“The basic rules have not changed. Bring up your best work. Don’t dream… do. Remember that your work is for your audience, not you. And don’t believe your own hype!”
WHO: Guy Masterson
WHAT: “Jenny Marx, wife (and brains!) of Karl, was curiously airbrushed from history… Although, given a new voice via a researcher’s pen, will she now fight for her truth to be heard, or will yet another formidable woman remain trapped between the lines of history books, silenced by the patriarchy, and occupy outdated notions of what society insists she should be? Commedia dell’arte trained Clara Francesca is directed by Olivier Award winner Guy Masterson, in an astounding performance that nods to Luigi Pirandello and winks at Peter Brook.”
WHERE: Assembly Rooms – Drawing Room (Venue 117)
WHEN: 11:35 (60 min)
MORE: Click Here!
Is this your first time to Edinburgh?
No. This is my 30th season, my first being 1994 (obviously!). I have produced or presented over 120 shows up there, with the exception of 5, all at Assembly. I have had my ups and downs, but many of these shows went on to an afterlife, some to the West End, one to Broadway. Many were hits of the Fringe. Many were not! My own solo shows premiered in Edinburgh and then toured thousands of performances around the world.
The basic rules have not changed. Bring up your best work. Don’t dream… do. Remember that your work is for your audience, not you. And don’t believe your own hype!
What are the big things you’ve learned since 2023 and have you absorbed any of the lessons yet?
Despite the problems, Edinburgh is still probably the best place to get justified recognition for your work for less than it would cost you to do it elsewhere. Audiences and critics are more forgiving… and are there to experience it. The big lesson is don’t get swindled by unscrupulous landlords!
Tell us about your show.
Making Marx was written and performed by the brilliant Clara Francesca who invited me to see it in 2019. It was still a work in progress and we decided that we would hone the work together in her native Italy after the Fringe. We tightened the key story points, highlighted the brilliance of her performance and clever writing, simplified the title and created Making Marx – the story of the woman and brains behind Karl Marx, without whom, we might not have the ideal of socialism to contrast the corrupt ideals of greedy Capitalism!
What should your audience see at the festivals after they’ve seen your show?
You might like to come along and see the two solo works that I first performed in Edinburgh in 1994 and 1995 – ‘Under Milk Wood’ and ‘Animal Farm’ – both at The Pleasance EICC at 6pm on August 14th and 18th respectively. These are to epic classic titles which reflect my own ideals and performance style, the success of which gave me the chance to expand my horizons and tour the world, thereby meeting incredible, like-minded artistes whom I then brought to the Edinburgh Fringe Festival over the next years and who, through their wonderful, award winning work, made me look clever!
Also, come and see the brilliant Victoria Mature in cabaret, telling the story of her Hollywood Hunk dad, Victor Mature! Not to be missed!
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