Category Archives: EdFestivals 2019

All our coverage from the 2019 festivals.

+3 Interview: Privates: A Sperm Odyssey

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

“There was one guy called Charlie who had been to the show 5 times, on his way back from work at night. So cool! Personally, that’s what I’m most looking forward to: the community aspect of the Fringe – being reminded by a tidal wave of creatives and performers that you are anything but alone.”

WHO: Tom Curzon: Performer

WHAT: “Attention all sperm! This is a military operation in procreation. Join three fun guys who fertilise in an adventure as big as life itself. Imagine Saving Private Ryan meets the sex education you wish you had, and they don’t wear adequate protection. Nine months later this show pops out. Don’t be ejacu-late, but don’t come early. The most physical comedy you could wish for, from the pr*cks behind the total sell-out Planet Earth III, Luke Rollason, Christian Brighty and Tom Curzon. ***** (EdFestMag.com). **** (VoiceMag.uk). ‘Made me cry with laughter’ **** (BroadwayBaby.com). ‘Hugely entertaining’ (Chortle.co.uk).”

WHERE: Heroes @ Boteco – Basement (Venue 516) 

WHEN: 17:20 (60 min)

MORE: Click Here!

Is this your first time to Edinburgh?

This is our first time at the Fringe performing as a trio, but we’ve all been performing in Edinburgh for a few years now. Last year Bright Buoy ran a late-night clown cabaret called ‘The Wonder Jam’ in the Speigelyurt (a beautiful yurt run by Heroes (Bob Slayer and Lucy Hopkins)), where every night we’d create whatever we could with whoever was around, trying to elicit cries of ‘we were there when…’ and ‘I’ve been back every night!’. There was one guy called Charlie who had been to the show 5 times, on his way back from work at night. So cool! Personally, that’s what I’m most looking forward to: the community aspect of the Fringe – being reminded by a tidal wave of creatives and performers that you are anything but alone.

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

One of the coolest things was doing Stepdads (mine and Luke Rollason’s double-act) at the Leicester Square Sketch Off Final and the Musical Comedy Awards. Both finals held in enormous theatres with audiences expecting sketches and musical comedy. And Stepdads offering neither! We would go out in our knitwear, Luke holding his tiny children’s Casio keyboard above his head like he’d just won the world cup, and tear up the rule-book like savages. I’ve also learnt how to bake bread this year, Christian got his ear pierced again, and Luke managed to keep his phone off for an entire week once. Oh! And in Brighton, we were booked to play Privates: A Sperm Odyssey for mums and their new-borns. That was a pinnacle for sure.

Tell us about your show.

Luke, Christian and Tom have tried to create the least sexy show about sex ever. It’s an action thriller and we are all dressed in skin-tight white spandex turtle-neck suits, pretending to be sperm on a mission to an egg. We dance around lots and occasionally our swimming hats pop-off. In the name of sexual education!

When we started making the show, the consensus was that our school sex-ed programmes were woeful and largely hijacked by videos of moustache-sporting, lab-coated men looking at their own sperm through microscopes. Something needed to be done! And then this show happened, and off we went to play at the Brighton Fringe. And then we were booked to play for the 300,000 people at Glastonbury, and hardly any of them came! So now we’d like our show to become part of UK school’s sex-ed curriculum. We could have a company of thousands of sperm actors and send them round the country.

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

It doesn’t seem quite right for me to plug Luke’s brilliant new solo show ‘Luke Rollason’s Infinite Content’ (12pm Monkey Barrel), so I’ll send you all off to see David McIver’s ‘Teleport’ at the Banshee Labyrinth instead. He’s just rewritten the show so that all the characters have a broken arm, and then he really genuinely broke his arm to do the show justice. I can’t wait. 12:20pm. Clashes with Luke so don’t book them on the same day.

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+3 Interview: Ian Smith: Half-Life

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“I’m looking forward to going to Mother India Restaurant – then going to a steam room the next day and smelling curry getting released from my pores and the other people in the steam room looking confused.”

