls that bounce off each other) I’ve made something genuinely massive for a magic trick / stunt / experiment like you’ll have never seen before.

Ever wondered what a first date with a magician/engineer would look like? Me neither but I throw it down your throat with charm and amazement… when you see me engineer the shit out of a first date.

Some audience members will experience the effects of the Bermuda Triangle live on stage.

My illusions are always unique, mind blowing and delivered with punch and heart. There’s literally blood, sweat and tears on each one and it means the world to me to bring joy and amazement to my audiences.

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

With soooo much on I thought I’d take a moment to give you a few of my absolute favs. It’s not exhaustive, but I thought I’d start with these.

Mc Hammersmith – Such a job working with this improv legend around the country, amazing talent, amazing work ethic. Go see.

Billy Kirkwood – Top Scottish Talent! Always buzzing whenever I get to watch this pro at work, such lovely playful energy. A real joy.

Zach Zucher- Zach is a clown, an absolute clown. Absurly talented, soulful, uplifting, dark and a bit dirty. A real jem of the Fringe.

Viggo Venn- BGT Winner! Probably needs no help shifting tickets, I worked with him in 2016 and watching him win BGT was like watching our cohort win. He’s lovely, silly, beautiful and Norwegian. Go see.

Josh Glance- Josh has some of the most intricate layeree, surreal and hilarious set pieces on the comedy circuit. A wonderful man – watching him is like watching a new kind of comedy. New and bloody brilliant.

Stamptown- Stamptown is where all the best clowns/standups/magicians and everything in between hang out in August. It’s the most outrageous mixed bill show in the entire festival. It always sells out so fight for a ticket.

Mark Nelson- Comedian’s comedian Mark Nelson’s delicately crafted, hammer blow lines and the best in the Fringe. No wonder he’s now playing the Kings in Glasgow and earned himself the title: Comedian’s Comedian.

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EdFringe Talk: Aaron Simmonds: Baby Steps

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

WHO: Aaron Simmonds

WHAT: “Aaron has been doing stand-up comedy without standing up for eight years now, and it’s time for that to change! So he’s attempting to do something he’s never done before… Stand-up comedy, standing up. ‘An amazing storyteller… never a dull moment… hilarious’ ***** (NeurodiverseReview.co.uk). ‘Simmonds is hysterically funny… a great show’ **** (Voice). ‘A superb storyteller… it is easy to see why he is an award winner’ **** (Scotsman). ‘A natural storyteller… the audience are rapt’ **** (TheWeeReview.com). ‘Refreshingly different’ **** (Metro). Seen on The Russell Howard Hour, Guessable and The Stand Up Sketch Show.”

WHERE: Pleasance Courtyard – Bunker Two (Venue 33) 

WHEN: 16:25 (60 min)

MORE: Click Here!

Is this your first time to Edinburgh?

No, I have been going up to the Fringe every year in some capacity since 2014. I only done 3 open mics at that stage and was so excited to be there, and I almost certainly told comedians that had been performing for years that I was also an experienced comedian.

But I love the festival, it’s my favourite time of year, having people come choose your show out of thousands of shows that they could see is a remarkable thing. Especially when people come back year after year which luckily, so far they have.

But what makes Edinburgh special is the hills. I get that most cities in the world have hills, but if you go from A to B and it’s up hill, when you go from B to A, it’s downhill. Not in Edinburgh. It’s like an Eschar painting.

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

The biggest thing I learnt in 2022 was how important therapy has been and continues to be for me. It’s not particularly funny, but therapy is really good.

But I think it’s bigger than that, I think it was more about looking after myself and doing anything and everything I can to be at my best. During 2022 I didn’t drink, I prepped food everyday and ate plenty of veg. It’s something that I am going to do again as this year I have to contend with the physical demands of doing a show on my feet for the first time. Which’ll be interesting to say the least.

Tell us about your show.

This show is my third Edinburgh hour and the first on my feet. As a comedian with cerebral palsy you can see why this is a big deal. When I agreed to do it I could only stand for 15 minutes. I wrote it based off an innocuous comment and I thought fuck that and then decided to this show. There’s a chance that I’ll loose my disability benefits, but I think it’s worth the risk.

I wrote the show and it is produced by Gag Reflex.

