Author Archives: Dan Lentell

EdFringe Talk: Chris Gethard: A Father and the Sun

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“The show deals a lot with the idea of redefining fatherhood, manhood, masculinity, all via the responsibility of raising the next generation.”

WHO: Chris Gethard

WHAT: “The ‘New York comedy institution’ (New York Times) and host of the Beautiful/Anonymous podcast makes a much-anticipated return to Edinburgh following a six-year absence. Join Chris (The Chris Gethard Show, Parks and Recreation, The Office) as he follows up his universally critically acclaimed 2016 residency with a brand-new stand-up hour.”

WHERE: Gilded Balloon Teviot – Billiard Room (Venue 14) 

WHEN: 18:00 (60 min)

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Is this your first time to Edinburgh?

I performed as part of Edinburgh Fringe back in 2016. The festival blew me away. It was difficult, overwhelming, and daunting – but it was also thrilling to be around so many artists trying things, experimenting, and challenging themselves. I knew then that there was no better place in the world to try out risky material and to get it as good as possible.

What are the big things you’ve learned since 2019 and have you absorbed any of the lessons yet?

Mostly, these past few years have just been a firm reminder to be grateful that I get to do this. Making things and connecting with people – it’s a good life. I’m lucky to live it. I’ve always known that. These past three years have made it that much clearer.

Tell us about your show.

I wrote the show. It started out as stand up material, but the more I wrote about what it’s been like to become a father in 2022, the more I started considering what it must have been like for my dad to be a father in 1980. A lot of things started to make more sense. A lot of stories I’d forgotten came back, and I went back and filled in the blanks on those. The show deals a lot with the idea of redefining fatherhood, manhood, masculinity, all via the responsibility of raising the next generation. I’ve been touring the show around the states for a while and I’m glad that Broken Robot and So Comedy are helping to mount it at the Gilded Balloon.

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

My friend Anthony DeVito has a fantastic show about finding out who his deceased dad was in life. It’s incredible and hilarious.

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EdFringe Talk: Sammy Obeid

Posted in Bedfringe 2022, EdFestivals 2022 by

“New York City is next, but I’ll leave my soul in Edinburgh for the right price.”

WHO: Sammy Obeid

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

WHERE: Gilded Balloon Teviot – Sportsmans (Venue 14) 

WHEN: 22:45 (60 min)

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Is this your first time to Edinburgh?

This is my first time performing in Edinburgh! I’ve been here once when I was 13 years old (not sure what the conversion rate for American years to UK years is sorry, but 13 American). I’ve heard so many great things!

What are the big things you’ve learned since 2019 and have you absorbed any of the lessons yet?

Don’t trust the government! Joking, I love the government if they are listening. In 2020 my show came out on Netflix called 100 Humans, where we did experiments on people (check it out really interesting stuff) and one thing I learned is that a man’s dancing ability is unrelated to his sperm count. Cheers!

Tell us about your show.

I wrote it! Perhaps a few joints as my writer’s assistants (it’s legal in California, relax!). Very fortunate to have teamed up with Gilded Balloon to present my one human experience: SAMMY OBEID THEM. A mix of stand up and obeying the demands of the live crowd. New York City is next, but I’ll leave my soul in Edinburgh for the right price.

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

My dear friends from LA Tehran and Leah Lamarr have amazing shows, go check them out. Also my pal from NYC Wyatt Feegrado’s show: Platonic Love Triangle.

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EdFringe Talk: Lost Voice Guy: Cerebral LOLsy

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“You get the chance to see something incredible, something shockingly bad and something you would never usually go to watch, all in the space of a few hours. I draw the line at those annoying Silent Discos that roam the streets of Edinburgh though…..”

WHO: Lost Voice Guy

WHAT: “Following a sell-out UK tour, Lost Voice Guy returns to Edinburgh with his brand-new show. The Britain’s Got Talent winner and star of Ability (BBC Radio 4) and Christmas Comedy Club with Lost Voice Guy (ITV), pokes fun at his life living as a disabled person in a post-apocalyptic world with his new Geordie accent. From the highs of meeting 50% of The Chuckle Brothers to the lows of being called ‘him off The X Factor’. ***** (Metro).”