WHO: Ian Smith: Performer

WHAT: “Multi award-winning comedian Ian Smith (BBC3’s Sweat the Small Stuff, Dave’s The Magic Sponge podcast) returns with his sixth solo show. It’s part one of a one-part show about halves, love and a holiday to Chernobyl. It will include theatrical techniques such as shouting and moving around. Amused Moose Comedy Award and ThreeWeeks Editors’ Award Winner 2017. ‘Catch him now before his inevitable jump to the big time’ (Telegraph). ‘One of the best you will see at the festival’ (Mirror). ‘A riot of sprightly silliness’ (Chortle.co.uk). ***** (ThreeWeeks). ***** (Mirror). **** (Chortle.co.uk). **** (Metro).”

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

WHEN: 17:15 (60 min)

MORE: Click Here!

Is this your first time to Edinburgh?

This will be my sixth solo show – and I did a few compilation shows before that. I really love the Fringe, and Edinburgh is such a beautiful city. I’m looking forward to going to Mother India Restaurant – then going to a steam room the next day and smelling curry getting released from my pores and the other people in the steam room looking confused. Once a singer I really like, Jim Moray, came to see my show and I was delighted – that was a high point!

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

Since last year’s Fringe I got to take my show over to New Zealand Comedy Festival again. I love it over there – and this time I went fishing and caught some Red Snapper (a red fish, but not particularly snappy). One of the people in our group caught a fish and then felt so guilty they had to sit down for an hour. This year I entered a professional Scrabble tournament – so I’m talking about that in my show this year. Looking back at the games, I got beaten in one game by a woman who kept putting down fake words that I didn’t have the courage to challenge.

Tell us about your show.

My show is about love and stress – this year my fiancee and I had to postpone our wedding, I went on holiday to Chernobyl and entered this Scrabble tournament. So, the show is about those things and why they’re all linked. It’s directed by the very funny Stuart Laws. I think it’s the only show to have a cliffhanger and previously on… recap section. Hopefully I’ll be touring the show next year and I’d love to take it back to New Zealand Comedy Festival.

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

Comedy wise – I’d recommend going to see:
Jack Gleadow: Mr Saturday Night (17:45 Pleasance Courtyard)
He’s a really creative an exciting act doing his debut show – he’s worked very hard on it and there are so many unique set pieces. He’s a one of a kind!

Stuart Laws Is All In (12:20 Monkey Barrell 1)
Not only is Stuart Laws, he’s offering $250 to the best audience member too!

Outside of comedy:
Baby Reindeer by Richard Gadd (18:25 Roundabout @ Summerhall)
Richard’s shows are always incredible and I’m excited to see this!

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+3 Interview: Beat

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

“The world and her people (including myself) remain illogical, a pure mystery and the promised wisdom of adulthood has turned out to be the waiting for Godot.”

WHO: Daniel Bellus: Alfie

WHAT: “Alfie lives with his little brother, Hugo, Mum and George. Alfie is not like the other kids, but that’s only a problem for other people: his irritated parents, the bullying classmates and the exasperated teachers. Alfie doesn’t care as long as he can play his drums. He turns his everyday routine into a life bursting with wonder and music. The funny and moving story of an extraordinary mind gone rogue. The Molière Award-nominated smash-hit show premieres in the UK. ***** (Le Parisien).”

WHERE: Pleasance Dome – QueenDome (Venue 23) 

WHEN: 14:30 (60 min)

MORE: Click Here!

Is this your first time to Edinburgh?

My first time performing, yes! My first time coming to the Fringe, however, was at the age of 17, nearly a decade ago. Two of my good friends and myself flew over from Amsterdam (Yes, born and raised there) to see what the buzz was about.

