Category Archives: EdFestivals 2019

All our coverage from the 2019 festivals.

+3 Interview: Elements of Freestyle

Posted in *Written Interviews, Plus 3 2019 – Features by

“The story is autobiographical and it does what it says on the tin. I have been telling these anecdotes in the pub for years.”

WHO: Marco Gerris from ISH: Artistic Director

WHAT: “In this adrenaline-fuelled explosion of extreme urban sports, breakdance, music and theatre, ISH Dance Collective create breathtaking poetry in every single moment. Elements of Freestyle is about those redeeming seconds that make a complicated trick ultimately succeed; about the freestylers’ total focus, the ecstasy and feeling of complete and total freedom. In a spectacular fusion of breakdance, inline skating, skateboarding, freestyle basketball, BMX and freerunning, the audience discovers the artistry behind the trick. Exquisitely beautiful and heart-poundingly exciting, you simply will not believe your eyes. ‘Unbelievable… very special’ ***** (MusicalNieuws.nl). ‘Urban arts elevated to dance’ ***** (Theaterkrant.nl).”

WHERE: Pleasance at EICC – Lennox Theatre (Venue 150) 

WHEN: 16:00 (60 min)

MORE: Click Here!

Is this your first time to Edinburgh?

No it’s not my first time. I visited it three times: the first time outside the festival, just checking some cool places/options where we could perform our show. The last two times during the festival to check out the awesome vibes from the massive crowd and shows.

What’s the biggest thing to have happened to you since Festivals ’18?

I created another show called ‘Modern Samurai’ inspired on the movie ‘Yamakasi’ (first movie with the discipline parkour) with spectacular Breakdance and parkour.

Tell us about your show.

I created another show called ‘Modern Samurai’ inspired on the movie ‘Yamakasi’ (first movie with the discipline parkour) with spectacular Breakdance and parkour.

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

When you’re there open your eyes and ears and the vibe will tell you where to go! Endless possibilities..:) Perhaps Showstopper! The Improvised Musical at Pleasance Grand and BalletBoyz: Them/Us at Underbelly McEwan Hall!

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+3 Interview: Mary Houlihan: Me and Jack

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“I’m based in New York. The last time I ran this show here there was an English guy in the audience, so of course, I grilled him afterwards if there were any cultural references in the show that won’t make sense to a UK audience.”

WHO: Mary Houlihan: Writer/Director/Performer

WHAT: “Comedian Mary Houlihan tells the true (fake) story of her torrid romance with 82-year-old actor Jack Nicholson. Joke-packed storytelling, musical numbers, visual aids and a giant talking Jack Nicholson head. Think A Star Is Born, but dumb (in a good way). Mary has been lauded by Vulture, Forbes and Entertainment Weekly, and was named the ‘best of what’s next’ by Paste Magazine, and a ‘comedian we love’ by Time Out. She has written for The New Yorker and McSweeney’s and appeared on Broad City, Difficult People, The Chris Gethard Show, Jimmy Kimmel Live and more.”

WHERE: PBH’s Free Fringe @ Bar Bados Complex – Room 4 (Venue 32) 

WHEN: 14:30 (60 min)

MORE: Click Here!

Is this your first time to Edinburgh?

Yes! This is my first time going to Edinburgh, or anywhere in Europe really. I’m based in New York. The last time I ran this show here there was an English guy in the audience, so of course, I grilled him afterwards if there were any cultural references in the show that won’t make sense to a UK audience. He said no, and also very excitedly alerted me that one of the pictures in my slideshow is of The Sugababes. I had no idea who they were!

What’s the biggest thing to have happened to you since Festivals ’18?

It’s my first time here, so let me think if there was anything cool that happened this past year… Well, I played a wacky neighbor in a couple episodes of “Danny’s House,” a new TV show starring Danny Brown, a U.S. rapper (do you guys like Danny Brown there?!). That was really fun. I also had a tiny part on an episode of “Broad City.” Also I got flown out to Montana to do my show that I’m bringing to Edinburgh, in this fancy renovated movie theater. It was -18 degrees Celcius outside, and there were these gorgeous snowy mountains all over the horizon. That was a pretty cool getaway from New York. And I got an essay of mine published in McSweeney’s Quarterly (again, I’m not sure if anyone’s heard of these things over there!). The essay is mostly about my Irish and Irish-American relatives’ experiences with Irish-English conflict, as perceived through my very nominally-Irish American eyes.