WHERE: Gilded Balloon at the Museum – Auditorium (Venue 64) 

WHEN: 18:30 (60 min)

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Is this your first time to Edinburgh?

My first full run at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival was back in 2013, and I remember it well. Let’s face it, it’s hard to forget when you burn yourself out so much that you end up in hospital with pneumonia. And that’s exactly what happened to me. Not that it put me off though. In fact, it just gave me material for my next show in 2014. Thankfully, I’ve never been back to the Edinburgh Royal Infirmary since, because I learned a very hard lesson on the importance of pacing yourself. So, you could say I’ve developed as much as the Fringe has over the years. One of the main changes I’ve noticed over the years is the variety of entertainment that the Fringe has to offer. There certainly seems to be something for every taste these days. I mean some of it is absolute rubbish, but that is what makes the Fringe great. You get the chance to see something incredible, something shockingly bad and something you would never usually go to watch, all in the space of a few hours. I draw the line at those annoying Silent Discos that roam the streets of Edinburgh though…..

What are the big things you’ve learned since 2019 and have you absorbed any of the lessons yet?

I’m not sure if I’ve changed the way that I work. I’m very stuck in my ways. It’s been a really hard time for most people, obviously. My creativity has really suffered during lockdown, to be honest. It’s pretty hard to get inspired when you’re stuck inside all day. I’ve still had the opportunity to write my Radio 4 sitcom, called Ability, and I really enjoyed doing that. It gave me my creative spark back, and I loved having fun with it again. Hopefully that’ll spur me on to be more creative this year. I just feel lucky that I had a really busy year in 2019, which has helped massively in the last year. I don’t know what I would have done otherwise. At least, it’s given me a good opportunity to write my Edinburgh show.

Tell us about your show.

My show is called ‘Cerebral LOLsy’. And yes, I did take the rest of the week off work after thinking of that title. The show is t’s basically a look back at my life since i won BGT and all the random stuff that’s happened since. And that includes dancing with Paul from The Chuckle Brothers at the Royal Variety Performance after show (which was definitely a career highlight!)

There’s plenty of other stories. People always seem to get my name wrong as well. The main reason that I chose a stage name was so I would stand out from the crowd of all the other new comedians, when I was just starting out. I thought it would make me more memorable. But you’d be surprised at the many variations of that name that i have called. People have called me all sorts. From no voice boy, to misplaced voice man, to the guy with no voice.

And then, of course, there’s been the trolls on the internet. For example, one tweet that I received said, “well done on finding the easiest way to do comedy. You can just write stuff on your laptop, and get that to remember it and say it for you.” Of course, he is right. Can you imagine how hard my life would be, if I could actually talk? It just doesn’t bear thinking about. I’d have to remember how to say words, remember how to form sentences, remember all my jokes. Clearly by choosing to be disabled, I have taken the easy way out. And, for that, I’m truly sorry!

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

I started doing comedy at the same time as Lauren Pattison, who is another Geordie comedian who has done really well for herself. So we’ve always really supported each other, which is nice. I’m very proud of what she has achieved since we both started, and it’s great to see her being so successful. I’d recommend checking her out at the Monkey Barrel.

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EdFringe Talk: My Leonard Cohen: Up Close and Personal

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“The show is in a constant state of evolution, and gets better all the time. This is the 4th time to the Edinburgh Fringe, and fans come back, time and time again. Stewart always has a few surprises up his sleeve.”

WHO: Sandy Bruns: Producer

WHAT: “Stewart D’Arrietta shares the poetry, stories and insights of the great Leonard Cohen with songs such as Tower of Song, Dance Me to the End of Love, First We Take Manhattan and Bird on a Wire. The stirring interpretations delight seasoned fans and expose Cohen’s music to new generations. Beneath the roaring bluster and cyclonic musicality, the sinewy strands of romance weave poignant and compelling stories of life, love, lust and loss – this performer’s favourite themes. Rave reviews from Fringe 2016, 2017 and 2019, and with new songs added for 2022.”

WHERE: Assembly Rooms – Ballroom (Venue 20) 

WHEN: 18:10 (60 min)

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Is this your first time to Edinburgh?