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

Alice Fraser, I saw her do her show Twist and it’s incredible. I saw it 5 days ago and am still thinking about it.
I haven’t previewed with too many folks this year, but here’s a bunch of people that I think are great.
Adele cliff – one of the best joke writers around
Glenn Moore – the funniest show I saw last year
Best in Class – a showcase for working class acts at the fringe
Don Biswas – one of the only people that makes me laugh whilst talking about politics
Ian Smith – the most natural performer I’ve seen.
Janine Harouni – she’s wicked and she’s going to be taking a break for a bit, so catch her whilst you can!
Sam Lake – the best thing to come out of Cornwall since pasties.
And if you like Harry Potter, go see Harry Potter or My girlfriend… Who do I love more? It’s a show all about Harry Potter, sex and Cerebral Palsy. Why wouldn’t you love it?
But also, go see something that you’ve never heard of. One of the best things about Edinburgh is going to see a show where you’re one of three people in the audience, that’ll be an experience you won’t forget!

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EdFringe Talk: Biscuit Barrel: The 69-Sketch Show

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“There were some days where I would do five or six straight hours on the Royal Mile alone… dressed as a pizza. “

WHO: James Horscroft

WHAT: “‘An excellent comedy show’ **** (BroadwayBaby.com). 69 sketches in an hour – the speed of the internet put on a stage! The Fringe’s quintessential quick-fire sketch show returns. However, a bandit has broken into the production, stealing sound effects, characters, and even dialogue. ‘Best of the rest of the fest’ ***** (Scottish Daily Mail). ‘The hit rate of their sketches are high’ (List). ‘An A+ sketch show’ (Seagull.news). From sentient self-checkout machines to an awkward reunion for the iceberg and the Titanic, it’s all inside this Barrel. Featuring DazzReviews (YouTube).”

WHERE: Gilded Balloon Teviot – Sportsmans (Venue 14) 

WHEN: 15:40 (60 min)

MORE: Click Here!

Is this your first time to Edinburgh?

This will be my fourth time participating. I have been taking Biscuit Barrel for full runs of the festival since 2018, and have been attending the festival since 2014. That first year single-handedly shaped the subsequent nine years of my life. I didn’t realise there was a place where someone like me could put their own show together and be part of something so huge.

There is nowhere else playing over 3,000 completely different productions at the same time. Each one made by people who genuinely care about what they are doing; it is too much effort for those who don’t. The festival carries with it a sense of infinite potential, whilst also celebrating the finite experience. You could see something that will end up on Broadway in six years. You could see a truly phenomenal show that then NEVER gets performed again. That is Fringe.

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

Last year’s Fringe taught me that you cannot treat a month like it’s one long weekend. When you’re both advertiser and performer, you need to pace yourself. There was one week where half the group was ill, and I picked up the slack so they could rest before the show. Consequently, there were some days where I would do five or six straight hours on the Royal Mile alone… dressed as a pizza. I had some laughs, but I was working so hard on the street that, by the time the show was over, there was nothing left of me to enjoy the evening. In short, the thing I’ve learnt is to never do that again.

Tell us about your show.

We’ve made a show for terrible attention spans. Not only is it quickfire, but we’ve also loaded it with slapstick and physical comedy. It’s a format we’ve worked on since we began in 2016, but then TikTok’s explosion during the pandemic gave us a whole new audience and timeliness. Likewise with our co-writer Daryl Reader, whose YouTube channel (DazzReviews) recently surpassed 100 million views. Both in concept and experience, the group is unquestionably connected to that internet influence.

But why stop there? Why not also add a running storyline, where a police officer tries to stop a burglar who’s broken into the show? It’s a plot-point that has allowed a lot of creativity; the bandit could steal anything, from dialogue to even the audience.

The show’s written by myself and Daryl, with songs penned by Capriella Monique – a recognisable name to those familiar with the Bristol stand-up circuit. The three of us are also in the cast, joining Lily Maryon (Rose Bruford) and our newest member Harry Brown (Mountview). Directing, we have Holly Meechan, who has previously worked with the Tobacco Factory Theatre (Bristol), Bristol Academy of Drama, and London-based improv troupe Rhinoceros.

Before Edinburgh, we decided to do something a bit different with our Bristol preview. Whereas our comedy night runs at Bristol Improv Theatre, we previewed this show at a community space to raise money for Bristol Refugee Rights. We didn’t charge much for tickets, but still managed to raise over £200. We also took the show to Brighton Fringe, where we sold out a 180-seat theatre!

Following Fringe, we are going to pitch it for a London transfer. Daryl’s YouTube following is predominantly American, so we’ve been flirting with that idea as well.

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

The first Fringe shows that I ever saw were ‘And Now For Something Completely Improvised’ and ‘…And This Is My Friend Mr Laurel’ (clearly have a taste for the ‘Ands’), so I was delighted to see that they have BOTH been resurrected for this year. The former’s a fantastic long-form improv troupe, which has a similar anarchic flavour to us. The latter’s a heartfelt monologue from an elderly Stan Laurel, speaking to his beloved friend for the final time. Stan Laurel’s my greatest influence, and the reason why slapstick’s in our show at all.

