Tag Archives: Edy Hurst’s Wonderfull Discoverie of Witches in the Countie of Himself

EdFringe Talk: Edy Hurst’s Wonderfull Discoverie of Witches in the Countie of Himself

Posted in *EdFestivals 2025, *Written Interviews by

“It’s a comedy show where I, venerable comedian Edy Hurst, discover shocking revelations about my relations, leading me on a journey beyond this mortal plane to try and harness the powers of the dark arts.”

WHO: Edy Hurst

WHAT: “Startling revelations about Edy Hurst’s (‘bursts with comedic joy’ (Skinny)) relations have set him on vision quest to contact his ancestors. But around every corner there echoes the siren call of the Vengaboys. What’s all that about? ‘A fine example of neurodiversity in action’ (Scotsman). ‘A delightfully witchy adventure’ **** (Young-Perspective.net). Commissioned by Developed With Lowry. Supported by Arts Council England.”

WHERE: Downstairs at Assembly Roxy (Venue 139) 

WHEN: 14:20 (60 min)

MORE: Click Here!

Is this your first time to Edinburgh?

You know, in it’s own way, aren’t we always going to Edinburgh for the first time? We never step in the same river and so too is the historic city a constantly changing tapestry of stone, iron and unforgiving hills? That’s not really true, but didn’t it sound compelling for a few sentences?

I’ve been to the Fringe for a number of years, doing short runs, spots, full runs and sometimes just sitting, watching and over thinking my role as an audience member (is my laugh too loud? Is it not loud enough? Will I disappear up my ass if I continue thinking I’m so important in this show?). I have performed at some of the most glamorous venues in the city (RIP phones4u fringe venue) and feel like I now have the working knowledge to convert any broom cupboard into a 20 seater venue.

This will be the first full run in over 5 years and I am both really looking forward to it and ignoring my bank balance at all costs (and there’s a lot of costs). One of the great things about Edinburgh Fringe is that it continues to be a place where you can perform a show you’ve worked on for a month to audiences actively looking for new things to watch. Oh no I accidentally said something I meant deletedeleetedelete

What are the big things you’ve learned since 2024 and have you absorbed any of the lessons yet?

Last year I learnt that if a street, road or lane has a town or city at the start of it, then it must point in the exact direction of that place. So every ‘York Road’ points towards York. It was a real revelatioin to me, and to be truly candid, I still think I’m trying to find out how this is helpful or useful information to have in my head.

I also learnt that if your show has a giant homemade cauldron, you need to make sure it can fit through a standard door size to get it onto a stage, and that the Vengaboys are surprisingly harder to get in touch with that you would expect.

Tell us about your show.

Edy Hurst’s Wonderfull Discoverie of Witches in the Countie of Himself is a show about the Lancashire Witch trials, the Vengaboys and “Nothing Else” (Scotsman described it as “A Fine example of Neurodiversity in action”).

It was commissioned by Lowry’s ‘Developed With’ Programme and has been supported by Arts Council England, which has been a huge change in how I’ve made shows. Before I’ve done nearly everything in making the show, from writing material, songs, props, videos to setting up performing and driving the van. With this show I’ve been able to work with an amazing team, including director Joz Norris, where we spent a long time thinking about what the show was, how I wanted to say it, and with help from set and lighting designers creating a full theatrical level of production alongside a giant cauldron and a dream to tell the world the Vengaboys secretly made a concept album where they learnt to circumnavigate the globe

It’s a comedy show where I, venerable comedian Edy Hurst, discover shocking revelations about my relations, leading me on a journey beyond this mortal plane to try and harness the powers of the dark arts. A lot of people keep saying ‘oh it’s about being neurodivergent in the 21st century. It’s about late stage ADHD diagnosis and family and realising that lessons you thought you kept having to re-learn maybe aren’t lessons but something about you and how you navigate your place in the world.’ and I would really like to quash those pernicious rumours. It’s simply about the 1612 Lancashire Witchtrials and how the Vengaboys created a concept album in which they circumnavigate the globe.

The show was previewed in 2024, before premiering on the 31st Oct (spooky) at Lowry, and goings on a Winter/Spring tour, and following the fringe will be on the second, more seasonally appropriate tour across the UK.

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

OH NO! I’M GOING TO MISS SOMEONE OUT AND I ALREADY FEEL EVERY SINEW IN MY BODY TENSING UP IN DREAD.

If you watch my show that people seem to think combines folklore and magic through a Neurodivergent lens (what lens? Where’s this lens? I didn’t craft a lens over here) then Cerys Bradley’s Queer Tales for Austic Folk is so far up your street it’s blocking your driveway. It’s a great community adventure that puts access at the heart of the work, and you leave feeling like a lovely team.
https://www.edfringe.com/tickets/whats-on/cerys-bradley-s-queer-tales-for-autistic-folk

My director Joz Norris also has their new show You Wait. Time Passes that I cannot wait to see. Joz is very funny and able to balance big complicated feelings with a huge dollops of silliness and he’s finally unveiling his life’s work in this show. We’ve all been begging for it. Gobble Gobble.
https://www.edfringe.com/tickets/whats-on/joz-norris-you-wait-time-passes

