Tag Archives: EdFestivals

All our coverage, from all Edinburgh’s festivals, past and present.

+3 Interview: Maria Shehata: Hero

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

“It’s about my life in the UK after my move for love didn’t work out.”

WHO: Maria Shehata: Writer/Performer

WHAT: “Failed love, crippling debt and living with an angry 83-year-old. Not exactly what Maria had in mind when she left LA for the UK. ‘A slick, gag-driven US-approach’ (Chortle.co.uk). ‘A charming, engaging storyteller’ (BroadwayWorld.com). ‘I love Maria Shehata’ (Bill Burr).”

WHERE: Gilded Balloon at Old Tolbooth Market – Bottom (Venue 98) 

WHEN: 17:15 (60 min)

MORE: Click Here!

Is this your first time to Edinburgh?

The first time I came to Edinburgh was in 2015. I was doing a week-long run, and they had to cancel my first performance because they found human remains the venue. I would have performed anyway, not my worst audience.

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

My ass. I gained a lot of new relationship weight. But it’s a happy weight!

Tell us about your show.

I am the writer and PBJ Management is partially producing it. It’s about my life in the UK after my move for love didn’t work out. With two trash bags full of stuff, I went from my fiancé’s flat to living with an 83 year old, which wasn’t exactly what I had in mind when I moved from LA to the UK. I am premiering it at Edinburgh, and I hope to tour it throughout the UK after Edinburgh!

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

Daniel Audritt’s Better Man and Helen Bauer’s Little Miss Baby Angel Face. They are both make me laugh in person and on stage and I love watching them perform.

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+3 Interview: Tokyo Rose

Posted in *Written Interviews, EdFestivals by

“We make gutsy female-led theatre that blends spoken word and music.”

WHO: Tanya Agarwal: Producer

WHAT: “Turn back the dial to 1949. Iva d’Aquino stands accused of treason in one of the most controversial trials in American history. Faced with accusations of peddling Axis propaganda, Iva becomes known as the notorious Tokyo Rose – but was she the villain she was made out to be? Five female wartime disc jockeys spit piercing verse in a rap-packed musical broadcast going live in 5, 4, 3… From the team behind The Half Moon Shania: ‘Best Musical Award 2018’ ***** (MusicalTheatreReview.com). **** (Stage). **** (BroadwayBaby.com). New Diorama Theatre and Underbelly Untapped Award 2019.”

WHERE: Underbelly, Cowgate – Iron Belly (Venue 61) 

WHEN: 18:55 (60 min)

MORE: Click Here!

Is this your first time to Edinburgh?

This is our second time and we can’t wait to be back! Last year we took our debut show, The Half Moon Shania, which won Best Musical! It was such a huge learning curve and a really brilliant way to cement what we are about as a company. We can’t wait to come back this year!

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

The biggest thing that has happened to us is that we won the Untapped Award in association with New Diorama Theatre and Underbelly. Without this award we definitely couldn’t have made Tokyo Rose, and we feel so lucky to have gained so much support from these two great organisations.

Tell us about your show.

Tokyo Rose is an electrifying new musical about one of America’s most controversial trails. Accused of peddling axis propaganda, Iva Toguri became known as the notorious Tokyo Rose – but was she the villain she was made out to be?

Burnt Lemon Theatre was formed by East 15 graduates Hannah Benson and Cara Baldwin, with Tanya Agarwal joining later on as producer. We make gutsy female-led theatre that blends spoken word and music.

We are so excited to be previewing the show at Derby Theatre as part of Departure Lounge Festival on the 18th of July. We have some plans for after Edinburgh, so watch this space!

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

Go see the other Untapped Award shows! Poltergeist’s Art Heist and Barrel Organ’s Conspiracy promise to be amazing. Some of our other favourite companies are also up at Fringe this year, including Trip Hazards with their show Progress and Bric a Brac Theatre with Mustard Doesn’t Go With Girls.

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+3 Interview: Wit and Mirth

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“I was put on its trail by an audience member who I got chatting to in Edinburgh last year, and when I found a copy of the book and started reading it I was enthralled.”

WHO: David William Hughes: Writer/Performer

WHAT: “In 1698 Thomas d’Urfey published the smash-hit book of comic songs, Wit and Mirth. David William Hughes sings some of them, some of his own, and some of yours which he’ll make up for you. ‘A hoot, a bawdy entertainment, and a display of consummate musicianship which brings tears to the eyes both of laughter and sadness’ **** (ScotsGay.co.uk). ‘Hilarious’ **** (FringeGuru.com). ‘A witty gem’ **** (MusicalTalk). ‘Accomplished musicality and bawdy ribaldry’ **** (The730Review.co.uk). **** (Advertiser, Adelaide).”