There’s no place we’d rather be in the world in August than Edinburgh. The city is abuzz with colour,  vitality and creativity. This is our 7th time to the Edinburgh Fringe. You know what they say, ‘If at first you don’t succeed; try, try again’. Just joking; Stewart D’Arrietta is a Fringe Favourite, whatever show he presents. We love coming back, year after year. There’s been so much demand for us to bring back ‘My Leonard Cohen’, so here we are. We catch up with mates from all over the world from previous Fringes. We are like a bunch of ‘carnies’.

What are the big things you’ve learned since 2019 and have you absorbed any of the lessons yet?

Be adaptable! Things can change at any given moment.

Tell us about your show.

Stewart D’Arrietta wrote the show in 2013 and it premiered in Melbourne, Australia. Since then it has performed all over Australia and the UK. The show is in a constant state of evolution, and gets better all the time. This is the 4th time to the Edinburgh Fringe, and fans come back, time and time again. Stewart always has a few surprises up his sleeve.

Next year we will tour Ireland, Finland, Germany, Czech Republic, England, Wales and Australia.. And who knows? Maybe Edinburgh Fringe again!

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

Chris Dugdale- Ethermind (Illusionist). He’s performed for the Queen! (His show is right next door to us, and we see his audience reactions. Amazed! blown away…)

Jimeoin- The Craic! (different hilarity every show)

In The Name Of The Son (a serious Belfast play- everything we’ve seen by this director is first rate)

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EdFringe Talk: Danielle Walker

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“I’ve also realised I often spout off facts that I’ve heard via word of mouth, that probably aren’t actually true.”

WHO: Danielle Walker

WHAT: “This show is a scrapbook of memories about my family. Two of them have smelt a Bigfoot. One has seen it. They all agree on a military cover-up. I couldn’t get home for two years and had this anxiety that someone in my family would die and I wouldn’t have enough to remember them by. It’s relatable comedy to country people and absurd comedy to city people. 2022 Melbourne International Comedy Festival Most Outstanding Show nominee and Pinder Prize winner.”

WHERE: Assembly George Square Studios – Studio Four (Venue 17) 

WHEN: 15:35(60 min)

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Is this your first time to Edinburgh?

It’s my first time doing a show at the fringe, I’ve been twice before, once accidentally, It was before I did comedy and my dad and I came to Scotland together to do a Haggis tour (traditionally for young backpackers who want to fuck I think?) But dad and I had a lovely father/daughter trip, the few days we had in Edinburgh it was very busy and we didn’t think to work out why. Now I know what the festival is, I’m looking forward to it.

What are the big things you’ve learned since 2019 and have you absorbed any of the lessons yet?

I’ve learnt that most of the life lessons I think I’m learning are just things I’m telling myself to affirm my viewpoint. I’ve also realised I often spout off facts that I’ve heard via word of mouth, that probably aren’t actually true. I often find myself saying stuff like “Did you know that ants have graveyards and when they smell another ant is dead they carry it off to the ant graveyard…but sometimes they get the stench of death on themselves so they walk themselves off to the ant graveyard, so they don’t cause more work for the other ants…then after a while of not dying they go “well I guess I’m not dying and walk back to the colony” but also I don’t actually know if that’s true, my friend just told me”

Tell us about your show.

My show is about trying to collect memories of the people I love before they’re gone. I wrote it, but my boyfriend did listen to me talk about it every day for ages and to different ideas and encouraged some and discouraged others so he helped big time. Country Mile productions is producing it, they’ve been so incredibly great. I’ve done the show at different places around Australia, and after the fringe I think I’d like to make a portable version (because the show has quite a big set) I could maybe take to country towns around Aus. since it’s a very country people focused show.

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

They should go see someone they haven’t heard of because it’s nice to see new things. They should ask around and see what people are enjoying once the fringe has started and word of mouth starts. They should also go see Dan Rath because he has a really unique voice, works super hard and has a really high joke per minute ratio. (I’ll give a few more recommendations after my show, probably based off what I’ve seen and recommend and who I feel sorry for and want to try in some way to support them).

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EdFringe Talk: Magical Bones: Soulful Magic

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“For one month you are transported into this surreal world of art and entertainment. From hotels, pubs, churches, universities and even in the side of the street, everywhere you turn is a performance arena.”