Tell us about your show.

The show is a comedic one-woman show about my fictional biography, particularly my wild (again, fictional) romance with Jack Nicholson. It’s heavily inspired by two movies, “Yankee Doodle Dandy” (1942) about an Irish immigrant’s journey from impoverished Vaudeville actor to Hollywood star, and Scorsese’s “New York, New York” (1977) which is… well, it’s basically the same story as “A Star Is Born.” So I’m the talented young starlet and Jack Nicholson is the romantic curmudgeon.

I wrote and directed it, and am on stage the whole time, acting with my “co-star,” which is an animated picture of Jack Nicholson’s head which speaks in pre-recorded dialogue. I’ve performed it in New York City, Montana, Buffalo, Rochester, and Los Angeles. After Edinburgh, I think I’m gonna go home and write a new show.

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

A lot of really cool Americans are going this year, who people may not be familiar with. I would HIGHLY recommend seeing Jamie Loftus, Catherine Cohen, Dave Maher, Emmy Blotnick, Anna Drezen, and Zach Zimmerman, who all have solo shows at Fringe. I’m really excited to see their shows and have some familiar faces around during my trip.

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+3 Interview: Moon: We Cannot Get Out

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“So Moon is basically a product of writer Jack loyally bringing routine ideas to Josh like a golden retriever brings sticks…”

WHO: Moon: Writer/ Performer

WHAT: “Two provincial louts perform grotty comedy sketches. There’s something wrong with their venue though: it keeps trying to kill them. An immersive comedy-horror experience that’s ‘wonderfully warped’ (**** Scotsman). Last year’s debut hour was declared ‘one of 2018’s best-reviewed Fringe shows’ (Comedy.co.uk) and ‘the start of a cult comedy career, maybe more’ **** (Chortle.co.uk). ‘Moon are no ordinary sketch duo. Magical stuff’ **** (List). Directed by Jordan Brookes (2017 Edinburgh Comedy Award nominee).”

WHERE: Pleasance Courtyard – Pleasance Below (Venue 33) 

WHEN: 21:30 (60 min)

MORE: Click Here!

Is this your first time to Edinburgh?

It’s Fringe No. 2 for our act, Moon. Our first show was basically us doing our act (grotty little sketches, songs and jokes based on our bleak provincial worldview) while waiting for a curry to be delivered. This show is about how our venue is trying to destroy us while we get on with the show.

What’s the biggest thing to have happened to you since Festivals ’18?

We did our show at the Soho Theatre which felt like a lovely achievement. Jack’s Nan came down for it and it all felt very proper.

Tell us about your show.

So Moon is basically a product of writer Jack loyally bringing routine ideas to Josh like a golden retriever brings sticks, and they devise it together and then perform those routines to either acclaim or mild bafflement in the UK’s most elegant comedy venues. The wonderful Show and Tell are making it all happen and equally wonderful Jordan Brookes is directing it. It’ll be premiering at the Fringe and our plan, God willing, is to force it upon more people post-Edinburgh, but currently, no stadium tour lined up.

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

Jordan Brookes is a must. As is Phil Ellis. For more sketch larks, see Lola & Jo and Giants.

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+3 Interview: Too Pretty to Punch

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“I’m transgender and have struggled with it for a long time but this year I really started to embrace it in a much more positive way than ever before and I’ve been vlogging the journey on Instagram.”

WHO: Edalia Day: Writer/performer

WHAT: “A comedy spoken word show about gender, the media and not fitting any of the boxes, full of explosive movement, original songs and kickass video projection. Edalia Day is a banjo-wielding, poetry-slam-winning, trans warrior, taking on the world one troll at a time. Too Pretty to Punch is a hilarious, inspiring and uplifting journey through everything you need to know about what it means to be trans in 21st-century Britain that reminds all of us (regardless of who we are) of the power of celebrating our existence. All shows include open captioning.”

