“I always prefer to go up with a show, it makes you feel like part of the action.”
WHO: Emma Hinnells
WHAT: “Conservation and comedy collide in this hour-long improvised play about endangered species. Join us to explore the fate of a completely invented animal and a community’s journey to save it. Informed by conservation research, Wild Things is a ‘hilarious yet poignant’ (Oxford Scientist) show that tackles environmental themes and nature in a way that will have you laughing and learning. All made up entirely on the spot based on audience suggestions, this creature’s story has never been told before… because we need you to help us make the show. You create the animal, we’ll fend off extinction!”
WHERE: Greenside @ Riddles Court – Willow Studio (Venue 16)
WHEN: 13:55 (60 min)
MORE: Click Here!
Is this your first time to Edinburgh?
All the performers have been to Edinburgh before, but this is our first time bringing this particular show. We LOVE the Edinburgh Fringe, it’s the highlight of our year! What makes the Fringe so special is the feeling of constant buzz around you – there are shows all over the city at all times of the day and night. It’s an incredibly exciting creative space to be in. I always prefer to go up with a show, it makes you feel like part of the action.
What are the big things you’ve learned since 2022 and have you absorbed any of the lessons yet?
Building relationships with other shows can transform your experience of the Fringe, making you feel like a part of a big community rather than going it alone. We’re trying to reach out to other shows more, particularly within our Greenside Venues, to build that sense of camaraderie. You’re always learning up at the Fringe so you’ll never have a ‘perfect’ run, but that’s all part of the experience.
Tell us about your show.
Wild Things is a longform improv show where the audience creates the animal and the performers try to fend off extinction! It is informed by conservation science and supported by the British Ecological Society. Wild Things is primarily an entertainment show, but we are doing additional impact evaluation to better understand how the show affects people’s understanding of biodiversity and nature conservation.
Our Director is Sofia Castelló y Tickell, a conservation scientist and science communicator. She devised the format of Wild Things whilst researching for her PhD at the University of Oxford as a way to combine theoretical models for understanding conservation efforts with the immediacy and humour provided by improvised comedy. Wild Things was performed in Oxford for a limited run in February 2020 and now we’re bringing it to the Fringe for the first time!
Sofia is supported by Assistant Director and Musician Matthew Kemp, a geologist and science communicator with Geologise Theatre.
I am Emma Hinnells, Producer for the show and for performance group Just Improv. I work as an independent Producer for live events, short films and audio production and hve been improvising for over five years.
We’re so excited to bring this show to the Fringe and then hopefully take it round the country!
What should your audience see at the festivals after they’ve seen your show?
Disoriented on the Murder Express by House of Improv – lots of our group trained with House of Improv so we know just how good the performers are. It’s an improvised murder mystery that is guaranteed to make you laugh (and it’s on the Free Fringe!)
Chrissie and the Skiddle Witch by Geologise Theatre – Matthew’s other show is also FANTASTIC! A climate change story with brilliant songs, incredible writing and outstanding performances, and its on the slot before us in the same room so you can double up.
The Oxford Imps – an icon of the Fringe, this group at slick, quick and witty. Some of our team also trained with them, so they must be good 😉
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