WHERE: Laughing Horse @ Bar 50 – Upstairs (Venue 151) 

WHEN: 22:15 (60 min)

MORE: Click Here!

Is this your first time to Edinburgh?

I first came to the Fringe in 2011 as part of the improv group the Oxford Imps. It was an amazing experience! Despite 2011 being an exceptionally rainy year, I had the time of my life – one moment that stands out from that year is seeing Adam Riches’ show and just being bowled over by the weirdness, the level of engagement with the audience, and laughing until I cried. Since then I’ve been back many times with many different shows – 2019 will be my 6th Fringe. There’s no-where else like it for seeing the most amazing, innovative, and strange comedy, theatre and cabaret.

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

After last year’s Fringe I was invited to perform my 2018 show “Elizabethan” at the Adelaide Fringe. This was a fantastic experience, and involved me spending as much time (4 days) sat in aeroplanes as I spent actually in Adelaide. The atmosphere there was incredible – as was the food and wine – and it was a huge privilege to fly all the way around the world to perform.

Tell us about your show.

My new show “Wit and Mirth” is a comic cabaret based on a songbook called “Wit and Mirth”, which was first published in 1698. It was one of the biggest-selling publications of its day, but is now almost completely forgotten. I was put on its trail by an audience member who I got chatting to in Edinburgh last year, and when I found a copy of the book and started reading it I was enthralled. There’s all sorts of strange songs in there – one of my favourites is about a boy who chokes to death during a custard eating competition – which I’ve taken, re-arranged, and been inspired by. I’ve already performed the show in Boston and London and hope to take it to more cities in the US after Edinburgh.

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

One group I’ve seen a few times, and will be sure to catch again, is the Owle Schreame. They do these amazingly bawdy versions of 17th century plays called “Drolls” which are fascinating and hilarious. There’s also some really innovative cross-overs between comedy and theatre – Daniel Nils Roberts is one act that I’d heartily recommend. And the stand up Sophie Duker is doing her debut solo show this year – having seen her at the Fringe over the past few years I definitely want to see her full hour. Other than those, just go to something totally strange that you wouldn’t get to see anywhere else!

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+3 Interview: Jekyll and Hyde

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

“Our show is like a dress-up party in that we tell wild and outrageous stories together.”

WHO: Comfrey Sanders: Performer

WHAT: “Meet the most delightfully evil man alive, Mr Hyde. A man so evil he punches the cleaner, drop-kicks a precious puffin, and yells ‘shark’ at the beach. From the creators of 2018’s hit Don Juan, this bonkers rendition of Robert Louis Stevenson’s classic novel Jekyll and Hyde is retold by a team of charmingly “French” performers with the help of the audience. Experience theatre at its most joyous with audacious performers, twisted pop songs and brilliant physical comedy. Praise for Don Juan: ***** (FringeGuru.com). **** (List). **** (Scotsman).”

WHERE: Assembly George Square Gardens – Piccolo (Venue 3) 

WHEN: 15:00 (60 min)

MORE: Click Here!

Is this your first time to Edinburgh?

We came last year for the first time with our show Don Juan, and we loved Edinburgh and the people so much we are back for round two. We pounded the pavements flyering and meeting people that way. We definitely bought our flyering A game – we flirted shamelessly with everyone we met.

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

I helped make and then performed in a new musical based on a long-running soap in NZ called “Shortland Street: The Musical”. It was a loving homage to the 90’s version of Shortland Street I played 90’s Rachel McKenna – she was a teenager then.

Tell us about your show.

Our show is like a dress-up party in that we tell wild and outrageous stories together. But it’s for adults, so we can be a little flirty and you can have a drink or two as well. We tell you the very terrifying story of Doctor Jekyll and Mr Hyde. Mr Hyde is a terrible man and we have a lot of fun exploring all the terrible things he does (and some of the terrible things we wish we could all do)….
It’s a devised work produced by our theatre company A Slightly Isolated Dog and directed by Leo Gene Peters. The show was first made by the company in 2016 and we have toured around NZ a lot over the last 3 years. Robert Louis Stevenson was inspired by Edinburgh so Hyde-like naughtiness will probably be lurking behind every corner, which is rather thrilling. Next year we are hopefully touring it through Australia, and we’ve just started work on the third show in our party-play trilogy.