WHERE: ZOO Southside – Studio (Venue 82) 

WHEN: 13:25 (60 min)

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Is this your first time to Edinburgh?

I’ve been to Edinburgh many many times. I’ve been an actor for 14 years and producing my own work for 4.

I first came to Edinburgh with a production called Cannibal the Musical when I was 23. It was an incredible experience for me. I saw so many inspiring performers which massively shaped how I’d develop as a performer. These included the hilarious physical comedian Frank Woodley, from Australia, and the travelling physical theatre/circus company, Footsbarn. Their magical version of a midsummer night’s dream in their touring circus tent that they’re brought to the fringe opened my eyes to a beauty that’s possible in theatre that I’d never experienced before. It was that year that I decided to set my sights on going to study at Lecoq in Paris as well.

6 years later and fresh out of Lecoq I brought the first play I wrote here in 2014, called In The Surface Of a Bubble, a four-hander using masks and martial arts to tell the story of a world where anything you imagine comes true.

Since then I’ve been touring all over the UK with Super Hamlet 64, a version of Shakespeare’s most famous play in the style of a computer game, and last year I started developing Too Pretty To Punch, my piece on the way trans people are treated by the media.

What’s the biggest thing to have happened to you since Festivals ’18?

This year has been a hugely transformative one for me, both in my life and as a performer. I’m transgender and have struggled with it for a long time but this year I really started to embrace it in a much more positive way than ever before and I’ve been vlogging the journey on Instagram.

I’ve also been getting mentored by a several producers and sharing my discoveries via social media.

Tell us about your show.

Too Pretty To Punch is a comedy spoken word show about being transgender and the way the media is dominated by scaremongering stories about us.

I generally work by myself – producing, writing, animating and devising with just me and a camera in a room, then improvising away and then watching what I’ve done back to pick the best bits.

With Too Pretty To Punch I’ve branched out, working with a brilliant composer: Billie Bottle and 2 visual artists: B Mure and Jack Kelly to create amazing art that I’ve then gone away and animated, turning into projections that I interact with during the show. I’ve also got a brilliant stage manager, David Calder, who was originally my secondary school drama teacher.

I developed it in 2018 supported by Arts Council England, The National Lottery, Salisbury Arts Centre, The Shoebox Theatre Swindon, Trowbridge Arts, the ARC in Stockton, and The Merlin Theatre in Frome. I did a short tour followed by performances in Birmingham and Derby as part of Festival of Audacity by Beatfreeks and Come as You are Festival run by Camden People’s Theatre.

This year I’ll be doing two previews, as Buddhafield festival in Taunton, and the Alphabetti in Newcastle, and I’ll be doing a national tour from October 2019 to April 2020.

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

Burgerz by Travis Alabanza is a really interesting journey into the world of how to make a burger and how to avoid transphobia in the streets. I saw it at Liverpool’s Homotopia Festival last year and would really recommend it.

Manual Cinema’s Frankenstein is also a show I’m keen to see. I’ve been using a lot of video projection in my work since Super Hamlet 64 and I’m totally hooked in it and anything with animation in it. Also, I’ve just finished reading the book so it’s fresh in my mind.

I trained at ALRA, a year above Suzi Ruffell. She’s become incredibly successful as a comedian and I’ve never managed to see her shows so I’m really looking forward to catching Dance Like No One’s Watching. I was at Lecoq with Rhum and Clay and always enjoy their work so their War of the Worlds is one I’m keen to catch as well.

Badass be thy name by the police cops is another one I’ve been keen to see for a while.

Lastly, I just found out today that I’ve been chosen to compete in the BBC Edinburgh Fringe poetry slam that runs from the 12th to the 19th of August. I’ll be there every evening whether I get through the rounds or not as the quality promises to be immense.

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+3 Interview: A Night of Wikipedilove

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“I dont think any other show is using slides from academic articles about 19th-century illicit British sailor romances.”