WHO: Richard Essien

WHAT: “Following a totally sold-out debut in 2019, the Britain’s Got Talent finalist returns to the Fringe with ‘a dazzling show… full of imagination and flair’ **** (Guardian). Direct from appearances on America’s Penn & Teller: Fool Us, BBC One’s BAFTA Awards, ITV1’s This Morning and Sky’s Around The World in 80 Tricks, join Bones as he brings you a brand-new hour of the most awe-inspiring and high-energy magic you’ll see this year.”

WHERE: Assembly Checkpoint – Assembly Checkpoint (Venue 332) 

WHEN: 16:45 (60 min)

MORE: Click Here!

Is this your first time to Edinburgh?

Actually, this will now be my third time at the Fringe. Each time I’ve always come up as a performer. The first time was with a late night variety show called Charabang back in 2013 and the last time was in 2019 with my debut solo show Black Magic. I really love the the Fringe, as it is a special kinda of experience. For one month you are transported into this surreal world of art and entertainment. From hotels, pubs, churches, universities and even in the side of the street, everywhere you turn is a performance arena. You’re surrounded by so much creativity and talent, as well as the beautiful history of Edinburgh- you can’t help but grow as a performer and person.

What are the big things you’ve learned since 2019 and have you absorbed any of the lessons yet?

One of the biggest things I learned in 2019 was to plan well in advance. From the spontaneous performance opportunities to the tons of show invitations so many things come at you all at once so you need to make sure your always prepared . But I guess the biggest takeaway is to be present and enjoy the experience. I learned that not everybody will enjoy my show but also that everyone doesn’t have to. The festival is huge and there is room for everyone’s tastes and talent.

Tell us about your show.

Souful Magic is a high-energy action packed magic & illusion show, that’s been sprinkled with Hiphop flavour. This show is brand-new and has been written by myself and is being produced by Broken Robot Productions. Essentially the show is a continuation of my previous show Black Magic which I brought to the Fringe in 2019. As well as being a magician my background is also street dancing, so you can expect tons of great music and original ideas with magic tricks, such as solving a Rubik’s cube blindfolded, whilst doing the spinning breakdance move windmills.

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

I think that people should go out and see everything, especially, magic shows. There are so many great magicians well known and unknown coming down so they’ll be in for a treat. I also think people should see my sisters comedy theatre show ‘Flat Shoes in the club’, it’s a hilarious one woman show that exposes the challenges that face women when going clubbing! But most importantly try and see something different, because you may surprise yourself and find a new inspiration or passion.

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EdFringe Talk: Kate Butch: Wuthering Shites

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“I wrote the show in 2019, mere days before I was set to perform it in my hometown at the Buxton Fringe (I work best under pressure!).”

WHO: Kate Butch

WHAT: “Kate Butch, the Comic Sans of Drag, is back in Edinburgh. She’s written a musical based on the songs of her favourite singer and namesake, but needs your help to get BUSH! to Broadway. The lovechild between Mamma Mia and a nervous breakdown, join this ‘great comedian’ (WhatsOnStage.com) for a hilarious blend of live music, lip-sync extravaganzas, and more cloud-busting than you can shake a stick at.”

WHERE: Assembly Rooms – Front Room (Venue 20) 

WHEN: 19:45 (60 min)

MORE: Click Here!

Is this your first time to Edinburgh?

The last time I came to Edinburgh was in 2018 with a sweaty, raucous club night called Lip-Sync Lollapalooza which ran until about 4am every night. I think that’s part of what makes a great festival: swapping sleep for total immersion in arts, performance, nonsense and finding glitter in all the wrong places.

What are the big things you’ve learned since 2019 and have you absorbed any of the lessons yet?

I’ve learnt that anything and everything can disappear overnight, so to take every opportunity I can and throw myself into them. I was all set to take my show to Edinburgh in 2020 and had arranged the venue, the marketing, everything. However, being forced to wait until 2022 has meant that Kate Bush has come back in a big way, which has done wonders for my show! I suppose that’s another lesson : look for the silver lining in everything.

Tell us about your show.

My show, Wuthering Shites, came about because so many people were confused (some outraged) that a drag queen called Kate Butch did very little Kate Bush material. I wanted to make the most Kate Bush show possible, with all the classics, plus some deep dives and niche facts, and how all of this weaves in and out of my own life. The show takes the form of the first ever workshop of my brand new Broadway-bound jukebox musical ‘BUSH!’, as I take the audience through the plot, the casting and even the merchandise; imagine Mamma Mia! crossed with a nervous breakdown.