Frankie Monroe! Here Comes Frankie! He’s back from hell! Did he bring his trowel?? Joe kindly spent some time on clown-y physical comedy bits for my show, and they’re such a naturally talented and hilarious performer – if you can get a ticket Frankie Monroe’s follow up to the Fringe award-winning show last year you’ll be in for amazing, grotty fun.
https://www.edfringe.com/tickets/whats-on/joe-kent-walters-is-frankie-monroe-dead-good-fun-time

Some other folks I’m going to include are Jain Edwards, Katie Zoe-Mitchell, Andrew O’Neill, Lulu Popplewell, Eleanor Morton, Bennet Kavannagh, Jake Donaldson’s WIP with the cracking title of ‘the fifth weezer’, Staffan Allun and so so so many more that I will kick myself not for mentioning the moment I press submit. Oh what about Pat Cahill, they’re great!

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EdFringe Talk: Edy Hurst’s Wonderfull Discoverie of Witches in the Countie of Himself

Posted in *Written Interviews, EdFestivals 2024 by

image of event

“Boy do I wish I’d read all the questions before I started answering.”

WHO: Edy Hurst

WHAT: “‘Bursts with comedic joy’ (Skinny). ‘Absolutely non-stop bonkers’ (Comedy.co.uk). Hark and Boo! Recent revelations hath shone a light upon the ancestry of Edy Hurst. What visions await in our dark voyage? And why are the Vengaboys here? Supported by The Lowry and Arts Council England. Best Comedy Show nominee, Buxton Fringe. Best Alternative Act nominee, North West Comedy Awards. Seen on Next Up Comedy, BBC Radio 4.”

WHERE: Assembly George Square – The Crate (Venue 117) 

WHEN: 16:20 (60 min)

MORE: Click Here!

Is this your first time to Edinburgh?

I’ve been to the Fringe as a punter, performer, and inbetween for years. As an audience member it’s a spoil of riches, getting to watch some of the most famous comedians in the world right next to experimental theatre and magnificent DIY finds all within a 12 hour period, sprawled across one of the most beautiful cities in the world. You can watch one off shows by artists you adore, get a chance to see an international perform for the first time in the UK, and just how ambitious some bars are with how a chair store room can become a ‘performance space’

As a producer, it’s also that, but with a great deal more financial and logistical worries. As a comedian, it’s the festival that all other festivals are set around in the calendar, and it continues to be the timeline through which many plan their professional year. It’s a huge undertaking, but the joy of an audience seeing your show out of the hundreds available and spending their time to watch whatever you have been working on is pretty hard to beat. That and City Cafe’s breakfasts.

What are the big things you’ve learned since 2023 and have you absorbed any of the lessons yet?

My new show was commissioned through The Lowry’s Developed With programme, and working with a big theatre to produce a show that stands somewhere in the space between comedy and theatre has been full of lessons from the creative to the professional that I will benefit and learn from for a long time afterwards.

This show is the first time I’ve worked with other people during the development of the work, with director Joz Norris, Joe-Kent Waters, Amy Vreeke and Bobak Champion amongst many more and learning how to explain ideas, take advice and feedback has been really valuable lessons, alongside the fact that when you’re working with others you’re in a team, and it’s both a strange and nice thing to see other people believing in something you’re making together! Is that tragic to see written down? Yes!

Tell us about your show.

Boy do I wish I’d read all the questions before I started answering.

As I said above, Edy Hurst’s Wonderfull Discoverie of Witches in the Countie of Himself, was commissioned as part of The Lowry’s ‘Developed With’ Programme, where 6 artists in the North are selected to create a new piece of work alongside professional development and mentoring.

Part of this came with funding that allowed me to work with others and build a team whilst compensating them for their time appropriately. Joz Norris, a comedian who’s work I’ve been a fan of for a number of years came on as director, and I invited a number of artists to join ranging from clowning techniques and physical comedy, to dramaturgy (like metalurgy but instead of medieval armor it’s theatrical structure) to movement direction.

The show has been in WIP/ Preview states up until Edinburgh, and following my run at Assembly the show will undergoe some more production development before a big shiny premiere at The Lowry on October 31st (spooky). From then it will be on a National Tour, including Camden People’s Theatre, Sale Waterside and Attenborough Arts Centre in Leicester.

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

Alright! Most of these definitely won’t need me recommending them, but Imma do it anyway.

Joe Kent Waters is Frankie Monroe Live! – The boys been winning the big awards everywhere Frankie’s horrible suit wobbles to, and for good reason. It’s the character, clown, stand up hybrid that nobody realised they needed and a chance to witness the birth of a comedy star.

Hannah Platt: Defence Mechanism – Hannah’s stand up is so so funny at the same time as being honest, and full of integrity. I’ve been lucky to perform with her for years, and this show is going to be an incredible calling card.

Cerys Bradley: Queer Tales for Autistic Folk – I think if you watch my show and go ‘oh I really need to watch more Neurodivergent experiences through the lens of folklore’ then you must have already booked a ticket for Cerys’ show, but if you haven’t, go get one!

Also obvious recs for Chris Cantrell and Amy Gledhill of the Delightful sausage’s respective shows, Jake Donaldson’s show ‘Spectacle’ and if you’ve never been before you simply must go to ACMS at least one night.

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