WHO: Noam Osband: Writer/Performer

WHAT: “This show is a unique musical comedy where one-person-band Noam Osband sings original music about sex and love based on Wikipedia, performing alongside a projector displaying videos, photos, academic studies, and of course, Wikipedia articles. David Attenborough meets Tim Minchin in this musical seminar about kinky whales, fascists, and other deeply romantic topics. Noam is an American multi-instrumentalist and comedian who also has a PhD in anthropology and was a one-time Jeopardy champion. He performed at last year’s Fringe where reviewers called his songs ‘really quite astonishing’ (CinemaFringes.com) and ‘laced with clever irony’ (Jewish Chronicle).”

WHERE: Laughing Horse @ Sofi’s Southside – Upstairs Bar
23:15 (Venue 264) 

WHEN: 23:15 (60 min)

MORE: Click Here!

Is this your first time to Edinburgh?

This is my second time in Edinburgh. My first time was coming last year for the Fringe, and I immediately fell in love with the city….and not just cause cause I stayed next door to The Piemaker. I loved how pretty Edinburgh is, how walkable it is, and the energy of the Fringe was super exciting. I decided if I could, I would come back. So here I am!

What’s the biggest thing to have happened to you since Festivals ’18?

The biggest thing is I’m now married, and my wife tells me sometimes when she pees. Of course, this is cause we’re trying to make a kid and track her ovulation cycle. And if you come to the show, you can hear me sing all about this cause if you can’t make a song about ovulation cycles, then you can’t do anything.

Tell us about your show.

I wrote the show. It’s a natural mix of my two loves: nerdy trivia and musical comedy.

I’ve always been nerdy. I’ve got too many university degrees, and I’m a one time Jeopardy champ. A few years ago, I thought, “You know, Wikipedia has so many insane pages. Why not set them to song?” And thus Wikipedilove was born! Last year, I did a version of this show, and people enjoyed it. So, I am returning this year with a brand new hour, all new songs about weird topics you might not know about: kinky whales, squids with broken hearts, and history’s great vegetarians. It’s this weird mix of high brow and low brow. Both at times pretty dirty but also informative. I don’t think any other show is using slides from academic articles about 19th-century illicit British sailor romances.

I’ll be performing this show around the northeast USA this spring, but Edinburgh is my UK debut. After the festival, I’ll perform it some more around the USA, and if anyone offers, hopefully in the UK as well.

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

Van Gogh Find Yourself is this amazing, very unique show where you spend an hour with Van Gogh. He tells you about his life and the power of painting, while you join him in drawing portraits yourself with the pens and paper he supplies. It’s inspiring and original, and isn’t that what we all want in our Fringe art?

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+3 Interview: Definitely Louise

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“It follows a ranty woman as she eviscerates all the things in the world that annoy her and she thinks are stupid.”

WHO: Bethany Heath, Performer 

WHAT: “From the comfort of her flat, an excitable, precocious, irrepressible woman with a dirty mouth and a lot to say discusses life, her many opinions and her best friend, all the while avoiding the advances of her over-eager neighbour. At times both funny and moving, this one-woman show explores themes of confidence and insecurities, friendship and loss, and finding your way in the modern world. ‘Heath’s performance is electrifying’ (TheatreBath.co.uk).”

WHERE: Gilded Balloon Rose Theatre – Attic (Venue 76) 

WHEN: 15:15 (60 min)

MORE: Click Here!

Is this your first time to Edinburgh?

It’s my performing but not my first time working, I’ve been doing PR for other shows for the past 7 years so every August I pack up and move to Edinburgh! This will be my first time on the other side though, in a venue every day.

What’s the biggest thing to have happened to you since Festivals ’18?

Since last year’s festival, the biggest thing to happen is the planning for this festival! We did the show Definitely Louise at Brighton Fringe in May and that went really well so we’re excited to bring it up to Edinburgh now but it’s been a lot of work this year to get us here.

Tell us about your show.

