Tag Archives: theSpace

+3 Interview: Beaker’s Place

Posted in EdFestivals 2018, Plus 3 2018 – Features, Written Interviews by

“Taking a show to Edinburgh … is a massive leap into the unknown.”

WHO: Pippa Le Grand, Company Manager

WHAT: “‘You stab ‘em, we slab ‘em!’ Beaker is the meticulous owner of an illegal body disposal service in the cellar of his pub. Deeply affected by the recent demise of his cat Paul, Beaker decides to take his own life. But at the crucial moment, he receives one last urgent delivery. Anxious to complete his own “departure”, Beaker is shocked when the bag begins to move…”

WHERE: theSpace on North Bridge – Argyll Theatre (Venue 36)

WHEN: 12:25 (60 min)

MORE: Click Here!

Is this your first time to Edinburgh?

It’s our first project as a company, and our first time at Edinburgh! I’ve been as a visitor before, and our Technical Manager, Iz, has worked as part of the crew for productions, but this is a new challenge for all of us!

Tell us about your show.

‘Beaker’s Place’ is Only Lucky Dogs’ first show. It’s an original dark comedy, with the concept by writer James Huxtable and director Michael Saliba. We’re exploring the eternally present questions of life and death through the character of Beaker, the meticulous owner of an illegal body disposal service in the cellar of his pub. Deeply affected by the recent demise of his cat Paul, Beaker decides to take his own life. But at the crucial moment, he receives one last urgent delivery. Anxious to complete his own ‘departure’, Beaker is shocked when the bag begins to move…

Only Lucky Dogs was born in early 2018 as a result of wanting to take a show to the Fringe, and the idea for Beaker’s Place really taking hold of all of us! Myself and Aaron, our Publicity Manager, are producing the show along with our graphic designer and producer for the project, Lucy. We’re all students at Sheffield Uni, with lots of experience acting, directing and producing at the uni’s theatre company, SUTCo. Although, taking a show to Edinburgh from this experience is a massive leap into the unknown (to shamelessly steal the 2018 slogan)!

We previewed the opening of the show back in March at Platform Performance Festival, winning their Best in Theatre Award – that was an incredible boost to our confidence in the show! We’ll be doing a full preview in Sheffield in July too, and we’re really looking forward to getting the reactions (and reviews!) from that.

The future of Beaker’s Place depends a lot on the Edinburgh run, really. We think it’s got great potential and would love to take it to other venues and festivals. Only Lucky Dogs will keep unleashing new writing on Sheffield and beyond, regardless of what happens to Beaker’s Place, though!

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

I’m a bit biased, having come from SUTCo (Sheffield University Theatre Company), so you should definitely watch their wonderful play My Mate Dave Died. Brilliant writing, very funny and charming characters. I’m also a fan of Fat Rascal Theatre, having seen their musical ‘Buzz’ last year at Edinburgh and just loved their sense of humour. Definitely an inspiration for the future of Only Lucky Dogs!

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+3 Interview: All Night Long

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

“All Night Long, is a combination of our favourite songs, old and new, geared towards getting our crowd’s evening off to a wild start.”

WHO: Tristan Weller, Business Manager

WHAT: “The Other Guys from the University of St Andrews return to the Edinburgh Fringe Festival for the third time, with more energy and excitement than ever before. After a jam-packed year with shows around the country, they are thrilled to be returning to home turf to finish the year off in style. Presenting their new show, All Night Long, The Other Guys cannot wait to start this party in the early afternoon… With a diverse repertoire, from heart-wrenching ballads to bop-around bangers, there is something for everybody. Expect a royal welcome from Scotland’s reigning men!”

WHERE: theSpace @ Surgeons Hall (Venue 53)

WHEN: 16:50 (50 min)

MORE: Click Here!

Is this your first time to Edinburgh?