Memories? Plenty. Sweeny Todd, the Show Stoppers and, believe it or not: Mischief Theatre, back then performing in a 100-odd-seater and completely sold out. Until present remaining the best-improvised comedy I have seen so far, in a scenario where names related to random foods were crucial to the plot development and plentifully dropped.
After an overflow of hilarity and increasing bladder pressure, during the improvised murder mystery, one of the cast members called:

‘Ah, detective Sandwich!’ The other actor seemed stunned and seemingly searching for and adequate comeback. ‘Yes, it’s me!…’, he proclaimed, barely able to hold his laughter. ‘Sandwich! Ham Sandwich’ A hundred heads howling with laughter and actors shaking with tears is most likely the signature memory of that festival.

Other memories include: late adventures, dancing in an empty night club, taking the train to Burntisland and seeing the festival city from across the bay. And falling in love with the city, the festival and in general.
I’m very much looking forward to performing my first solo show, rediscovering the beauty of the city and the festival all over again. Only this time, from the other side of the auditorium.

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

Brexit! No. I’ve grown up! No… The world and her people (including myself) remain illogical, a pure mystery and the promised wisdom of adulthood has turned out to be the waiting for Godot.

But on a less Beckettonian note: I have been lucky enough to be doing a good few Voice-Over gigs, touring with the Three Inch Fools (yes, Google) and I’ve come to see more of the UK than the country I was born in!

Tell us about your show.

To me, the show is truly about freedom. It is about pursuing that which makes you feel alive. The world in which we live often focuses on surviving and perpetuating a cycle of future promises, making sure we can build an existence.
To my character Alfie however, nothing exits unless it relates to drums. And then, when there is a beat, the world is a wonder without past or future. It is a story about passion and desire and how the heart beats the most beautiful of rhythms when it is set free.

Cedric Chapuis is the writer. He has written and performed the play throughout France for over ten years and now the production is landing a l’Angleterre. I was lucky enough to be cast by himself, Stephane Battle-the director, the producers (SiT Productions) and the beyond wonderful Nadine Rennie. A truly brilliant company to be part of.

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

Anything that makes you feel alive and forget about any problems you may have.

And if you don’t have problems, the better: you’ll have plenty of dilemmas about which show to queue up for! Go to music gigs, see physical theatre such as Fish Bowl or George(by Contingency Theatre), Intolerable Side Effects (crying out loud comedy with an important message by Claire Parry) and in general: just go with the flow! Read reviews and go to one star and five star shows. Just like a Harry Potteresque box of Bertie Botts every flavour beans, you’ll never know what you’ll find. Isn’t that delightful?

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+3 Interview: My Love Lies Frozen in the Ice

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“Friends are either made stronger or broken at the Fringe!”

WHO: David Hockham: Producer & Production Manager

WHAT: “In 1897, three explorers took off to the arctic in a free-flying balloon. Behind them, they left a woman who could not forget them. Winners of the Les Infants Terribles Award 2019, Dead Rabbits present a highly visual and physical journey through whiter than white nights and darker than dark days, where nothing is what it seems. A tale of love, loss and strange power of the human heart. Presented by Dead Rabbits. Recipient of the 2019 Greenwich Partnership Award.”

WHERE: Pleasance Dome – KingDome (Venue 23) 

WHEN: 12:30 (60 min)

MORE: Click Here!

Is this your first time to Edinburgh?

This is my 4th Edinburgh and 6th show at the fringe – although its the first time for Dead Rabbits Theatre Company.

My first show was back in 2009 (I think). Back then I was performing and using a highly visual and physical style to tell stories with music and comedy. The trouble was I wasn’t very funny… Its why I started working backstage. You did not need to make people laugh and rarely had to remember your lines. Interestingly this show is working with the same director, 10 years later. Friends are either made stronger or broken at the Fringe!

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

This year has been amazing. We have won the Les Enfants Greenwich Partnership Award 2019, been awarded Arts Council funding to make a new show – Some Little Entertainment in These Troubled Times and made some great friends – including Greenwich Theatre James Haddrell who is helping with PR. We have been part of a project in Woolwich looking at how we make performance accessible to a local community which has involved workshops and collaboration with partner organisations of the University of Greenwich and have now forged a friendship with Laura Goulden who will be interpreting a show for us in British Sign Language in Edinburgh on the 20th August! The first time we have done this. I also can’t thank the Pleasance, Les Enfants and Greenwich Theatre for the opportunity of performing in the King Dome this summer!