I wrote the show in 2019, mere days before I was set to perform it in my hometown at the Buxton Fringe (I work best under pressure!). By some miracle I won the award for Best Comedy, and presented a slightly reworked version of the show at VAULT Festival in March 2020, but played to very empty houses due to some mystery bug that was going around. This summer marks the first time I’ve performed the show in two and a half years (I think I can remember it all), so it’s gone through some changes but stills retains the original spirit: a silly, theatrical celebration of Kate Bush and all her eccentricity.

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

I’m doing another show right after Wuthering Shites, playing the very challenging role of Kate Butch in Drag Queens vs Zombies. If you can’t handle more than one dose of me (I completely understand), I would recommend drag legend Séayoncé for spooky campery, comedy icons Sikisa and Katie Pritchard (you’ll be seeing their names a lot in the future), and the shows Any Suggestions Doctor and The Silliad for all your nerdy improv needs.

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EdFringe Talk: Arty’s Ani-Magination

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image of event

“This will be my first time visiting Edinburgh! I’ve known about the buzz of the EdFringe for a long time now.”

WHO: Hattie Chapman

WHAT: “A young girl wishes that people were more like animals (because they’re nicer and kinder, obviously) and wakes to find herself transformed into a rat! But it’s not just her! All of her family, friends and teachers have been transformed into walking, talking, singing animals! This family musical is jam-packed with monkey business, hyena laughs and toe-tapping tunes which are sure to leave you smiling! Produced and performed by The Long Lane Theatre Company.”

WHERE: Assembly Roxy – Upstairs (Venue 139) 

WHEN: 10:30 (60 min)

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Is this your first time to Edinburgh?

This will be my first time visiting Edinburgh! I’ve known about the buzz of the EdFringe for a long time now. It’s is the biggest arts festival in the world with such a huge variety of people and performances, which is what makes it so special. I love the reputation it has for giving opportunities to new talent and giving them a platform to create and share their work. I’ve always wanted to go, so the idea of performing there this year is incredibly exciting. I’m sure it will be my first year of many!

What are the big things you’ve learned since 2019 and have you absorbed any of the lessons yet?

When I graduated from drama school in 2019, I was just starting to learn what it means to be an actor in the industry. It felt very overwhelming and it can still feel like that at times. I think the main lesson I’ve learnt since then is that comparing myself to others is a huge waste of time. I’m learning to trust myself and to trust that failing is also essential for my journey and growth. I’m not as afraid to ‘fail’ – I’m still practising that and I don’t think I’ll ever be a master. I think the more comfortable we feel in the face of potential failure, the more bold we become in taking risks. Which in turn opens ourselves up to potential success! I believe that applies to everything in life, not just acting.

In terms of Covid, we’ve all learnt so many things. But what became particularly significant, was discovering how boring life was without theatre!

Tell us about your show.

I play Arty in a new family musical Arty’s Ani-Magination. It’s the story of a young school girl who isn’t having the best time (she’s got a very annoying older sister) and so she wishes that she could be an animal just like her pet rat, who seems to be having the best time. Then she wakes up one morning to find out she’s turned into a rat, and the worst thing is her wish is contagious, so soon all her family and friends (and teachers) are all turning into their favourite animals too.

Eve Pearson-Wright wrote and directed the show. She has been creating children’s theatre for years and she says she’s tried to get all the bits that children love the most into one show, so even though it’s a new show it’s actually tried and tested.

There’s a cast of five actors who are all part of Long Lane Theatre Company. We all transform into different animals at one point, which the children are going to love but also it has this heartfelt story about two sisters who are re-finding their closeness over the show which is hopefully really moving and there’s lots of humour in there that will get a laugh out of even the most tired parent.

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

Long Lane Theatre have two other shows on at the EdFringe this year that tell incredible stories:

‘The Giant Killers’ follows a ragtag bunch of Lancashire mill workers who defied all odds to become the first working-class team in the country to play in the FA Cup. It celebrated a 5-star debut at Edinburgh Fringe Festival in 2017 and a nationwide tour of the UK. It’s not one to miss!