There’s also a strong Bristolian flavour infiltrating Edinburgh this year. You’ve got two brilliant solo shows from Chelsea Birkby and Eva Bindeman. You also have two of Bristol’s comedy nights relocating for the month, with the boys from ‘IC3 Comedy’, as well as ‘White Bear Comedy Club’, brought to you by the awesome Mr Harry Allmark (also see him in ‘Murder She Didn’t Write’).

What’s exciting about this year is that our audience will get a different recommendation each day, as our villain/burglar keeps ‘stealing people from other shows’. We’ve got guests from shows of all genres, so it won’t just be comedy we’re plugging. Just another way to add a sense of fun, whilst effectively supporting twenty-six other shows in the process!

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EdFringe Talk: The Madwoman

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“We have been to Edinburgh, Texas! But I don’t think this is what you were asking…”

WHO: Cara Johnston

WHAT: “France 1817. The French Revolution is over for all except one. Théroigne de Méricourt has stepped out of the revolution and into the asylum. Left unsupervised, she spends her final days crafting her life’s great work, an opera about the revolution she never left behind. As the self-cast leading lady of her own imagination, Théroigne performs to an illusory audience and a standing ovation.”

WHERE: Paradise in The Vault – The Vault (Venue 29) 

WHEN: 14:00 (40 min)

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Is this your first time to Edinburgh?

We have been to Edinburgh, Texas! But I don’t think this is what you were asking…

My sister and I made our Edfringe debut virtually in 2021 (returning in 2022) with our 5-Star reviewed play, “The Little Glass Slipper as Performed by the Queen of France and her Friends.” This is our first in-person Edfringe and our first time in Scotland! So, if you see two lost girls wearing cowboy hats, you will know it is us. Say “Howdy,” y’all!

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

My sister and I planned to take our play, “The Little Glass Slipper as Performed by the Queen of France and her Friends” to the Edinburgh Festival Fringe in 2020 and the world shut down. We (thankfully) got our venue deposit back and we pressed forward, planning to attend in 2021… On the day of our first read-through with the cast, my sister received the bad news that she had cancer. We filmed our production from Dallas, Texas and participated in Edfringe online. Now, in 2023, with Covid vaccinations and my sister’s cancer in remission, we have a brand new show coming in-person to Edfringe 2023! The biggest lessons we have learned are to bet on yourself and fight to fulfill your dreams! Also, to have fun and celebrate being alive!

Tell us about your show.

In research for “The Little Glass Slipper as Performed by the Queen of France and her Friends,” I came across Théroigne de Méricourt. She was an opera singer turned French Revolutionist who survived the Reign of Terror by being committed to an insane asylum where she spent the remainder of her life speaking about the Revolution despite it having been over for decades. Théroigne’s story resonated with my sister because she, too, was an artist with a need to create art, despite dire circumstances. Théroigne’s story resonated with me because I, too, had become hyperfixated on the French Revolution, waiting for any excuse to bring up Robespierre in daily conversation. We love bringing a woman forgotten by history back where she loved to be – the spotlight!

Our production team consists of my sister and me. My sister does our show’s visual elements (costume, set design, and graphics) while I do the theatrical elements (writer, director, and performer.) Our set is hand-painted. Our mom even sewed the costumes! We produced and funded the show ourselves by painting murals. You can see our work on instagram: @DallasMuralSisters.

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

After you see The Madwoman, go support other one-woman shows at the Edfringe! These are on the top of our “Must See” List. What can we say? We have a thing for historical stories and female voices.

Tennessee, Rose (The Style Theatre) – A show about Tennessee William’s sister? We are only mad that we didn’t think of this first.

Victorine: The Artist’s Model (Moon Rabbit) – We’ve been following this group online since their production of “Philomena McGuinness” and we are excited to finally see their beautiful work in person!

Tituba (Africanus World) – Tituba is the most interesting character in The Crucible. A show from her perspective will be nothing less than amazing.

The Last Flapper (Belle Savage) – The Jazz Age through the lens of an insane asylum? Yes, please! This group is also coming from Dallas, Texas! Texans support Texans.

Marie Lloyd Stole My Life (Blue Fire Theatre Company) – Scandal, betrayal, AND set in a Victorian Music Hall! What more could you possibly want in a show?

Being Sophie Scholl (Acting Coach Scotland) – We loved the Sophie Scholl biopic, “The Final Days,” so we are really looking forward to seeing this one. We won’t tell you how the story ends but after you watch it, you’ll understand why a show set during the French Revolution would recommend this one…

Grown Up Orphan Annie (Katherine Bourne Taylor) – We can’t wait to hear what our favorite orphan has been up to after all these years!