Tell us about your show.

The show – My Love Lies Frozen in the Ice – Is about the true story of 3 explorers who head to the arctic in a hot air balloon leaving the love of their life behind. Told through her eyes this is really a story of love, exploration, the human spirit and chauvinism.

The company are all past graduates from St Mary’s University. I graduated over 10 years ago, and the cast have graduated earlier than this, some as recently as 2 years ago and others 6 or 8. Our director, Kasia Zaremba-Byrne all taught us at one time or other.

I have only been involved with the work since the summer of 2018 as Kasia called me and said I need some help making the work seen in the UK. Hopefully, I’ve started to achieve this? Before this, the work toured North America in 2017 and won lots of awards! (Of which I can take no credit). We have had limited show dates in the UK but have a preview at the Bathway Theatre in Woolwich on the 25th July. It’s free!

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

We Want You To Watch (The Space). So this is nothing like our show. Its about PORN. I am slightly biased. I have taught all of this company technical theatre and helped with their design and aesthetic. Look out for the Cans of Sex on the Mile in week 3&4

Scandal and Gallows, She Sells Sea Shells (Underbelly) – Female centred show! Lost Women form history, Dinosaurs… What’s not to like!

SharkLegs, Fulfilment (Underbelly) – Because I am intrigued. They are supported by Greenwich Theatre as well so it will be good, but I like the idea it is created form the audiences desires each night. No clue what this means but worth a punt I’d say!

Perhaps Contraption, Nearly Human (Pleasance) We met these guys at the Les Infants Award. They were winners as well! Who does not like a huge band and nice people done in a way I’ve not seen in a while and well…

Incognito Theatre, The Burning (Pleasance) They won the Greenwich Partnership award last year. Women & Witches has me hooked. Also, I’m curious to see if this follow up from last years show is as good!

Haste Theatre, Ex Batts And Broilers (Assembly Rooms) Clown, Physical Theatre comedy and meat farming… What not to like!

Wonderbox Theatre, A Womb Of One’s Own (Pleasance) I feel like feminism is a theme here… Or perhaps shows which showcase women… not sure. Anyway,I think it will be good.

ChatBack Theatre and Comedy, If This Is Normal (Zoo Playground) – I thought their previous work “Lost in Thought” was fab. So looking forward to this one

New Diorama Theatre, The Incident Room (Pleasance) – I think anything the New Diorama touch is gold…. So I hope this is no different!

2Elfth Night (Venue 152) – So a bot of a wildcard. We have become twitter friends and they seem like good fun

Bait: Kill The Princess (Spiegel Yurt) Saw this at the Bathway Theatre in Woolwich. They are a lovely pair and funny! Also, they have promised to make a show with me called Dave the Unicorn where they brush my hair in a live art sort of way… I mean I think they were joking but… Also, a Bathway Theatre Network supported company – so part of the club.

Handprint Theatre, Moon Bird (pleasance) – a family pic, but also completely accessible! Which is exciting for the fringe. Laura is BSL interpreting our show on the 20th August!

Probably loads more – sorry If I have forgotten you

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+3 Interview: Static

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

“I’m feeling both prepared and completely in over my head.”

WHO: Daniel Amedee: Co-Creator / Actor / Musician

WHAT: “Static is a hybrid theater and live concert production that tells the story of a son using music as a means to cope with losing his father to dementia. Static is a multifaceted production that utilizes projections, live music, and a simplistic approach to story telling that delivers an emotional, moving performance that is sure to leave you heartened and shaken.”

WHERE: ZOO Playground – Playground 2 (Venue 186) 

WHEN: 19:00 (60 min)

MORE: Click Here!

Is this your first time to Edinburgh?

Yes and no! It’s my, Daniel’s, first time in Edinburgh. But my partner in STATIC, Conor Kelly O’Brien, has been the past several years and produced a couple plays at the Fringe. So I’m feeling both prepared and completely in over my head.