‘The Actress’ is our third play; set in 1660, speculation is swirling around London that for the first time a woman will be allowed onto the stage. This new play explores the incredible true story of the two woman that would shape the paths of those that would follow them.

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EdFringe Talk: S.O.E.

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“A few months into the project we cast Natasha Jayahendry as Noor Inayat Khan. Natasha is a formidable Noor and she has equally transformed the piece.”

WHO: Deborah Clair

WHAT: “The WW2 Special Operations Executive is tasked with espionage, sabotage and reconnaissance. As a wireless operator, life expectancy is six weeks. Madeleine is the codename for one such agent. Flown by moonlight to occupied France, her job is to keep her circuit connected with London. Gestapo Officer Josef Kieffer is on her trail and the net is closing. Now the war is over, Vera Atkins is trying to uncover the truth. Of all the 12 cases of missing women agents, one haunts her the most – Madeleine – the Indian princess, Noor Inayat Khan.”

WHERE: Assembly Rooms – Front Room (Venue 20) 

WHEN: 11:30 (60 min)

MORE: Click Here!

Is this your first time to Edinburgh?

This is CLAIR OBSCUR’s second visit to the Edfringe. Our first time was in 2018 when we brought ‘A Necessary Woman’, a play I co-wrote with Philippa Urquhart about the suffragette Emily Wilding Davison. That year was the centenary of the passing of the Representation of the People Act, when the first groups of women won the right to vote.

‘A Necessary Woman’ was the perfect piece to bring to the festival and I have vivid memories of marching along the Royal Mile with the WASPI women and making speeches as Emily to publicise the show.

My two daughters who came with me were quite young at the time, so this year, now they’ve grown, I am hoping to see a good variety of shows with them.

What are the big things you’ve learned since 2019 and have you absorbed any of the lessons yet?

I know it’s a cheesy thing to say, but I suppose not to give up or lose hope. At the height of the pandemic, it was hard to see how things might ever recover.

The lockdown forced me to focus on my writing much more and to write for other mediums. I wrote my first radio play, ‘Best Beloved’, which has just been published by Methuen Drama in the same collection as ‘S.O.E.’ Then I found the story of Vera Atkins and Noor Inayat Khan. It began its journey as a short first scene between the characters. I then dared to share this with a couple of trusted friends, chiefly my co-producer, Nicholas Collett, who thought their story was truly inspiring and has believed in this project from Day One.

A few months into the project we cast Natasha Jayahendry as Noor Inayat Khan. Natasha is a formidable Noor and she has equally transformed the piece.

Tell us about your show.

CLAIR/OBSCUR is a female-led theatre company that places women in key roles within the creative team – playwright, director, designer, lighting, stage manager, digital technician and actors. We believe it is essential to give women creative opportunities and vital for us to tell our own stories faithfully. I am the writer of ‘S.O.E.’, Nicholas Collett is Co-Producer and Dominique Gerrard is the director of the piece, Cat Alchin is our lighting designer. We are a Hastings based company and we have all worked together before on other projects.

S.O.E is a play about the outstanding contribution of two WW2 women of the Special Operations Executive – Vera Atkins and Noor Inayat Khan. Faith, fortitude and courage only begin to describe their extraordinary qualities.

These women were not British citizens but essentially refugees. Vera Atkins was a Romanian Jew and Noor Inayat Khan was a French citizen of Indian heritage. They fled their war-torn countries and pledging their allegiance to Britain, agreed to fight for a free Europe. The play is dedicated to telling their story and placing these remarkable women, front and centre of the piece, driving the action.

We are proud and honoured to be in partnership with The Bridges Programme as we passionately believe in its mission to support the social, educational and economic integration of refugees, asylum seekers, migrants, and anyone for whom English is a second language. History has shown us that such people make a vital and extremely valuable contribution and we would be severely diminished as a society without them.

We have just completed an ACE supported, twenty-date tour in the south and ‘S.O.E.’ was published by Methuen Drama at the end of May. We are now looking at opportunities to reach the rest of the UK and to tour the play internationally.