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

I would highly recommend the solo comedy show Aunty. She’s a fellow traveller from New Zealand, also on at Assembly and she’ll treat you very well – like one of the family in fact.

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+3 Interview: The Trial

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

“We wanted to take a real story, and put it to the general public and ask ‘how can we find justice’, ‘how can we change’ what is happening around us?”

WHO: Franko Figueiredo: Writer/Director

WHAT: “Part stand-up, part gig, with a sparkling performance by Inês Sampaio, The Trial is an interactive new play that questions gender constructions in the 21st century. Can we reject authority, and live and love in a different way? This interactive hyper theatrical performance is loosely inspired on Tieta do Agreste, a novel by Jorge Amado. Donning musical instruments, a microphone and a loop pedal, Inês Sampaio invites the audience to join her on a journey of questioning, growth and discovery. Be unprejudiced witnesses and play jury to her story.”

WHERE: Greenside @ Infirmary Street – Mint Studio (Venue 236) 

WHEN: 15:00 (50 min)

MORE: Click Here!

Is this your first time to Edinburgh?

This is my first time in the Fringe as writer/director since 2003 when we brought Agua Viva, a show about love & grief from a Queer Perspective. I have been to the Fringe since but as partners with other artists and theatre companies: producing Luna Park in 2016, and directing the Japanese piece Busu & The Damask Drum last year.

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

After I directed Busu & The Damask Drum in Edinburgh we went off touring it. I also went on to produce a festival of a staged reading of contemporary Japanese plays in partnership with Yellow Earth in London for StoneCrabs. We (StoneCrabs) also kicked off a heritage funded oral history project: 100 years of LGBTQ+ Oral Histories on the Isle of Wight, which attempts to charter the LGBTQ+ history on the island for the last 100 years and will culminate in a Festival of performances, audiovisual exhibition and a book publication in September 2020.

Tell us about your show.

The Trial is pretty much Inês’ and my efforts, since we worked on Tieta, we decided to take on the elements that the audiences enjoyed in Tieta (the live music, the songs, the interaction, the decision making) and put it together to create a more post-dramatic show that brought awareness to the wave of homophobic and transphobic violence we are being assailed within Brazil, and indeed as we have recently learned the last couple weeks in the UK, America and many other countries hate speech is become scarily normalised. So we wanted to take a real story, and put it to the general public and ask ‘how can we find justice’, ‘how can we change’ what is happening around us?

The play is loosely adapted from the Jorge Amado novel Tieta do Agreste, and it was written by myself, Franko Figueiredo with support of Inês Sampaio and Almiro Andrade, it is being produced by StoneCrabs and it premiered last May in Brighton. We are currently touring it: Nottingham, London, Bedford, Isle of Wight before reaching Edinburgh.

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

For a very different take on LGBT issues have a look at The Happiness Project from Creative Electric. And just for some rather gender-fluid fun, there’s Rouge – circus for adults.

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+3 Interview: 30 Minute Musicals Roulette

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“TBrooke Seguin is our genius director/writer. She has been in the comedy scene in LA for quite some time, and came to me over 8 years ago with the idea that is now 30 MINUTE MUSICALS.”

WHO: Tom DeTrinis: Producer/Actor

WHAT: “Your favourite movies – musicalised! And you choose! Top Gun, Die Hard or Jurassic Park from the critically acclaimed Los Angeles comedy company, 30 Minute Musicals. With over 16 musical parodies of cult classic films under their belt, 30MM brings three favourites to Fringe. Each night the audience will vote on which “movie” they want to see – done in 30 minutes, featuring original music and all the laughs you can stand!”

WHERE: Assembly George Square Studios – The Flick at Underground (Venue 17) 

WHEN: 18:30 (50 min)

MORE: Click Here!

Is this your first time to Edinburgh?

This is not my first time! Last year was my first. I directed TILDA SWINTON ANSWERS AN AD ON CRAIGSLIST (returning to Assembly at the Piccolo Tent…YAY!), and it was truly the most magical experience. I just HAD to return. So I called my Los Angeles work wife, Brooke Seguin, who writes and directs 30 Minute Musicals, and said WE ARE GOING. PACK YOUR BAG NOW. And here we are! WE ARE SO PUMPED!

