Tag Archives: Pleasance Courtyard (Venue 33)

+3 Interview: The Last Days of Judas Iscariot

Posted in EdFestivals 2017, Plus 3 2017 - Features, Written Interviews by

“Right now my brain is fizzing with ideas for next year.”

WHO: Stuart Walker, actor – Judas Iscariot & Butch Honeywell

WHAT: “Brought to you by Parallax Theatre, Stephen Adly Guirgis’s The Last Days of Judas Iscariot is a riotous look at life beyond. 2000 years after that deed, Judas is finally put on trial for ‘that business’ in Judea. With a dash of prejudice, a sprinkling of rude words and a lot of surprises, it is inventive, full on and very funny.”

WHERE: Pleasance Courtyard (Venue 33)

WHEN: 13:30 (90 min)

MORE: Click Here!

Is this your first time to Edinburgh?

I have been to the Ed Fringe before as a theatre lover but this is my debut as a theatre performer! The atmosphere remains electric and highly addictive. Right now my brain is fizzing with ideas for next year. I feel truly inspired by the performances I’ve seen and the people I’ve met this year. My only complaint is the need to rest cuts into my theatre binge time.

Tell us about your show.

Parallax Theatre are reviving Stephen Adly Guirgis’s show with a cast of 10 for the 70th Anniversary of the Ed Fringe. Take a seat in the jury as we put Judas on trial for betraying the son of God. Was it a moment of greed, madness or even bravery? Under the direction of Alexander Knight we’re bursting onto the scene with this “outstanding” (Young Perspective) take on an already edgy script, refreshing topical references and breaking up the all American dialogue (originally meant for a New York audience) – e.g I perform my character Judas as a fella from East London. We want the words to hit our audience harder than ever!

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

I highly recommend ‘Flesh and Bone’ by Unpolished Theatre – it’s like a modern day Shakespeare play set in East London but forget Kings and Queens, this is about the gritty life of a family on a council estate. Powerful and punchy with verse, physical theatre, comedy and more. Eloquent yet raw. Let’s face it, more interesting than the Queen.

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+3 Interview: The Nature of Forgetting

Posted in EdFestivals 2017, Plus 3 2017 - Features, Written Interviews by

“It almost feels like a show and ultimately a team is never quite complete until it has gone through a run at the Edinburgh Fringe.”

WHO: Guillaume Pige, Director and Actor

WHAT: “Part of British Council Edinburgh Showcase 2017 and following a sell-out run at the 2017 London International Mime Festival, Theatre Re presents a powerful, explosive and joyous piece about what is left when memory is gone. Tom is 55, today. As he dresses for his party, tangled threads of disappearing memories spark him into life, unravelling as a tale of friendship, love and guilt. Theatre Re is a London-based international ensemble creating thought-provoking, tangible and poignant work. Its shows examine fragile human conditions in a compelling, physical style embracing mime, theatre and live music.”

WHERE: Pleasance Courtyard (Venue 33)

WHEN: 12:00 (75 min)

MORE: Click Here!

Is this your first time to Edinburgh?

This is our fourth Edinburgh! I absolutely love the festival and the whole buzz around it. I also find it very healthy for the work. It almost feels like a show and ultimately a team is never quite complete until it has gone through a run at the Edinburgh Fringe. On stage, it allows us to really own the piece and also gives us the confidence to keep playing with it and be bold. Off stage, we get to see lots and lots of shows together and share life’s incredible moments!

Tell us about your show.

We work mainly through collaboration and The Nature of Forgetting was devised over a period of 2 years by the entire company, which includes actors, mimes, musicians, but also a scientist and public health professionals. We premiered as part of the 2017 London International Mime Festival and then brought the show to the Latitude Festival. After the Fringe we will be touring in the UK in the Spring 2018 and then in the US in the Autumn 2018, which is incredibly exciting!

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

We would wholeheartedly recommend The Flying Lover of Vitebsk by Kneehigh. Firstly because we love Chagall and also because we love Kneehigh!

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+3 Interview: Kat Bond: Loo Roll

Posted in EdFestivals 2017, Plus 3 2017 - Features, Written Interviews by

“It’s been incredibly fun to write, make and perform.”