The show is called Definitely Louise and is written by me Bethany Heath. It follows a ranty woman as she eviscerates all the things in the world that annoy her and she thinks are stupid. She goes after reality TV, ghosting, audition etiquette, everything she can think of. She also touches on mental health and other issues which affect young people and women. I’m performing it with actor Alexandra Ricou who I knew from performing previously with her in a play called Real Life which we did at the Rondo Theatre in Bath in 2017. When it came to do Definitely Louise I asked her to be involved and she said yes so we’ve spent the past year working on it together. We premiered it at Frome Arts Festival in Somerset last July and then did it at Brighton Fringe this May too.

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

There are so many! Rosie Holt is in a brilliant play about The Crown called The Crown Duals which I saw in London. In terms of comedy there’s the fantastic Glenn Moore and Adam Rowe and one of the funniest things you can see is Troy Hawke’s shows which are just mad and wonderful. I’m excited to see Dan Soder’s show too as he’s US-based so I haven’t seen him before.

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+3 Interview: Any Suggestions, Doctor? The Improvised Doctor Who Parody

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“…we couldn’t be more excited to add a TARDIS to the stage, expand our radiophonic workshop and move into an even bigger venue.”

WHO: Lewis Dunn, Performer

WHAT: “The Improvised Doctor Who Parody is back! Travel anywhere in time and space with a live radiophonic workshop, on-stage TARDIS and a collection of hilarious improv comedy performers! Travel on an adventure made entirely from your suggestions and be home in time for tea. Allons-y! ‘An excellent Fringe choice for Whovians young and old’ **** (BroadwayWorld.com). ‘The Doctor would approve’ **** (BroadwayBaby.com). ‘A talented cast, sharp improv skills and a slick live soundscape’ (Comedy.co.uk). Nominated for Best Show in the Comedian’s Choice Awards 2017.”

WHERE: Pleasance Dome – KingDome (Venue 23) 

WHEN: 19:00 (60 min)

MORE: Click Here!

Is this your first time to Edinburgh?

I’ve been going to the fringe now for 14 years now, though I’ve only, been performing in them since 2012. I’m at the stage where I’ve nearly lived an entire year in Edinburgh without ever having actually moved there, which is simultaneously kinda cool but also deeply worrying when I consider how much that has cost.

What’s the biggest thing to have happened to you since Festivals ’18?

Well, this might sound a little sycophantic, but getting confirmed that we can move into Pleasance Dome. It meant we could finally press the button on getting our own set built, working with bigger and better tech and taking on new members. The past year has been a huge upgrade for the show, and to be honest it’s been a large chunk of my year.

Tell us about your show.

It’s an improvised Doctor Who parody that is completely made up every single day! The idea came out of watching episodes of Doctor Who and longing to write our own episodes, but then realising we had all spent over 3 years improvising together. From there it was just a case of watching every episode of Doctor Who we could find, gathering the team and finding a musician. Every year the show has grown, with our debut at The Great Yorkshire Fringe reassuring us it was absolutely worth pursuing., Since then we’ve done Edinburgh, Brighton, even a couple of London shows, and each time we’ve been delighted to make up new adventures and keep the troupe rolling. This is our 4th year together and we couldn’t be more excited to add a TARDIS to the stage, expand our radiophonic workshop and move into an even bigger venue. I’ve been producing and performing this whole time, and every year it gets both tougher and more exciting, and this year is definitely going to be our best yet.

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

If it’s improvised comedy they enjoy then definitely check out Silliad, some fellow performers who we’re great friends with improvising brand new myths and legends. There’s also the Dead Ducks, the University of York’s hilarious sketch troupe, and The Shambles, our Alma Mater and always a great source of new talent.

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+3 Interview: Phil Cornwell: Alackadaddy

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“I first came in ’83 in a very strange version of Tartuffe by Moliere. It was called Rock Tartuffe.”

WHO: Phil Cornwell: Performer 

WHAT: “Who is Robert Lemon Alackadaddy? Well he’s certainly a geezer that’s done many a thing. Come meet Phil Cornwell’s altered ego. One of the UK’s best impressionists; his cult appearances including Stellar Street and Dead Ringers. He’s also been in nearly all the Alan Partridge shows and films, and has voiced many characters on Spitting Image, Bob The Builder and also (his most famous voice) Murdoc in the Gorillaz! Book early! ‘Superb character skills’ (Comedy.co.uk). ‘A cult favourite’ (Guardian).”