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

It’s actually been a very busy year… We debuted STATIC at the Scranton Fringe in September of last year and did a small run at a theater in the Pocono’s in November ’18. I’m mainly a musician and I tour full time with my band LIGHT SOUND, so in March I did a US West Coast tour and then went to do STATIC at Orlando Fringe in May. We’re also doing Off Broadway at 59E59 Theaters for their East to Edinburgh Festival right now. That ends the day before we fly out to Edinburgh.

I also announced the release of my debut metaphysical / sci-fi novel, Human World, via Boyle and Dalton. That’s unrelated to the play but still something I’m really excited about!

Tell us about your show.

The show started out in a really unique way. I’m mainly a musician and my partner in the show, Conor Kelly O’Brien, is a playwright / actor/ arts administrator. He and I met when he booked my band at a venue he owned in Scranton, PA when I was touring through back in 2014. We stayed friends and when I released my latest album, I sent it to Conor and he was so moved by it he wrote the story of STATIC to weave between the songs on the album. When someone writes a play to your music you don’t say no. So we started working on at a distance (me from New Orleans and him from Manhattan), and came together to rehearse as we’ve been able to and it evolved from there.

After this Edinburgh run we’re planning on bringing it to Adelaide Fringe and then to Tokyo for a short run. We’ll rest somewhere in there.

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

Big Gay Story Slam! The same production company that produces STATIC, the New Vintage Ensemble, also produces an even called The Big Gay Story Slam. It’s a storytelling event doing a full run at Gilded Balloon that focuses on LGBTQ+ stories / performers.

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+3 Interview: It’s Miss Hope Springs

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“I did a show many, many moons ago when I was a teenager. I had an awful argument with the woman I was doing it with and we didn’t talk for the length of the run. We were sharing a flat with HER HORRENDOUS MOTHER (dear God) who wasn’t talking to me either!”

WHO: Ty Jeffries: Composer Lyricist Performer Producer

WHAT: “Join comedy cabaret superstar Miss Hope Springs at the piano, presenting original musical numbers from her vintage repertoire of toe-tapping show tunes, finger-snapping pop and heart-rending ballads, interspersed with scandalous stories from her ‘Ritz-to-the-pits’ showbiz life in LA, Paris and… Dungeness! Still in the sequins she fled the Pink Pelican Casino wearing in 1972, let Hope (once the toast of Vegas, now down on her luck and heavily medicated) take you on a trip down ‘mammary lane’ in this ‘smash hit laugh-out-loud-move-you to-tears show’ (BroadwayWorld.com).”

WHERE: Assembly Rooms – Bijou (Venue 20) 

WHEN: 20:20 (60 min)

MORE: Click Here!

Is this your first time to Edinburgh?

Well, I’m thrilled to say this is my first full run, and in one of the top venues too! I did a show many, many moons ago when I was a teenager. I had an awful argument with the woman I was doing it with and we didn’t talk for the length of the run. We were sharing a flat with HER HORRENDOUS MOTHER (dear God) who wasn’t talking to me either! it was a total nightmare. I was only 18 at the time.

In 2014 I brought Miss Hope Springs to The Edinburgh Playhouse, The Boards but that was a ‘blink and you’ll miss it’ 6 show run but it was a big success. It’s taken me this long to really have the time to put into it as it’s such a mammoth task…isn’t it? I have to say the team at The Assembly Rooms and The Fringe Society have just been simply amazing.

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

Being the support act for Marc Almond at The Apollo Hammersmith and sharing the bill with him and fabulous Immodesty Blaize. I love Marc’s work so it was a real thrill to be asked. The other acts that have been part of that season are Burt Bacharach, Joss Stone and George Benson…So it’s pretty good company to be keeping.

Tell us about your show.