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

A series of short films I co-created got into Slamdance, and premiered there this past January. It was a whirlwind of crazy, but so very exciting. I didn’t realize how much of a big deal it was until I heard how many films submitted to be in that festival – thousands! It was really an honor to have been included.

Tell us about your show.

Brooke Seguin is our genius director/writer. She has been in the comedy scene in LA for quite some time, and came to me over 8 years ago with the idea that is now 30 MINUTE MUSICALS. Basically, we take cult classic films, add in some original songs, wigs, crazy costumes, magical dancing, amazing performers, et VOILA! A show is born. We have skewered over 16 films at this point, and thought it was time to take it on the road! But we wanted the experience to be even more exciting at Ed Fringe. So, we are having the audience vote on which show they want to see each night – TOP GUN, DIE HARD or JURASSIC PARK – keeping the audience, and our company, on their toes each evening!

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

Well, TILDA SWINTON ANSWERS AN AD ON CRAIGSLIST for one. SHAMELESS PLUG!! Then you should see SLEEPING GIANT by Steve Yockey – some of our actors are participating in that show as well. And you must see TOM LENK IS TRASH, cause he is truly incredible. You should see both shows that Kirsten Vangsness is bringing to the fringe. She is a delight!

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+3 Interview: Witch Hunt

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“Stylistically we use clown/bouffon to elevate the surreal, grotesque and macabre nature of the material. We also use magic, rude limericks and nudity to get our points across and for cheap laughs.”

WHO: Abigail Dooley and Emma Edwards: Co-writers and performers

WHAT: “Following their award-winning show Enter The Dragons, A&E Comedy return with a surreal and darkly hilarious brouhaha directed by Cal McCrystal. These coven-ready weird sisters will be brewing a cautionary tale for our time as they ask who really holds the power in a world where the witches are hunting and predators have become the prey. Winner of Best Show at Brighton Fringe 2017. Guardian top pick at Edinburgh Fringe 2018 for Enter the Dragons. ***** (FunnyWomen.com). ***** (BroadwayBaby.com). ***** (Skinny). ‘Totally unapologetic, brilliantly outrageous’ ***** (ThreeWeeks). ‘Gleefully improper fun’ (Guardian).”

WHERE: Pleasance Dome – JackDome (Venue 23) 

WHEN: 17:30 (60 min)

MORE: Click Here!

Is this your first time to Edinburgh?

No, we were here last year with our show Enter the Dragons. We had a brilliant time with fabulous audiences, sell-out shows and 5 star reviews. Prior to that we were both here in our youth in the 18th Century – Abigail with Compagnie Philippe Gaulier’s show The End of the Tunnel and Emma in an avant-garde production of Marat/Sade above a bus station (where she also slept).

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

It’s been a bit of a whirl-wind year. We were picked up by The Galton Agency who came to see us and lots of exciting things are in the pipeline. We toured Enter the Dragons throughout autumn and then this year have been heads down brewing up Witch Hunt.

Tell us about your show.

We set up A&E Comedy out of frustration of not seeing enough mature female-led companies out there, especially in comedy. Our first show, Enter The Dragons adopted a classical mythological quest (including many, many wigs and false teeth) to examine ageing. In Witch Hunt we take the fairy tale as our structure to explore the current notion of witches and predators (with even more wigs and teeth). Stylistically we use clown/bouffon to elevate the surreal, grotesque and macabre nature of the material. We also use magic, rude limericks and nudity to get our points across and for cheap laughs. We both devised and wrote Witch Hunt with the marvellous Cal McCrystal as director and the incredible Bryony Kimmings as Dramaturg.

We premiered Witch Hunt at Brighton Fringe in May to sell-out audiences, 5 star reviews and a Bobby nomination. After Edinburgh we are off on an Autumn tour of Enter the Dragons and a Spring 2020 tour of Witch Hunt.

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

There are sooo many great shows at Edinburgh this year. Here are a few of our recommendations. For a bite of the best circus-variety show then get down to the Atomic Saloon Show – described as Blazing Saddles meets America’s Got Talent! I’m a Phoenix, Bitch is a one woman roller-coaster of a ride. Bryony packs a punch at heartbreak, motherhood and more. Garry Starr Conquers Troy – Garry is a comedy genius (nuff said). David William Bryan, the king of one-man shows has two (yes two!) shows this year, Fragility of Man and Loyal Company.