WHO: Kat Bond, Writer

WHAT: “Award-winning character comic and critically acclaimed actress (BBC’s Call the Midwife, Sky’s The Greatest, Channel 4 Blaps, BBC Radio 4) Kat Bond has lost her family. They left her in a bin, outside Papa Johns in Luton. She has made a comedy show to find out who, what and where they are. Armed with only a loo roll as a prop, she combines stand-up, characters and clowning to bring her imagined family to life. A debut solo hour from one half of sublime duo That Pair.”

WHERE: Pleasance Courtyard (Venue 33)

WHEN: 17:45 (60 min)

MORE: Click Here!

Is this your first time to Edinburgh?

Not first time at the fringe but first solo show. I have been at the fringe in many guises. Flyerer, puppeteer, actor one half of duo and now just me ( and a massive bin and a twelve pack of Loo Rolls).

Tell us about your show.

My show in Edinburgh is a character comedy show about a woman called Pat who was left in a bin by her family. She spends the whole show pretending she’s various members of her long lost family whilst also telling the audience about the various benefits of Loo roll.

It’s been incredibly fun to write, make and perform. I have a brilliant director Matthew Crosby and Technical support from Jonathan Monkhouse. I started making the show when I had a cold and was using lots of Loo roll and thought about how funny it would be to base a show around the stuff.

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

Anything from Free Association they do lots of great improv. I’m in one of their teams and they are super.

Jon Pointing : Act Natural is brilliant he plays an acting coach Cayden Hunter who is ridiculous.

Lorna Shaw: Ava Rage has made a brilliant show that is about being average. Music , stand up and stories from her.

James Rowland : 100 Words for Love is the 2nd part of his trilogy of one man shows it’s super.

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+3 Interview: Ballistic

Posted in EdFestivals 2017, Plus 3 2017 - Features, Written Interviews by

“It’s a real masterclass in acting.”

WHO: Euan Borland, Producer

WHAT: “He tries his best with girls. He tries his best with mates. But for all his efforts, things just don’t seem to be going right. So he’s making a change. Something’s triggered him to stand up for himself. He’s got a new plan, and he’s going to reassert his worth. But does he have the balls to go through with it? Inspired by mass shooter Elliot Rodger’s manifesto, Ballistic is a one-man tour de force about the life of a loner.”

WHERE: Pleasance Courtyard (Venue 33)

WHEN: 14:15 (60 min)

MORE: Click Here!

Is this your first time to Edinburgh?

This is my third time producing a show at the Edinburgh Fringe. The first show I took up was called Body of Water by playwright Stuart Purcell back in 2011. I was fresh out of drama school and completely naive. The show had a cast of nine performers and our playing space was 4m x 2m. We could barely fit on stage! Despite the restrictions the show ended up being nominated for Best Ensemble in the Edinburgh Stage Awards. I was pretty hooked on the Fringe after that…

I returned in 2012 with One Hour Only, a beautiful play by Sabrina Mahfouz, about the hopes and sexual politics of young people in Britain. We were lucky enough to be supported by Old Vic New Voices, Ideastap and the Underbelly as part of their Edinburgh New Voices Season. That brought a whole new level of exposure to the show which was fantastic.

Now I’m up with my third show Ballistic and I can’t wait for an entirely new set of challenges an surprises.

Tell us about your show.

Based on real events, Ballistic follows the descent of one young man as he plans to commit an act of terrible violence. The play deals with themes of masculinity, violence and misogyny. What I love about the play is the way in which it plays with the audience. It’s been fascinating to see how far an audiences sympathies might stretch and at what point they turn against our character. I’ve been really surprised by the responses so far… they haven’t been what I predicted at all.

Ballistic is the debut play by writer Alex Packer who was inspired to write it after reading countless stories about young men committing lone-wolf violent acts. He wanted to understand why. Our performer Mark Conway is incredible at charting the characters journey from childhood, through his teenage years and into adulthood. It’s a real masterclass in acting. Our Designer Frances Roughton and Lighting Designer Peter Tomes have made it look beautiful. Finally our Director Anna Marsland has expertly tied everything together. I’m really proud of our team and what they have achieved.

We hope the show will provoke debate and leave the audience asking questions. Hopefully Ballistic will have a life beyond the Fringe.

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

There’s a lot of great work up this year! Don’t miss Brutal Cessation at Assembly, Testosterone by Rhum and Clay at Pleasance, Tumble Tuck at Underbelly, Curse of the Mummy at Just the Tonic and Odette! at Laughing Horse.

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