WHERE: Underbelly, Bristo Square – The Dairy Room (Venue 302) 

WHEN: 16:15 (60 min)

MORE: Click Here!

Is this your first time to Edinburgh?

I first came in ’83 in a very strange version of Tartuffe by Moliere. It was called Rock Tartuffe. Yes. It was. We were performing in a venue called The Hole in Ground. Say no more. Emma Thompson was doing her one woman show at the same place. I have returned on a good few occasions since in various extravaganzas, most recently doing a set of impressions in 2010.

What’s the biggest thing to have happened to you since Festivals ’18?

I have become a father for the fifth time, with the birth of my daughter Maud. Spurs getting to final of The Champions League has to up there too, although not as momentous as Maud’s arrival.

Tell us about your show.

My show is a one man calvalcade of glorious insanity. I dun writ it myself and it’s called Alackadaddy. It follows the wonderful mental meanderings of Robert Lemon Alackadaddy, an alcoholic in denial. A fantasist and man of literature and despair. He points out the poignant brevity of our existence on this orbiting globe we call earf. I have performed it on a handful of occasions. I’m looking forward to seeing where it will go.

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

I do know that Stewart Lee is up for a week I think. There is a comedian well worth seeing. I love his stuff. He has serious cojones.

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+3 Interview: I Wish My Life Were Like A Musical

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“Developing the show proved an enjoyable challenge.”

WHO: Alexander S. Bermange, Composer and Lyricist

WHAT: “Boasting a West End Wilma Award, a Broadway World Award nomination and a raft of five-star reviews for its recent London run, this comedic musical revue reveals everything you could want to know about being a musical theatre performer… if only there were any who’d admit it. Covering the journey from wide-eyed drama student to brattish diva, or past-it chorus member, or bitter has-been (or never-was), this show lifts the lid on awful auditions, debilitating dance routines, mid-performance mishaps, and backstage backstabbing – plus those magical moments that make it all worthwhile.”

WHERE: Underbelly, Bristo Square – The Dairy Room (Venue 302) 

WHEN: 20:45 (60 min)

MORE: Click Here!

Is this your first time to Edinburgh?

This will be the first time that I am at the Fringe for its entire duration and that I am actively involved in overseeing a show (my previous visits having simply entailed popping along to shows in which my writing has been included… and taking in as many other productions as possible!).

What’s the biggest thing to have happened to you since Festivals ’18?

The biggest thing has been preparing the show for Edinburgh. And, as part of that, there was the task of looking through the 1,300 applications for our four roles. And we are now able to announce that the illustrious line-up will comprise James Hume, Felix Mosse, Charlotte O’Rourke and Charlotte Anne Steen. Many London and nationwide audiences will be familiar with them from their performances in leading roles such as Javert in Les Misérables, Alex in Aspects of Love, Sophie in Mamma Mia!, and Sherrie in Rock Of Ages, respectively. Understandably, we are delighted.

Tell us about your show.

I Wish My Life Were Like a Musical presents everything that you could possibly want to know about being a musical theatre performer – if only there were any who would dare to admit it!

When I started giving performances of my comic songs (after years of merely singing them on the radio, in my guise as comic songwriter/performer on Radio 4 and the World Service), I thought it would be fun to have a couple of West End musical theatre performers as special guests – and equally fun to write one or two numbers about life as a musical theatre performer for them to sing. The songs seemed to resonate both with the artists and with our audiences. At a similar time, when a theatre piece of mine was being performed on a cruise, I was struck by the frequency with which passengers would ply our cast with questions about their lives and careers, and seemed surprised to learn that – contrary to what the glorified, idealised version of the industry that songs such as There’s No Business Like Show Business might suggest – they were not chauffeured from front door to stage door, put up in five-star hotels around the country, and living a life of glitz and glamour. Far from it. And I wondered whether there might be an appetite for a show about musical theatre performers, following their lives and presenting their experiences “warts and all”, which could be revelatory to “lay people”, relatable to those in the industry, and hopefully amusing for both.

