Tag Archives: My Leonard Cohen

EdFringe Talk: My Leonard Cohen: Up Close and Personal

Posted in EdFestivals 2022, Written Interviews by

“The show is in a constant state of evolution, and gets better all the time. This is the 4th time to the Edinburgh Fringe, and fans come back, time and time again. Stewart always has a few surprises up his sleeve.”

WHO: Sandy Bruns: Producer

WHAT: “Stewart D’Arrietta shares the poetry, stories and insights of the great Leonard Cohen with songs such as Tower of Song, Dance Me to the End of Love, First We Take Manhattan and Bird on a Wire. The stirring interpretations delight seasoned fans and expose Cohen’s music to new generations. Beneath the roaring bluster and cyclonic musicality, the sinewy strands of romance weave poignant and compelling stories of life, love, lust and loss – this performer’s favourite themes. Rave reviews from Fringe 2016, 2017 and 2019, and with new songs added for 2022.”

WHERE: Assembly Rooms – Ballroom (Venue 20) 

WHEN: 18:10 (60 min)

MORE: Click Here!

Is this your first time to Edinburgh?

There’s no place we’d rather be in the world in August than Edinburgh. The city is abuzz with colour,  vitality and creativity. This is our 7th time to the Edinburgh Fringe. You know what they say, ‘If at first you don’t succeed; try, try again’. Just joking; Stewart D’Arrietta is a Fringe Favourite, whatever show he presents. We love coming back, year after year. There’s been so much demand for us to bring back ‘My Leonard Cohen’, so here we are. We catch up with mates from all over the world from previous Fringes. We are like a bunch of ‘carnies’.

What are the big things you’ve learned since 2019 and have you absorbed any of the lessons yet?

Be adaptable! Things can change at any given moment.

Tell us about your show.

Stewart D’Arrietta wrote the show in 2013 and it premiered in Melbourne, Australia. Since then it has performed all over Australia and the UK. The show is in a constant state of evolution, and gets better all the time. This is the 4th time to the Edinburgh Fringe, and fans come back, time and time again. Stewart always has a few surprises up his sleeve.

Next year we will tour Ireland, Finland, Germany, Czech Republic, England, Wales and Australia.. And who knows? Maybe Edinburgh Fringe again!

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

Chris Dugdale- Ethermind (Illusionist). He’s performed for the Queen! (His show is right next door to us, and we see his audience reactions. Amazed! blown away…)

Jimeoin- The Craic! (different hilarity every show)

In The Name Of The Son (a serious Belfast play- everything we’ve seen by this director is first rate)

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+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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