Need more gal power and a haircut? Head down to Pamela’s Palace – three comedy queens with wit as sharp as their scissors. Medea Electronica is a unique gig-theatre experience like no other we have seen before, spell-bounding and extraordinary. HoneyBee Eleanor Dillon-Reams is a brilliant poet, watch her wield her powerful words in her play about identity and self-worth.

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+3 Interview: How to Hide a Body in New York

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

“The group came together after meeting at the Upright Citizens Brigade back in 2016 and has been performing together since.”

WHO: Sterling Mulbry: Performer

WHAT: “NYC’s acclaimed sketch group travels across the pond to perform their outrageously funny jam-packed show… and escape the authorities. Join their Edinburgh debut where they’ll prove that Americans really are the worst! SisterWives features the comedic performer/writer talents of Sterling Mulbry (Comedy Bang! Bang!), Brandon Follick (Reductress), Emily Draper (Magnet Theater), Heather Cook (A&R Factory) and Blair Peyton (SiriusXM).”

WHERE: theSpace @ Surgeons Hall – Haldane Theatre (Venue 53) 

WHEN: 17:25 (45 min)

MORE: Click Here!

Is this your first time to Edinburgh?

This is our first time performing at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe! We are beyond excited to be part of the Festival and to see all the other fantastic shows this year.

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

This past year we have been writing and performing various iterations of our show all across New York City from famed venues including the Upright Citizens Brigade Theatre, founded by Amy Poehler, and the Brooklyn Comedy Collective. As we tweak our show and prepare for Fringe, we have also been releasing fun and snack-able sketch videos on our YouTube channel.

Tell us about your show.

The show How To Hide A Body In New York was written and produced by all five performers, Sterling Mulbry (Comedy Bang! Bang!), Brandon Follick (Reductress), Emily Draper (Magnet Theater), Heather Cook (A&R Factory) and Blair Peyton (SiriusXM). The group came together after meeting at the Upright Citizens Brigade back in 2016 and has been performing together since. The show will be premiering in Edinburgh, but pieces of it have been workshopped in venues all over New York. After Edinburgh, we hope to continue performing the show for new audiences in both America and beyond!

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

We are huge fans of New York comedians Catherine Cohen and Pheobe Robinson and highly recommend their shows. Check out Catherine Cohen: The Twist…? She’s Gorgeous at the Pleasance Courtyard and Phoebe Robinson: Sorry, Harriet Tubman at Assembly George Square Studios.

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+3 Interview: Passengers

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

“Alberta Jones has an amazing way of designing a set which sets amazing challenges and limitations – so it is really a part of the dramaturgy in it’s own right.”

WHO: Kit Redstone: Writer

WHAT: “A dark comedy about the epic battles and alliances within the psyche and the beautiful power of the mind to protect itself from pain. Max wants to tell you a story, he’s not sure why or even who he is; savage, peacekeeper or critic. But he’s hoping you’ll be able to help. From award-winning writer Kit Redstone, writer of Testosterone: ‘A refreshing, genuinely smart piece of work full of undercutting humour’ (Lyn Gardner). Passengers uses ensemble theatre to charter the labyrinth of the mind and invites you to see the self in a whole new way. British Council Showcase.”

WHERE: Summerhall – Red Lecture Theatre (Venue 26) 

WHEN: 14:30 (60 min)

MORE: Click Here!

Is this your first time to Edinburgh?

I’ve been to Edinburgh a fair few times. The last time I was there my collaboration with Rhum and Clay Theatre Company, ‘Testosterone’ was part of the British Council Showcase. It was a tremendous experience, and we got to meet and talk to delegates from all over the world and plan some international touring. I’ve always found the fringe a really intense experience, kind of like none other. But the thing I love most of all is the incredible depths of energy, strength and enthusiasm that we all manage to muster for an entire month.

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

Probably the opportunity to tour Internationally with Testosterone. It was such a rich experience. We were in Brazil at the same time that Bolsonaro came into power, working with a group of trans performers to help them build a show. It was the most humbling experience. They were such an incredible bunch of people. We had to have a translator during rehearsals, but the joy of seeing them perform a show that they crafted from their own experiences, fantasies, imaginations was a pleasure to behold. I can’t express how much I gained from those touring experiences.

Tell us about your show.

So, the show came from my own experiences with a mild form of Dissociative Identity Disorder as well as a groundbreaking approach to psychotherapy, that all of us are made up of different personalities. The show is set entirely in the mind of Max, the protagonist, dramatising his alter personalities and the epic battles and alliances between them.