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EdFringe Talk: Bishops

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“We also don’t really fall into the classic straight man/fall guy double-act dynamic, we’re both as stupid as each other and will do literally anything to get a laugh– which is great when writing an Edinburgh show but slightly inconvenient in our day to day lives.”

WHO: Noah Matthews & Chris Curran

WHAT: “Chris and Noah aren’t real Bishops, but what they lack in divinity they make up for with sensational sketches at a ‘cracking pace’ (Chortle.co.uk). With back-to-back, sold-out Edinburgh Fringe runs under their belt, a British Comedy Guide Video Award nomination and a trip to Leicester Square Theatre’s Sketch-Off semi-final, Bishops launch their debut hour of hilarious sketch comedy. Absurd, riotous and unapologetically funny, watch these burgeoning comics bring ‘all the youthful zing you can hope for’ (Chortle.co.uk) despite only having a year left on their Young Persons Railcard.”

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

WHEN: 15:40 (60 min)

MORE: Click Here!

Is this your first time to Edinburgh?

We’ve performed at Edinburgh a few times as students with The Manchester Revue at TheSpaceUK, and we were fortunate enough to get a great response each year. Together we wrote the Revue’s show in our final year, which had a sold-out run at the Fringe, and we continued writing and performing together since graduation. This year is our first time heading to the Fringe as a double act, and if people liked our work with the Revue, they’ll definitely enjoy our debut show, Bishops, at Gilded Balloon.

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

We saw loads of shows in 2022 which really informed what we’re writing now – being exposed to so much new comedy really helped us create our own distinct style of surreal sketches, which which hopefully will result in a room of knee slappers and loud clappers (note this is the only rhyming couplet, so savour it). We also learnt to not overcomplicate it, and that the recipe for a happy and successful fringe is through just creating a show which is as fun to perform as it is to watch– you’re doing it everyday for a month so you may as well enjoy it. But our biggest lesson was probably to make sure we put our new material in front of audiences as often as possible, so we’ve spent the last year relentlessly gigging to find out what was actually good and what was just nonsense that we found funny after going slightly mad in a writing session.

Tell us about your show.

The show was written by us (Noah Matthews & Chris Curran); we met each other making comedy films at university and instantly didn’t hate each other, so have decided to rest any chance of comedic success on each other’s shoulders. Which would add a bit of pressure to the relationship if we didn’t already get on so well. We also don’t really fall into the classic straight man/fall guy double-act dynamic, we’re both as stupid as each other and will do literally anything to get a laugh– which is great when writing an Edinburgh show but slightly inconvenient in our day to day lives.

The show itself? Well, it’s a sketch show! How different can it be? That’s something we’ve also learned writing sketch comedy for over 6 years, a conceptual sketch show doesn’t automatically make it better. We’ve not set Bishops on a spaceship or anything wacky, it’s just a chaotically surreal show about two blokes trying to do their debut show–so no connection to the real us at all… I guess you could say it’s all about how important first impressions are, and what happens when they go wrong. But ultimately it’s an unhinged hour of laugh-out-loud sketch comedy that can’t really be defined or pigeon-holed into one specific style. We began writing it last autumn, and performed extracts on the comedy circuit and got through to Leicester Square Theatre’s Sketch Off Semi-Final before taking a preview to Brighton Fringe where we enjoyed a sold-out show.

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

Definitely go and check out the shows by The Manchester Revue, Will BF, Dirty Laundry and Pear– they’re all amazing up-and-coming sketch comedians who’s shows never miss a beat. If you want to catch the next generation of alternative comedy you should definitely catch their shows! There’s also some great Fringe staples coming back to Edinburgh who don’t need any introduction (let alone from us) such as Max & Ivan, and Britanick. Also go see Mr Thing at Underbelly, they were the best show we saw at Fringe 22” and totally deserve a wider audience– it’s like a late night chat show on acid, yet also somehow the most wholesome show you’ll ever see.

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EdFringe Talk: A Mirrored Monet

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“I thought my show would be too big and too expensive to produce at the Fringe. But it’s coming together and it will give me a chance to see the audience reaction to it.”

WHO: Carmel Owen

WHAT: “In the dramatic musical A Mirrored Monet, it’s 1916 and the painter Claude Monet struggles to complete his government commission for the Water Lilies. Esteemed his greatest work, to him it meant regular deliveries of food, fuel, wine, and cigarettes – hard to find during the war. He is suffering a creative block as WWI advances and worrying that unless he can paint as before, the lifeline of deliveries will cease. He searches for answers, taking us back to his young-artist days in late 19th century Paris with Renoir, Manet and Camille, his first wife and model.”

