“This year I’ve been trying to be more organised and structured in my approach (checklists, spreadsheets, to-do lists, etc), and to remember to take time off for myself in order to avoid burnout.”
WHO: Charles Edward Pipe
WHAT: “Charles Edward Pipe and Co return to the Fringe following last year’s five-star (TheEdinburghReporter.co.uk) show – Five Short Plays Loosely Linked by the Theme of Crime – with Four More Short Plays Loosely Linked by the Theme of Crime! This show has something for everyone; expect cowboys, forgery, suburban Macbeth, and the return of beloved gangster duo Ronnie and Johnny. Charles is ‘a brilliantly funny comic writer and an astute director’ (TheBubble.org.uk) known for his comic style which ‘masterfully walks the tightrope between light and dark’ (TheatreWeekly.com).”
WHERE: theSpace on the Mile – Space 1 (Venue 39)
WHEN: Varies (50 min)
MORE: Click Here!
Is this your first time to Edinburgh?
This is our second time coming to Edinburgh Fringe as a company, and my second time bringing my own work to the Fringe (although I’ve been to the Fringe as a punter almost every year since 2013). Our show in 2023 – Five Short Plays Loosely Linked by the Theme of Crime – was so well received and so fun that I decided to make a follow-up, and I’m very happy that 4 out of 5 of the company members were able to return. I can’t wait to once again immerse myself in the amazing atmosphere of the festival, see some great shows, and meet some fabulous people.
What are the big things you’ve learned since 2023 and have you absorbed any of the lessons yet?
Prior to 2023, I knew NOTHING, so 2023’s Edinburgh Fringe was full of countless lessons for me. This year I’ve been trying to be more organised and structured in my approach (checklists, spreadsheets, to-do lists, etc), and to remember to take time off for myself in order to avoid burnout. That’s been working out well so far; we’ll see if I feel the same when I arrive in Edinburgh.
This year I have also been fortunate enough to take part in Soho Theatre’s Edinburgh Lab, which has been extraordinarily helpful. The workshops have covered all sorts of topics in detail: poster design, marketing, insurance, risk assessment, tech rehearsals, and so on. I’ve learnt so much, which I’m excited to apply to this year’s show and other projects going forward.
Tell us about your show.
The show is – as the title suggests – an anthology of short plays about crime. Each of the short plays is comedic, with the style ranging from dry dark comedy to out-and-out ridiculous farce. During the writing process, I drew inspiration from many of my favourite crime movies, from the likes of the Coen Brothers, Quentin Tarantino, Guy Ritchie, Martin McDonagh, and Danny Boyle, while adding in elements of my own niche interests (for example, my OBSESSION with cowboys and Westerns).
The company consists of myself, three extremely talented actors, and a fab technician. All but one of us worked on our 2023 Edinburgh Fringe show together, and I’d worked with the fifth member of the company in 2022 and been dying to work with her again since, so invited her on board. The team are all so wonderful and talented, and working with them is such a joy. Our run in Edinburgh will be the show’s premiere, and I cannot wait to share our hard work with the public.
What should your audience see at the festivals after they’ve seen your show?
One member of our fabulous cast is performing in another show – Apricot – so of course everyone should go and see that.
Other shows I’d like to shout out include, ‘Karen’, ‘Fix Your Mind’, ‘Yes, We’re Related’, and ‘please DON’T see our show’ – I know some of the wonderful people involved in these shows and they definitely deserve your support.
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