After writing a draft of the show, I invited director and dramaturg Jessica Edwards, whose previous work I’ve loved, to work with me as well as Set Designer Alberta Jones and Producer Jolie Booth. We were then lucky enough to add the brilliant Neil Chinneck and Jessica Clark to the cast, the script has been further developed with the ensemble – so everyone has had a hand in making this work. It is truly a collaborative effort. Alberta Jones has an amazing way of designing a set which sets amazing challenges and limitations – so it is really a part of the dramaturgy in it’s own right.
Despite the serious subject matter, the show is playful, wild, bombastic and surreal. And Jess has really teased out such interesting, creative ways of telling this strange story.

We’ll be doing three previews at Clapham Omnibus 25th to 27th July before heading to the fringe.

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

I’m so looking forward to Ridiculusmus ‘Die Die Old People Die’. I absolutely love their work, they teeter so masterfully on the edge of comedy and tragedy.

I’ll also be going to see Rhum and Clay’s War of The Worlds written by Isley Lynn for the second time. I just love their physical storytelling which is always so impressive.

I’m looking forward to seeing lots of Queer Theatre – Teddy Lamb’s ‘SinceU Been Gone’ looks great and reallly fun.

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+3 Interview: Scream Phone

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

“Kerrie (co-writer and performer) is actually Edinburgh born and bred, so it’s great to descend on her parents’ house when we are in desperate need of some vegetables and cuppa!”

WHO: Natasha Granger: Performer

WHAT: “After the success of 2 Become 1, Swipe Right present their deliciously dark musical Scream Phone – directed by Pappy’s Tom Parry! The girls are having a sleepover and you’re like, totally invited! Pillow fights in their underwear, singing into hairbrushes, and gossiping about their crushes, what could possibly go wrong? As long as they don’t answer the oversized pink phone… dun dun duuun! Based on the retro game Dream Phone, they’ll take you on a killer journey back to the 80s with an infectious original soundtrack. Scream meets Clueless in this hilarious spoof horror musical!”

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

WHEN: 17:00 (60 min)

MORE: Click Here!

Is this your first time to Edinburgh?

This is actually our fourth time as a company up in Edinburgh, we came up three years in a row with our 90’s pop musical ‘2 Become 1’! Although after a year off the fringe and bringing up our new show ‘Scream Phone’ this time around, those fringe nerves are definitely starting to kick in!

Kerrie (co-writer and performer) is actually Edinburgh born and bred, so it’s great to descend on her parents’ house when we are in desperate need of some vegetables and cuppa!

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

Well, we’ve only gone and written a brand new show for you all! And yes, it did take us a year. After ‘2 Become 1’ we were scared we might be one trick ponies, but it has been amazing to have the time to develop our new show, and we have had so much fun performing it in our previews and can’t wait to see what EdFringe audiences think of it!

Tell us about your show.

Scream Phone is written by me (Natasha Granger) and Kerrie Thomason. We met studying Musical Theatre at university, and one year whilst up at the fringe we had the idea for our first show together, and so Swipe Right Theatre was born (Yes we were both on Tinder at the time).

‘Scream Phone’ all came about from one night when we were staying in my childhood room in Brighton, drinking wine, and playing my favourite game as a kid; Dream Phone. For those who don’t know the game, its basically like Cluedo, but instead of the lead piping there’s a giant pink phone, and instead of a murderer you’re working our who is your crush, it is BRILLIANT!

For ‘Scream Phone’ we have the amazing Tom Parry (Pappy’s comedy) directing and he has really helped bring our crazy ideas to life! We premiered the show at VAULT Festival and Brighton Fringe and we’re in the middle of planning an Autumn tour.

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

We have so many recommendations! First, of our director Tom Parry is bringing his hilarious show ‘Parryoke’ up, we’ve seen it and it is just incredible, plus it also has 80’s tunes in!

Elle Dillon-Reams is bringing her fearless one-woman show ‘HoneyBee’, Kate Tempest meets Fleabag? Err… YES PLEASE! We saw this at Wandsworth Fringe and it was so inspiring and moving!

Jim Campbell is bringing his very funny show ‘Beef’ up, and it’s Kerrie’s adorable puppy on the poster so it’s a winner for us!

We’re also very excited to see our friends Everybody’s Story productions who are bringing their very first show to Edinburgh ‘Tea with Milk’!

Lastly ‘Drowning’ by Jessica Ross, we love true crime so this show looks just brilliant. They have also been amazing supporters of female-led theatre coming up to the fringe!

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