WHERE: Greenside @ Nicolson Square – Emerald Theatre (Venue 209) 

WHEN: VARIES (60 min)

MORE: Click Here!

Is this your first time to Edinburgh?

I was in Edinburgh as a visitor to the Fringe and Scotland last summer (2022) and fell in love with both Scotland and the Fringe. I liked the open and free feel of it, the crowds in the streets, the games and performances in the streets as well as in the make-shift theaters –it was a bit like a medieval fair with performers, street people and food of all sorts available as well as people of all ages, but particularly young people having a great time. Although I could see the challenges of putting up a musical in the environment of solo and smaller shows, I did see things that made me think it was possible and that there might be audiences for that too.

Although I’ve been involved in other festivals, nothing as big or engaging as the Fringe so have no comparison, there is nothing to compare it to that I know of.

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

Attending a Fringe session in London in January 2023, I learned a great deal more about what it would take to put up a show. I was encouraged by the wonderful people presenting there and connected with a venue where there were experienced and connected people who helped me see that I could do it, put my musical on at the Fringe. I didn’t really believe that would be possible in 2022 summer. I thought my show would be too big and too expensive to produce at the Fringe. But it’s coming together and it will give me a chance to see the audience reaction to it.

Tell us about your show.

I am the author (music, lyrics and book) but many creative individuals have contributed to it over time. It started out as a story just about young Monet and his struggles –then with a previous book writer but I realized it had to be more and that Monet at 76 was far more interesting. I had to rewrite the book.

I have organized a few investors who support my work to join me in producing it this summer at the Fringe. My Director Fraser Grant and Music Director Neil Metcalfe are both Scots in Edinburgh who put together auditions in Edinburgh which I was able to participate in by zoom from my home in NYC. We hired all the actors except one (the young Monet) at those auditions in May this year—all Scots who live in either Edinburgh or Glasgow or nearby. The one actor from the US played the role of Young Monet for me in an initial reading and was truly irreplaceable so he is with us now too.

The musical will premiere at the Fringe on August 17th, having had its initial reading/developmental workshop in April 2022 at the Dramatists Guild Fund’s Music Hall in NYC.

We are hoping that this Fringe production is the beginning of a long life for A MIRRORED MONET and look forward to it touring and playing at major venues globally. It is an international musical and Claude Monet is a character known to people all over the world who love his work and will enjoy spending an evening or afternoon with him learning more about him as a person…his struggles as well as his successes.

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

I would encourage audiences to go see more musicals and to support them! Some new musicals I’ve spotted in the programme that I’m looking forward to seeing are Alan Turing – Guilty of Love, Café L’Arté, No Love Songs, and Woven.

It’s all out there to be experienced and the Fringe is just the place to see a lot of new and exciting work. Go for it!

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EdFringe Talk: Stanley Brooks: I Can Make Me Rich

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” I’m excited to finally put myself all out there – by playing a character act I’ve been doing for about a decade now.”

WHO: Lewis Dunn

WHAT: “Why aren’t you rich yet? Why are people at the top nowhere near as smart as you? Nearly award-winning comedian Stanley Brooks (Best Debut Show Leicester Comedy Festival 2023) is here to teach you the skills you already know so you can succeed! Using interactive activities, useful guides and carefully curated sponsorship partners, Stanley will take you through the basics, the advanced basics, and the hyper-advanced basics of wealth. Bring cash. ‘Deft lines’ (Chortle.co.uk). ‘A weird offspring of Moss from The IT Crowd, Sheldon Cooper and David Brent… Comic genius’ (TheScribeTheatreReview.wordpress.com).”

WHERE: Just the Tonic at The Caves – Just Out of the Box (Venue 88) 

WHEN: 14:00 (60 min)

MORE: Click Here!

Is this your first time to Edinburgh?

This is my first solo show, but I have been up many, many times before. In fact this makes my 10th year performing, though all my previous years have been compilation shows, improv comedy parodies and sketch shows. This year, for me, is finally my actual debut stand up solo show – the big proper one you do when you’re absolutely finally out of cowardice. I’m excited to finally put myself all out there – by playing a character act I’ve been doing for about a decade now. It’s the big coming out/final humiliation!

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

2022 was not the year it should have been. In fact 2022 was supposed to be my debut, but when my wife had a medical emergency I cancelled everything to look after her (this is your cue to go “aw, what a sweet husband, he’s a real catch!”). I’ve not been to the fringe since 2019, which was also supposed to be my debut, but when my improv comedy troupe finally got into the Pleasance with “Any Suggestions, Doctor? The Improvised Doctor Who Parody” I decided I had to put all my focus onto that. By comparison I’m making up for lost time, by doing that show, Stanley Brooks and Suggestions of the Unexpected, a new improv show based around anthology horror. So really what I’ve learned is to stop hesitating and do everything; hopefully that won’t come with it’s own brutal lesson!

