Tag Archives: Assembly

+3 Interview: My Leonard Cohen

Posted in EdFestivals 2017, Plus 3 2017 - Features, Written Interviews by

“Rather than a straightforward impersonation, the show offers arresting and imaginative arrangements of his best-loved music.”

WHO: Sandy, Producer

WHAT: “Following a sold-out season at the Sydney Opera House, D’Arrietta and his six piece band return, due to popular demand, with their rousing celebration of the late, legendary Cohen. This stirringly personal tribute offers arresting and imaginative arrangements of Cohen’s best work, punctuated with poetic anecdotes that give insight into the great musician’s life. The heartrending Suzanne, desperately sensual I’m Your Man and iconic Hallelujah are part of the 15 songs given the D’Arrietta treatment.”

WHERE: Assembly Rooms (Venue 20) ​

WHEN: 19:45 (80 min)

MORE: Click Here!

What’s the biggest thing to have happened to you since Festivals ’16?

We went on to play some pretty amazing shows – First a sold-out season at the Sydney Opera House – an iconic venue at which we received some rave reviews; then an amazing run at the Adelaide Fringe – packed houses once again, great reception from audiences and critics, it was a huge amount of fun.

Tell us about your show.

The show was written by Stewart D’Arrietta, who is also the lead performer, inspired by the great works the late singer-songwriter Leonard Cohen. Rather than a straightforward impersonation, the show offers arresting and imaginative arrangements of his best-loved music. It suggests new ways to approach these classic songs.

We’ve got a great team of musicians, who have an amazing, palpable energy on stage together. We always have a great reception at Edinburgh – We were here last year and played to many full houses, and Stewart has been before with Lennon: Through a Glass Onion and Belly of a Drunken Piano (a Tom Waits tribute). We hope to take My Leonard Cohen on a UK tour in the future, watch this space!

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

We recommend going to see EdFringe regular, Irish born Australian comedian Jimeoin, because he’s a mate of ours and hilariously funny. It’ll keep you in a great mood all evening!

In contrast with a bit of comedy, we saw Henry Naylor making waves with his theatre at last year’s EdFringe, so we plan to see Borders when we get a chance.

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+3 Interview: Slooshy Wordshow

Posted in EdFestivals 2017, Plus 3 2017 - Features, Written Interviews by

“I needed a direct form of expression – so poetry is what came out!”

WHO: Gavin Robertson, Writer/Performer

WHAT: “Appearing as performance poet Greg Byron. His poems reflect life’s confusions and cruelties, from social comment to quantum physics, with a grimace, a twinkle and a wry pointy finger! Poetry and prose… From witty to wistful, outraged to downright angry… Following 2016’s hits The Six-Sided Man and Escape From the Planet of the Day That Time Forgot! (Phew!) Greg has performed in the USA, the UK, Australia and Japan, on beaches, in bars, bookshops, tents and forests…”

WHERE: Assembly Hall (Venue 35) ​

WHEN: 12:20 (60 min)

MORE: Click Here!

Is this your first time to Edinburgh?

I first visited in 1987 with what became a West End hit, Thunderbirds F.A.B… I’ve brought my own shows (often) and been in 12 Angry Men with a load of comics including Dave Johns, Phil Nicol and Bill Bailey, the notorious Cuckoo’s Nest with Christian Slater, and last year at Assembly with The Six-Sided Man and Escape From The Planet of The Day That Time Forgot!

Tell us about your show.

This year I’m here in a different guise- a persona called Greg Byron- Performance Poet. It’s a risk because ‘he’ has no history! I wanted to make a 3rd solo theatre show but the world around me- Trump, the Tories etc made me so angry I couldn’t write a ‘story’ I needed a direct form of expression – so poetry is what came out! I’m taking ‘Greg’ to the USA in October; we’ll see what they make of my sardonic anti-Trump rhymes!

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

Hmmm… I’d always recommend a Dyad show, this year at Assembly with The Time Machine. Shellshock at Sweet Venues is great, and I want to see Loud Poets who are a regular Edinburgh group.

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