Miss Hope Springs was once the toast of Las Vegas. Now she’s down on her luck and highly medicated. As Hope, I play the piano and sing songs from her vintage repertoire of finger-snapping pop, smouldering torch songs and toe-tapping showstoppers. Broadway World kindly called it ‘The smash-hit laugh-out-loud-move-you-to-tears show’ and Julian Clary insists it’s ‘Tragi-comic genius’. But you really have to see it for yourself to judge. I think it’s safe to say it blows all the stereotypes about ‘drag’ out of the water. All the music is mine, the lyrics and the dialogue too and I play the piano and sing live and tell stories from Hope’s Rits to the pits life in LA, Paris and erm…Dungeness! (where she lives in a camper van with her ex-husband Irving and his close hairdresser pal Carlos).

I’ve been writing songs all my life and had my first publishing deal in my early 20s (signed to Elton John’s Rocket Music.) Then I created my alter ego, fading glamor-puss Miss Hope Springs and appeared at The Brighton Fringe and went on to win Best Cabaret there 2011. Then I moved to London and have been resident at Crazy Coqs/Live at Zedel ever since. In 2017 I toured Miss Hope Springs around the UK with her ‘The Devil Made Me Do It’ show and have also toured the USA with it. I’ve even performed a solo sold-out show at The Wigmore Hall in London (which is the next best classical venue to The Albert Hall).

I also direct it, and it ‘s produced by Vaudelesque Productions (if you can pronounce that you get a free gift) which is my production company. I created it for my shows as Hope and the more autobiographical shows I do as myself playing the piano and singing my original songs and talking about my childhood growing up in Hollywood (my father was the late British character actor Lionel Jeffries) and also my original classical piano music, which was recently featured by Suzy Klein on BBC Radio 3 Essential Classics. ‘It’s Miss Hope Springs’ show returns to London at Live at Zedel/Le Crazy Coqs in the West End and I’m then taking it around the country.

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

Probably a psychiatrist! Did you know Miss Hope Springs actually has a support groups for addictees. People literally become obsessed with her and come and see every show, which is extremely flattering. I would certainly say catch Dickie Shelton in his ‘Sinatra Raw’ show and of course fabulous Reuben Kaye wherever/whenever you can catch him.

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+3 Interview: Footnotes

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

“The company is just me so it came together when I decided to start making my own work…”

WHO: Lewys Holt: Choreographer

WHAT: “Footnotes are additional information at the bottom of the page. They can add some context to what is being discussed in the main text, helping the reader better understand the discussion or possibly suggest places for further research. At other times, they are frightening glimpses into what the author is really thinking underneath it all. Footnotes is a parody of an academic lecture whose verbose and dense language is frequently derailed by footnotes that could entail any number of diversions including, but not limited to, dancing, oversharing, surreal narratives or flirting.”

WHERE: Summerhall – Anatomy Lecture Theatre
20:45 (Venue 26) 

WHEN: 20:45 (50 min)

MORE: Click Here!

Is this your first time to Edinburgh?

No, it is my… maybe 6th or 7th… third time doing shows though. In 2014 I was part of a comedy chat show called Conversation Garden where the audience members became the guests and in 2016 I performed my first solo show Of, or at, a Fairly Low Temperature which was a dance and comedy piece about trying to be cool…. some things have changed since them but I’m still trying… I must… we all must… it is our duty!

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

I’ve grown my hair long and recently bleached it whilst in Berlin (still trying to be cool) it’s shaken me to my core… I don’t know who I am anymore.

Tell us about your show.

I wrote and choreographed the piece with some help from Inari Hulkkonen, Tiia Ojala, Olivia Winteringham and Jack Britton. It’s a fun show… surreal and obtuse but certainly fun. The company is just me so it came together when I decided to start making my own work… this mainly occurred because some people saw me improvising and took an interest in me and helped me to start making solos… and I just jumped at the chance because no one was casting me in anything haha.

The show has been produced by my friend and stand-up comedian Daniel Nicholas.

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

‘Goose’ make the funniest one-man shows I’ve ever seen, sweaty, cartoony, hilarious.