Tell us about your show.

Stanley Brooks: I Can Make Me Rich is a solo effort, entirely produced, performed and written by me (OK my wife Louise Jones also contributed a few lines and helped iron out some routines). It’s an inspirational seminar delivered by a blowhard moron, an arrogant fool, a totally deluded cretin with unrealistic world expectations and no knowledge to match. You know, a manager. It’s highly interactive, lightly satirical and even a bit life affirming. Well, I play uplifting music at one point, that’s the same as being inspirational, right? It’s already proven itself to be a hit when it was nominated for Leicester Comedy Festival’s Best Debut Show, so really this is a low risk pick for you to see, guaranteed hit, bound to be in your top 5 by the end.

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

So if I’m being a good pal, I’m saying see Silliad: Improvised Myths and Legends as they’re a fab bunch of well read improvisers, see Drag Queens vs Vampires because they’re a raucous bunch of hilarious queens, and I’m saying see Any Suggestions, Doctor? The Improvised Doctor Who Parody as I’m financially invested. But also keep an eye out for that show you get a flyer for that just snags your interest; don’t be afraid to let your instinct take you to a show that you just think might be for you, because odds are it is. It’s very easy at this festival to see a bunch of shows that will tour after, and then it’s on at the local art centre with a bonus hour and an interval. Go see a show that literally has no place to go other than the fringe: I’ve seen comedians playing poker with their actual fee, board game smackdowns and my friends getting gunged. There’s just no reason to hold back. Also see Suggestions of the Unexpected as I am also financially invested in that.

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EdFringe Talk: AXIOM: Fundamentals of A Cappella

Posted in *Written Interviews, EdFestivals 2023 by

“AXIOM is a product of the pandemic – we all wanted to jump back into singing and wanted to find the best talent to sing together without geography as a barrier and that’s how we ended up with this 11-strong vocal group.”

WHO: Charley Strachan

WHAT: “There’s nothing like the power of unaccompanied human voices singing together. This year, AXIOM is debuting a brand-new a cappella experience which challenges conventions and expands your expectations of what’s possible in live singing. We guarantee that everything weird and wonderful you hear is created by the human voice alone. We’ll rejuvenate well-known classics with arrangements to keep you intrigued. Crunchy harmonic chords. Energy. Passion. Join AXIOM on a musical journey to discover what makes this award-winning group shine.”

WHERE: Paradise in Augustines – The Sanctuary (Venue 152) 

WHEN: 17:00 (50 min)

MORE: Click Here!

Is this your first time to Edinburgh?

Yes, this is the company’s first time at Fringe but our production team and some of our group members have performed/been in the audience before. We can’t wait to bring our debut Fringe show up and bring this new group into the Fringe fold.

For a couple of our singers, it’ll be the first time they’ve been to the Fringe (and Scotland!) so we’ve made them an Edinburgh bingo card. We’ll also be sharing them on the Mile if anyone wants one!

For me personally, it’ll be my first time music directing a Fringe show in gig format rather than a jukebox musical, and with such a talented group, I’ve been able to let my creativity run totally wild – think a cappella including DnB, reggae and birdsong respectively…

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

I visited the Fringe as an audience member in 2022 and didn’t realise how drastically different the experience felt compared to performing there. When performing and directing groups before, I had a very rigid idea of what should happen but now I’m so much more open to experiencing new art forms and basking in the gloriousness of Edinburgh in August.

I learnt so much from being the other side of Fringe in 2022 so I’m hoping to carry that fresh open-mindedness into this year’s festival and see as much new work as possible!

Tell us about your show.

AXIOM is a product of the pandemic – we all wanted to jump back into singing and wanted to find the best talent to sing together without geography as a barrier and that’s how we ended up with this 11-strong vocal group.

We primarily rehearse virtually with singers based all over the UK so having everyone in the same space for our run and being able to develop our sound together, in-person for an extended period is something we haven’t done before. Sounds wild but it’s true!

So our show is totally a cappella which means singing without instruments. We’ve got a multi-award-winning, hugely talented team (promise I’m not saying that cus we’re mates) including two beatboxers and a specialist a cappella sound engineer so honestly it’s gonna be a cappella like you’ve never seen before (fingers crossed). The entire creative process has been done in-house but we’ve got the production team behind 2019 Fringe show 10 Things I Hate About A Cappella to get us over the line.