Developing the show proved an enjoyable challenge. Writing the lyrics gave me the opportunity to seek accounts from many performer friends of their most memorable (and funniest) real-life experiences that related to the subjects that I had in mind. The music, meanwhile, often provided me with a chance to indulge in my love of creating original melodies that are fully or partly comprised of snatches of famous songs thematically linked to my own. (For example, most of the opening number is made up of short musical quotations of well-known opening numbers.) What results is intended to be a show with humour and heart, which takes a sardonic yet affectionate look at “the business”, and celebrates the performers who audiences spend evenings in awe of yet whose lives they rarely gain a glimpse into from the moment the curtain falls.

I Wish My Life Were Like A Musical’s premiere run took place in Spring 2018 at the Crazy Coqs at Zedel in London. In the light of the enthusiastic reactions that it garnered from public and press alike, the production was swiftly revived for an extended run there in Summer 2018, which in turn led to a West End Wilma Award (for Best Cabaret) and a Broadway World Award nomination (for Theatrical Event of the Year). On the back of this, I am very excited that it is now coming to the Fringe, with a phenomenal cast of leading West End musical theatre artists and with award-winning director/choreographer Chris Whittaker at the helm. As for where the show’s journey will take it from there, who knows…? Watch this space!

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

I like the idea of the Inspiration Machine, which is being launched at the Fringe this year and which selects a show at random for the user to consider seeing. Or, for the more risk-averse Fringe-goer, Wallace & Gromit’s Musical Marvels will no doubt be worth a gander. I’m not sure it has much in common with I Wish My Life Were Like A Musical (apart from the word “musical” in the title), but I have to confess to being an ardent admirer of that dynamic duo and their genius creator Nick Park.

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+3 Interview: Troy Hawke: Tiles of the Unexpected!

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“Perth Fringe is a lot more laid back but tremendous fun and the Aussie crowds are fantastic. Plus you get to go to the beach and see kangaroos.”

WHO: Milo McCabe: Performer 

WHAT: “Following a sell-out run in 2018 in which he exposed bingo as the deadliest sport in the country, the empty Marxist promise of Poundland’s false advertising and Aldi being responsible for Princess Diana, 1930s throwback comedic investigator Troy Hawke returns, applying his scrabble mentalism to Kanye West, xenophobia and the ugly truth of IKEA’s link to the CIA. ‘Clever, clean, hilarious’ ***** (FringeFeed.com.au). ‘Near perfection… character comedy at it’s best’ ***** (TheNewCurrent.co.uk). Perth Fringe World 2019 Best Comedy nominee, Perth Fringe World 2019 Weekly Comedy Award winner.”

WHERE: Underbelly, Bristo Square – Dexter (Venue 302) 

WHEN: 17:30 (60 min)

MORE: Click Here!

Is this your first time to Edinburgh?

No! This will be my fifth show as ‘Troy Hawke!’ I’ve been up to the fringe for about eight runs total. It’s a brilliant way to progress as a comic, both in the performing and writing each new show demands.

What’s the biggest thing to have happened to you since Festivals ’18?

I performed in Australia for the first time earlier this year at Perth Fringe World and got nominated for the main comedy award there which was very exciting. Perth Fringe is a lot more laid back but tremendous fun and the Aussie crowds are fantastic. Plus you get to go to the beach and see kangaroos. The one area Perth fringe really puts Edinburgh to shame is the artists bar, ‘The Budgie Smuggler’. Huge outdoor turfed up the venue with a large stage and regular impromptu performances/dance-offs/karaoke/jelly wrestling and very cheap drinks.

Tell us about your show.

I wrote the show, it’s being directed by Paul Byrne (who has had his hand in many successful nominated fringe shows in the past). Other than work in progress performances, it’ll be having its premiere in Edinburgh. I’ve literally just finished touring my last show (I’m actually typing this in the Soho Theatre dressing room just before its final ever performance). After Edinburgh I’ll be touring this one and doing a couple of the Australian festivals with it too.

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

Tom Houghton, Mark Nelson, Elliot Steel, Gareth Waugh and Ryan Cullen will all have absolutely banging shows this year.

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