One by Nasi Voutsas and Bertrand Lesca
My housemate Nasi Voutsas is doing a show called ‘One’, he always makes inspiring
stuff with his friend Bert Lesca.

Conversation Garden on Love Island, A Choose Your Own Misadventure
I’m doing a comedy sketch show based on a choose your own adventure games and Love Island for the last ten days of the festival, it gets very surreal!

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+3 Interview: Shadows

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

“This is our second time to the Edinburgh Fringe as a company.”

WHO: Ellen Harris: Producer

WHAT: “Nat and James work together, struggling against a possibly imagined attraction, without space to explore their chemistry. Dissecting the pressures of modern-day romance, Shadows sees Nat delve into fantasy in order to endure repeated rejection, never sure if James is flirting with her or if their coexistence is edging closer to friendship. As her expectations move further and further away from reality, Nat must try to break away from a life where she feels desperately stuck. When attraction isn’t as simple as love at first sight, how do our brains compensate for our innate desire to be loved?”

WHERE: ZOO Playground – Playground 1 (Venue 186) 

WHEN: 11:30 (60 min)

MORE: Click Here!

Is this your first time to Edinburgh?

This is our second time to the Edinburgh Fringe as a company. Last year we brought our debut show ‘Other People’s Teeth’ to Edinburgh and, while it was sometimes a struggle to bring in audiences with us being so unknown, we were met with some really positive feedback and lovely 4 star reviews from The Scotsman, Broadway Baby and a few other publications, which was just amazing.

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

Since last year’s festivals we’ve been working on our new show, ‘Shadows’ and have had a week-long run at the Tristan Bates Theatre in London, which sold out its first night and once again received a number of 4-star reviews. It definitely felt like a big step in the right direction for our company.

Tell us about your show.

‘Shadows’ was written by our company founder and artistic director Dan Sareen, who also wrote our first show ‘Other People’s Teeth’. The show depicts the relationship between two people working in a bar and is essentially about dreams, love and the distractions that we invent for ourselves. I’m the producer for the company but, in terms of bringing this show together, it really has been a collaborative effort between the whole production team, which is myself, Dan and our director Jess Williams.

The company came together through Dan, Jess and myself working together on shows while at university, and after seeing how well we worked as a team, we decided to try and have a go at doing it professionally. The show premiered at the Tristan Bates Theatre in London for a week-long run and we also performed a one-off show for the International Youth Arts Festival in Kingston. Preparing for Edinburgh has been such a big task that we haven’t really had a chance to think about where we’re taking it after.

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

Well firstly I have to do a shameless plug for another show that I’m producing with Chevron Theatre, which is called ‘One Giant Leap’ and it’s a brilliant satirical musical about the faking of the moon landing. It’s on at the Space on the Mile from the 12th-24th August at 7:40pm and is just so much fun and written and performed by some really talented young people (they, unfortunately, don’t have a twitter account but follow their Instagram @onegiantleapmusical). Our friends at Aireborne are bringing up two shows this year: ‘Shut Up Helen’ (5th-14th), written by Aimee Cross is a beautiful story about a woman dealing with mental illness, and ‘Tally ho, Secret Several!’ (15th-24th) which is a spoof of Enid Bylton’s ‘Secret Seven’ and sure to be terrific fun.

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+3 Interview: Anti-Depressed?

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

“As our relationship cemented we realised a shared interest in exploring the theme of mental health as this is something we have all struggled with at various times and in devising when it comes to the construction of a show.”

WHO: Rich Foyster: Producer / Actor / Director

WHAT: “Award-winning Happenings Theatre Company and sell-out Pop Heart Productions present their new collaboration. Are you okay? Mindfulness app or drunk every weekend? F*ck the pain away or yoga getaway? Medicate or meditate? An unfiltered look at the vicious cycle of being human. Poignant and so darkly funny it hurts. This immersive session is in progress.”

WHERE: theSpace on North Bridge – Fife Theatre (Venue 36) 

WHEN: 14:35 (50 min)

MORE: Click Here!

Is this your first time to Edinburgh?