At our first ever performance, we won the national Open A Cappella Competition 2022 and after that, went on to perform at Northern Italy’s Solevoci Festival and London’s The Other Palace Studio (pats on the back all round). We were super proud of what we achieved in our first year but knew we wanted a space to develop our sound over a full run rather than just doing one-off performances. That’s what led us to Fringe – developing our style and sound, reaching new audiences, and generally living our best lives.

We’re super lucky to have had the opportunity to perform some of our arrangements before, most recently at FUSE International Festival run by Creative Youth in Kingston, so we’ve got an idea of things that need tweaking ahead of August. At the moment, we’re looking for touring opportunities to keep the show alive post-Fringe 2023!

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

We’re super hyped about seeing:

HEART by Jade Anouka – From 24-26 Aug, 11pm. We’ve loved Jade Anouka’s previous Fringe performances so we can’t wait to see this. Also there is live music and sound design by 4x UK Beatbox champion Grace Savage – incredible.

The Kinsey Sicks: Drag Queen Storytime Gone Wild! – From 2-27 Aug, 7:20pm. An America drag a cappella quartet – why were they not in Pitch Perfect?!

The Beatbox Collective: What’s Your Sound? by The Beatbox Collective – From 2-12 Aug, 7:45pm. This line up of beatboxers is unreal.

A cappella’s a close knit community and our members include alumni from the below uni groups, all creating incredible work:

A Cappella: Double Treble by Aca-Pocalypse and RadioOctave – From 7-12 Aug, 6:45pm. A family-friendly show full of energy, excitement and crunchy chords.

Aquapella by Aquapella – From 14-26 Aug, 12pm. They’re back for their seventh year at Edinburgh Fringe (aware it sounds like a fragrance)

Northern Lights A Cappella’s 10th B’day Bash: Top of the Bops by Northern Lights – From 4-12 Aug, 1:10pm. These folks won this year’s UK Open A Cappella Competition (congrats guys!)

The Notebook by The Songsmiths – From 21-26 Aug, 4:35pm. Think a cappella but while reading a book – we’re intrigued.

Vocal Vengeance: A Murder on the Stage Floor – From 21-26 Aug, 5:50pm. This is the group’s debut Fringe show! We can’t wait to see it.

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EdFringe Talk: Tied for Second

Posted in *Written Interviews, EdFestivals 2023 by

“My takeaway and my intent for this year is what it almost always is: go in with the lowest possible expectations, don’t be rude, drink water.”

WHO: Zoe Brownstone and Dom McGovern

WHAT: “A split-bill comedy hour from two rapidly rising stars of the UK comedy scene. Dominic McGovern and Zoe Brownstone are two comedians with different styles, backgrounds, and approaches to comedy, but a shared biting wit, astute cultural observations, and ability to make audiences howl with laughter. Tied for Second is an hour of fast-paced jokes from two comedians from different religious backgrounds who somehow share the same God complex.”

WHERE: Just the Tonic Nucleus – Just the Sub-Atomic Room(Venue 393) 

WHEN: 16:30 (55 min)

MORE: Click Here!

Is this your first time to Edinburgh?

Zoe: This is our first at The Fringe with our own show. I went up last year for 10 days and was so blown away by the vastness, the ludicrousness, the hilariousness that yes I did start making up words because plain English doesn’t seem to cut it. As a comic you see a lot of things on stage that don’t always make sense, but the make up of the Fringe festival takes creativity to a whole other level, where the show just doesn’t end. Ever. It just rolls into the next hour of stand up, the next clown show, the round of drinks at the Pleasance tent, the Glaswegian taxi driver who has an insane story about meeting Stephan Fry in the early noughts. It’s everywhere all at once and the appeal to be a part of that is nothing short of mouth watering.

Dom: I visit the Edinburgh fringe every week in a recurring stress dream I have but other than that I’ve only been once. I spent a stressful month at the fringe working in production in 2019 so I’m excited to return as a performer, famously not stressful or burdensome in any way.

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

Zoe: I had the incredible experience of sharing a flat with three comics who had (seemingly) dream Fringe experiences. The newcomer of the year (the delightful Lara Ricote), fellow nominee in that category (voice of his generation Leo Reich) and winner of best show at the Fringe (the inestimable Sam Campbell). So naturally from my point of view Fringe is a super fun and east month where you get reviewed by the Guardian, 5 stars from everyone and at the end either a big award or a SoHo run, that’s normal right??

I’ve been doing stand up long enough to know that’s not how it goes for 99.9999% of us at The Fringe or anywhere else in the performing arts. My takeaway and my intent for this year is what it almost always is: go in with the lowest possible expectations, don’t be rude, drink water.

Dom: like Zoe said, I’m going in with low expectations and even lower standards and my main aim is to have as much fun as possible without getting laryngitis.

