“I silently hid inside of a cardboard gingerbread house for the first ten minutes of the show and then popped out to scare everyone in the audience after the first ten minutes!”
WHO: Bebe Cave
WHAT: “The Screen Test, written and performed by Bebe Cave. A one-woman show about delusion, desperation and dreams. A dark comedy. Betsy Bitterly is an aspiring actress in 1930s Hollywood, so desperate to become a star that she might just sacrifice herself along the way. Through a series of “screen tests” for roles that could change her life, Betsy herself changes in ways she never expected in her never ending quest to “make it”. But what does “making it” really mean? And when do you let go of the dream?”
WHERE: Pleasance Courtyard – Below (Venue 33)
WHEN: 15:10(60 min)
MORE: Click Here!
Is this your first time to Edinburgh?
No! I performed at the fringe for the first time in 2012 with my sister Jessie for a show we did called ‘Bookworm’ at the underbelly. It was about a book club, and the audience were our members. I was 14 and very geeky. I played the weary assistant to my sister (leader of the bookclub) and my role was mostly mute. It really gave me a chance to perfect the art of facial expressions. We had a giant cut-out of Aslan the lion from the Narnia movies on stage with us for some reason. I silently hid inside of a cardboard gingerbread house for the first ten minutes of the show and then popped out to scare everyone in the audience after the first ten minutes! It was very strange but I’m so proud of us for doing that – we really had no idea what we were getting into but it introduced us to the fringe, and to a certain extent our careers in comedy! I have performed since at the fringe in an amazing play called Holes written by Tom Basden in 2013, and in a comedy show my sister and I performed in 2019 called Cave women. This year is my first time doing a show by myself which is a scary but very exciting new challenge.
What are the big things you’ve learned since 2023 and have you absorbed any of the lessons yet?
I didn’t perform in 2023 but my boyfriend did (Horatio Gould- go watch his show ‘Return of the Space Cowboy’ this fringe at Pleasance Dome! ) and one thing we both learnt is that the financial benefit of sharing a single bed in student accommodation for a month is not worth the hassle! This year we’re alternating nights between the bed and an air mattress on the floor.
Tell us about your show.
My show is a one-woman dark comedy about a neurotic actress in old hollywood. It’s a show for anyone who has had a dream and the delusion that comes with it. I started writing it in september 2023, and I did my first preview this february. When I started working on it, I just had a vague idea of a story and a few old songs in mind, and my only real aim was to explore performing solo (terrifying) as this type of desperate actress character. My career as an actor and writer has had many different phases like most people (some good some bad some ugly), but undoubtedly one of the best things that comes from this line of work is the fascinating people that you meet along the way! Performers are all crazy! In a GOOD way (mostly).
Each one is like this incredible eco-system of their own, with unique rules and rituals and belief systems. I think it is so human to want to create something. I wanted to explore that idea in this character I have written, aspiring star Betsy Bitterly. I didn’t expect to be doing it as a full fringe run this year! But the show really had a life of its own and I’m very fortunate that it has all come together in such a quick turnaround. My director Millie Foy came to my first two previews and asked to come on board. Shortly after that, Charlie Ralph from BIGHEAD comedy also came onboard to produce, and as a team we knew we could make this more than just a fun work in progress! I am so excited to premiere it fully at this fringe.
What should your audience see at the festivals after they’ve seen your show?
I wholeheartedly recommend seeing Bella Hull’s show ‘Piggie’ also at Pleasance this fringe. It is so hilarious and life affirming, she really is one of the girls. Equally – Sarah Roberts’ show ‘Silkworm’ at Assembly is one of the coolest and funniest shows this year! They are both such talented and unique performers. I also want to recommend my amazing sister, Jessie Cave, who is performing another wonderfully whimsical hour called ‘An Ecstatic Display’ at the Assembly. Jessie has always been one of my biggest inspirations. Also check out Alfie Brown and Horatio Gould !!! Both brilliantly cerebral boys with fantastic new shows this year.
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