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

I have these recommendations for this year’s Edfringe:

‘Room’ by Heather Alexander Theatre – A bold adaptation of Virginia Woolf’s iconic A Room of One’s Own. This show stars the fantastic Heather Alexander who gives an exquisite performance as Virginia Woolf. It is directed by Dominique Gerrard (our director for S.O.E) and has received rave reviews during its tour. Pleasance Courtyard, 11.40 am (3-16 August & 18-27 August)

‘Done to Death by Jove’ – Gavin Robertson and Nicholas Collett Productions – Suitable for all the family and side-splittingly funny. I have known Gavin and Nick for years and they simply have funny bones. Great fun and warning: May contain hats! The Space Triplex Studio 17.05 (5, 7, 9, 11, 13, 15, 17, 19, 21, 23, 25, 27 August)

‘Prejudice & Pride’ – This new folk musical comedy reimagines Jane Austen’s classic novel in modern America with gender-swapped characters. I have not seen this show, but I have read the fabulous reviews and I will be taking my daughter who is a die-hard Austen fan in any form, whether its in bonnets or with zombies. I have heard the songs are fantastic – we can’t wait! The Space Triplex-Big 22.00 (5-27 August, not 8 &9)

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EdFringe Talk: Cecil Beaton’s Diaries

Posted in *Written Interviews, EdFestivals 2022 by

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“Edinburgh is the right stage for Cecil – alive, irreverent and always ready for a party.”

WHO: Richard Stirling

WHAT: “For the first time ever, the diaries of photographer and stylist Sir Cecil Beaton are dramatised for the stage. Beaton’s society photographs flattered their subjects; his diaries did not. His wartime photographs showed his versatility; his diaries show the cost. Even his triumphant designs for My Fair Lady never stopped his doubts. And his passion for Greta Garbo found fulfilment only in his writing. Blisteringly funny and at times deeply moving, with appearances ranging from the Queen Mother and Elizabeth Taylor to Churchill and Capote, the diaries paint a self-portrait of the 20th century’s most compelling dandy.”

WHERE: Greenside @ Nicolson Square – Lime Studio (Venue 209) 

WHEN: Varies (55 min)

MORE: Click Here!

Is this your first time to Edinburgh?

This is my first time at the Edinburgh Fringe. I previously wrote a show for the Fringe, for the (in)famous Lady Colin Campbell, titled A Cup of Tea with Lady C, which was performed in 2017, shortly after her – again – (in)famous appearances in I’m a Celebrity – Get Me out of Here!

This time, I am venturing onstage in my own right, as another big beast, not of the jungle but of the world of stage and film: photographer and designer Sir Cecil Beaton, one of last century’s most iconic dandies, and a blisteringly funny (wicked) diarist.

His photographs and designs are fab – but you won’t believe the things he says! I can hardly believe them, even though I know they are true!

And Edinburgh is the right stage for Cecil – alive, irreverent and always ready for a party.

What makes a great Festival? One which embraces the anarchist in Cecil as well as the icon.

What are my thoughts as I travel to Edinburgh? Look out, Auld Reekie – here comes Cecil, so gird your loins!

What are the big things you’ve learned since 2019 and have you absorbed any of the lessons yet?

Since 2019, it has become more important than ever for an artist to follow Cecil Beaton’s maxim:

“Be daring, be different, be impractical, be anything that will assert imaginative vision over the play-it-safers, the creatures of the commonplace, the slaves of the ordinary.”

Tell us about your show.

For the first time ever, the diaries of photographer and stylist Sir Cecil Beaton are dramatised for the stage. Beaton’s society photographs and stage designs for My Fair Lady flattered their subjects; his diaries did not.

I have been allowed to adapt and perform these diaries, and the sheer dazzling excellence of the writing, combined with the glorious Beaton photographs, makes this a premiere unlike any other show on which I have worked.

A further life? There had better be! Cecil is too good to be seen only for three weeks…

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

Fascinating Aida always makes me laugh: I have followed them for years.

I think Fringe-goers should try to dive into something at the Edinburgh International Festival. If we on the Fringe are to get their audiences coming to us, then we have to open our minds to their art-forms. A ballet, opera or classical concert can be as riveting and outlandish as anything on the Fringe, and it need not cost very much more. Why keep things in boxes?

If you are a theatre-goer, see an exhibition. If you are into alternative comedy, go to a play. It’s all there! Now!

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