Tell us about your show.

Zoe: Our show is called Tied For Second. It’s a split hour of stand up comedy from two almost winners. Dom and I met as contestants on a comedy competition sponsored by Only Fans (it was a comedy competition, not a sexy comedy competition much to our disappointment). The most gruelling 6 days of both of our comedy careers so far that ended in a live show at Hoxton Hall in London where both Dom and I watched as our fellow finalist Mary O’Connell won £100,000.

We also won some cash, we are not complaining. But not that kind of cash. Instead of writing our memoirs we decided to come together and work out a new half hour each of stellar stand up to bring to the festival. We are self produced, self funded and fully self conscious. Please come see our show. We will likely tour after Edinburgh before recording it in 2024 (for our mums to watch when they finally figure out how YouTube works)

Dom: We’re actually both really proud of the show; since we started working on it at the beginning of this year it’s come on leaps and bounds and our sort of opposite energies work well together across the hour. There’s really something for everyone.

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

Zoe: Mary is debuting her show Money Princess this year with the Pleasance, go see her! Meg Stalter is also coming this year which we are insanely excited for. Micky Overman never disappoints. Also very excited to see Mike Birbiglia’s Old Man and the Pool show toward the end of the month.

Dom: I can’t recommend Rosalie Minnitt’s ‘Clementine’ enough – she’s an insane genius. I’m so excited to see Mary O’Connell’s Money Princess, and spend an absurd evening with the boys of Stamptown.

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EdFringe Talk: Mad Ron: Crime School

Posted in *Written Interviews, EdFestivals 2023 by

“I came up as a punter in 2000 and 2001 and absolutely loved it. I watched 8-10 shows a day and was completely shattered at the end of it.”

WHO: Steve Lee

WHAT: “Leicester Comedy Festival nomination for Best Show 2023. In these uncertain economic times, why not take matters into your own hands and turn to a life of crime? At Mad Ron’s Crime School, you’ll learn all the tricks of the trade of a not-so-honest day’s work from Uxbridge’s third hardest man. ‘A masterclass in criminality and comedy writing’ (Lucy Porter).”

WHERE: Assembly George Square – The Box (Venue 8) 

WHEN: 22:35 (60 min)

MORE: Click Here!

Is this your first time to Edinburgh?

No – I came up as a punter in 2000 and 2001 and absolutely loved it. I watched 8-10 shows a day and was completely shattered at the end of it. I saw some amazing acts and ended up with some amazing stories – Emo Phillips doing the first half hour of his show without the quirky voice – Jimmy Carr/Robin Ince/Ricky Gervais and Steve Merchant doing a compilation show called Rubberneckers – Rob Rouse stripping off and getting into a paddling pool of baked beans – Count Arthur Strong’s “Forgotten Egypt” all amazingly funny. I’ve since been up a few times as a performer mainly grabbing a few spots but I’ve done a few shorter shows but this will be the first time I will have done a full hour. Hopefully I can capture the spirit of the best show’s that I’ve seen.

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

I’ve mainly been doing 20 min sets on the pro circuit so it’s a great opportunity to watch the guys who are at the top of their game in different rooms. I always try to turn up early enough to see the MC and the opening act in action and stay to the end and catch the headliner. There are always tips to pick up. The great thing is by doing 20’s in a decent room there is always room for a minute of new material or to experiment with a wording change. I keep trying to make my set stronger and be better every time I go on stage.

Tell us about your show.

Mad Ron: Crime School is several years in the making, I write every day and going back over the piles of writing that I have created I realised that my skills as a writer had improved and I could make the stuff funny. A couple of months later I had a lot of stuff to try out and I needed a theme. I turned out that Mad Ron was a very opinionated man who needs his message to get across. He wants to teach people there is a better way than this modern World. Live life the Ron way! So Crime School was born. Alexis Dubus who performs as Marcel Lucont has directed the show and he knows what he’s doing.

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

Masai Graham 101 Clean Jokes and 101 Naughty Jokes in 30 mins – twice winner of “Joke of the Fringe” Former UK pun champion and all round top bloke!

William Stone: Lofi Jokes to Study/Relax to is worth a look too, a great mate and he always makes me laugh.

Josh Glanc: Collections 2023 had a great show last year. Can’t wait to see what he’s come up with this year.

Frank Skinner: 30 Years of Dirt is a must see – the preview was really something.

Simon Evans: Have We Met? has some of the best writing.

Ian Crawford – Accident Avoidance Training Workshop – Intermediate. It’s insane stuff very silly and great fun.

Marcel Lucont: Les Enfants Terribles – A Gameshow For Awful Children – If you are looking for show for your kids then this is the one.

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