It certainly isn’t! I’ve lived in Edinburgh since I was 2, having moved from Australia, so the Edinburgh Fringe is something I’ve been a part of for ages. As a group, we brought our show, Well Sung, to the festival last year, but since then we have brought on five new members who are new to the Fringe experience!

Tell us about your show.

The Other Guys was formed in 2004 by a group of guys who wanted to bring the American tradition of collegiate a cappella to St Andrews, and since then we have gone from strength to strength. Highlights of the past 13 years of TOG include our Youtube hits Royal Romance, St Andrews Girls and It’s Raining Men, performing for VIPs such as the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge, Stephen Fry, Hillary Clinton and JJ Abrams, as well as our tour to North America in January of last year. This year’s show, All Night Long, is a combination of our favourite songs, old and new, geared towards getting our crowd’s evening off to a wild start.

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

Be sure to check out our St Andrews friends, The Accidentals, and their show Dangerous Women.

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+3 Interview: Countermeasure: 14 Characters

Posted in EdFestivals 2016, Written Interviews by

“When we’re not on stage, you are almost sure to run into one of us on Arthur’s Seat, or in one of Edinburgh’s fabulous pubs!”

WHO: Aaron Jensen

WHAT: “Award-winning a cappella that will bring you to your feet! Countermeasure has won worldwide acclaim and sold-out houses in the UK, Canada and US with their upbeat blend, sophisticated harmonies and infectious energy onstage. ***** (East Coast FM, Edinburgh). Featuring 14 of Canada’s top young vocalists, their genre-defying contemporary sound takes a cappella to the next level with inventive covers of jazz and pop tunes, powerful original music and dramatic staging. Come for an afternoon of good fun, great harmony and amazing music.”

WHERE: theSpace @ Surgeons Hall (Venue 53)

WHEN: 17:30 (55 min)

MORE: Click Here!

Is this your first time to Edinburgh?

This will be Countermeasure’s second time to Edinburgh. We played The Boards at The Edinburgh Playhouse as part of our last UK tour in January 2015. Ben Dyson, of East Coast FM 107.6 (Edinburgh) had this to say about the performance: “FIVE STARS! Such a fantastic show from a group of super talented individuals from Toronto, Canada…This show was packed with fabulous and beautifully songs. So watch out world because here they come!”

Countermeasure instantly fell in love with Edinburgh, and we can’t wait to be back! When we’re not on stage, you are almost sure to run into one of us on Arthur’s Seat, or in one of Edinburgh’s fabulous pubs!

Tell us about your show.

Countermeasure has been performing, touring and recording together for the past five years. This particular production has been a work in progress for the past year and a half. Over that period of time, we’ve been arranging, recording, and mixing our new album Made to Measure. Most of the selections in our Edinburgh set are featured on this new record.

We’ve enlisted the help of a stage director, lighting, and sound designer to turn this songbook into a cohesive, engaging and interactive theatrical experience. Audiences who come out to see our show will be treated to a smorgasbord of inventive musical covers of jazz and pop tunes, powerful original numbers, and dramatic staging.

Florian Stadtler of Vocal Blog described Countermeasure’s performance at the London A Cappella Festival as “Pure joy, [an] incredibly entertaining show”. What becomes abundantly clear through our performance is how much we enjoy each other, our music, and this discreet moment that we have to share our music with our audiences. It’s hard not to get caught up in the infectious energy, good feelings, and love of music that drives Countermeasure.

Prior to our run at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival we have a series of concerts in London and area. After Edinburgh, we head to Italy to take part in Vocalmente A Cappella Festival, then it’s back home to Canada, for more touring recording and merrymaking.

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

This past May, Countermeasure shared the stage at SING! The Toronto Vocal Arts Festival with another Toronto group called Pressgang Mutiny. Members of this ensemble have created a 15-piece guerrilla-folk punk band, who will be performing an exciting revolutionary musical/folk/opera called Counting Sheep, which follows the course of Ukraine’s history. Based on what we’ve seen of these singers, I have every confidence that that will be an exciting production!

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