Both the companies (Pop Heart Productions and Happening Theatre Company) in this collaboration performed at Edinburgh separately for the first time in 2018. Pop Heart Productions produced the show “Am I F#*kable?” and Happening Theatre Company brought “10 Steps to Happiness” both of which were performed to sell-out audiences at Sweet Novotel.

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

Since Festivals 2018 we have been shaping and creating our show, “Anti-Depressed?” for Fringe season this year. It has been such an amazing experience to collaborate with Happening Theatre Company. As a company that is used to producing our own work it has been a wonderful experience getting to blend both our unique perspectives on the world. In addition we got to premiere our new show at Brighton Fringe at The Warren. Allowing us to shape the production into the format you’ll see in Edinburgh.

Tell us about your show.

Our show is a collaboration between two different Brighton Theatre Companies who were friends prior to Edinburgh last year but, Edinburgh Festival Fringe gave us the opportunity to really cement our relationship and saw it evolve into a working relationship. As our relationship cemented we realised a shared interest in exploring the theme of mental health as this is something we have all struggled with at various times and in devising when it comes to the construction of a show. As such, the content has been written, directed and performed by all of the 3 cast members. You could say we are all control freaks but we have also undertaken the producing duties as well but have been supported brilliantly by all the staff at theSpaceUK.

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

As two companies from Brighton, we are always keen to champion our local burgeoning theatre scene. There are so many great performers coming to Edinburgh this year and we are delighted to be sharing this amazing experience again with them.

Firstly, “Sary” which will be on at Sweet Novotel 3 throughout the whole of Edinburgh which is an amazing piece of feminist folk horror about shapeshifting and witchcraft which is being produced by Different Theatre. Secondly, they are also bringing “Metamorphosis,” a reimagining of Kafka’s classic told through the eyes of Grete Samsa’s eye which will be performed at Sweet Grassmarket.

“The Fannytasticals” are bringing their rude and raucous brand of musical sketch comedy to Edinburgh for the first time at Sweet Grassmarket from 02/08-11/08. They can’t be missed, as the tickets will sell fast and are hilarious.

Lastly, the Hiccup Project will be performing at Main House Zoo Southside their unique brand of comedic dance theatre with “Lovely Girls” exploring what it means to be a young woman in today’s society.

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+3 Interview: Aaron Simmonds: Disabled Coconut

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

“I still have not worked out why everything in Edinburgh is uphill! It’s like an Escher painting.”

WHO: Aaron Simmonds: Performer

WHAT: “Join the BBC New Comedy Award finalist and wheelchair enthusiast as he tells you about how his first paid gig led to him performing on BBC2 a year later, and what happens when you are being trolled online for not being disabled enough. Aaron is far better at stand-up than standing up and his unique perspective on life – usually of people’s belly buttons – gives him a distinctive edge in his performances as well as a sore neck. Jewish Comedian of the Year 2017. ‘A class act’ (Chortle.co.uk).”

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

WHEN: 13:30 (60 min)

MORE: Click Here!

Is this your first time to Edinburgh?

This is my first full hour show, but I have been to Edinburgh for the last 4 years. So I know my way around but I still have not worked out why everything in Edinburgh is uphill! It’s like an Escher painting.

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

When I filled up my car with petrol, I put exactly £50 of petrol in and went into the kiosk and paid with a £50 note. I have never felt cooler.

Tell us about your show.

My show this year is about the time where I got trolled online for not being disabled enough. It was a very weird experience, but as soon as it happened I knew that I was going to write my show about it.

After the Fringe, I’ll be doing a mini-tour of the UK and hopefully, I will be going to some of the Australian festivals next year.

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

These are the guys that I’ve seen in previews and are awesome:

Maisie Adam
Catherine Bohert
Adele Cliff
Sarah Keyworth
Philip Simon
George Rigden
Jon Long
Sophie Duker

But also take a punt on anything that grabs you. It could be amazing and they could be the next big thing and you’ll be very smug that you saw them first, or they’ll be rubbish and it’ll make a great story!

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