Edinburgh Fringe 2023

Day 8.

Fladam: Green Fingers at Pleasance Courtyard.

Break Up with Your Boyfriend at Pleasance Courtyard.

Looking for Giants at Underbelly Cowgate.

Isabel Klein: Showstopper at Gilded Balloon Teviot.

Circa: Peepshow (Club Remix) at Underbelly's Circus Hub on the Meadows.

The 7 Fingers: Duel Reality at Underbelly's Circus Hub on the Meadows.

Sophie's Surprise 29th at Underbelly's Circus Hub on the Meadows.

Fladam's musical comedy hootenanny was one of the highlights of the 2022 Fringe so I had to check out the duo's new family musical, Green Fingers. Full of zany characters, catchy songs and a heartwarming message about acceptance, it's great fun. Flo and Adam are such likeable performers, it's a joy to watch them on stage.

I ended the day with a triple bill of circus on the Meadows. Circa always deliver the goods and in Peep Show (Club Remix) they offer up another full throttle hour of stunning acrobatics. The 7 Fingers' new show, themed around Romeo and Juliet, especially the feud between the Montagues and the Capulets, is equally epic with a thrilling fusion of circus and dance.

The main highlight of today for me though has to be Showstopper by Isabel Klein, not to be confused with the improvised musical of the same name! Isabel plays a spoof version of herself and introduces the audience to a famous Hollywood actress who can't wait to showcase her talents to the audience. From treating us to a showreel of her screen work, to a little live rollerblading, not to mention demonstrating her acting prowess on stage (with a little help from audience members). She even takes time to pause the show to sign autographs and write short pearls of wisdom for some of her adoring fans! As more and more things start to go awry though, doubts set in. Can Isabel pull it together and make it to the end of the show for her big musical finale? Showstopper was such a blast, you could feel the enjoyment in the room as the audience were roped into helping with the variety of showcases for Isabel's talents!

I've got two more days in Edinburgh before taking a break and heading home for a few days, then returning on Friday 18th.

Shows seen this week, with genre in brackets:

Five stars:
In Loyal Company (Theatre)

Four stars:
What Girls Are Made Of (Theatre)
Gertrude Lawrence: A Lovely Way to Spend an Evening (Theatre/Cabaret)
Kathy and Stella Solve a Murder (Theatre)
After The Act (A Section 28 Musical) (Theatre)
The Van Paemel Family (Theatre)
The Quality of Mercy: Concerning the Life and Crimes of Dr Harold Frederick Shipman (Theatre)
The Portable Dorothy Parker (Theatre)
Luke Kempner in Gritty Police Drama: A One-Man Musical (Theatre)
A Manchester Anthem (Theatre)
The Stand's Pick of the Fringe (Stand-up comedy from Jay Lafferty, Tom Houghton, Micky Bartlett & Jo Caulfield)

Three stars:
Amy Wright - Live in Consett (Stand-up comedy)
Ay Up, Hitler! (Theatre)
Dom – The Play (Theatre)
Sean and Daro Flake It 'Til They Make It (Theatre)
Ronnie Golden: Allo Keith! Remembering Barry Cryer (Comedy/Cabaret)
Rossini: Stabat Mater (Classical choral concert)
Adults Only Magic Show (Magic with nudity)

Two stars:
Dough (Theatre)

One star:
TONY! [The Tony Blair Rock Opera] (Theatre)

Just back from a week at the Fringe and wanted to share my Top 5 highlights -

Oscar at the Crown - I've seen this getting sniffy reviews from some critics, but please ignore the miserable old sods. In the packed show I attended the audience were thrilled and enraptured. Oscar is an immersive Spiegeltent show which transports its audience to a dystopian future where society's outcasts have sought refuge in a secret bunker they have converted into a hedonistic nightclub. A newcomer arrives during an evening dedicated to celebrating the life and works of Oscar Wilde. The singing, dancing and costumes in this show are spectacular, and the way the standing audience are moved around by the chorus makes for an intoxicating spectacle.

The Ice Hole - This is one of the easiest shows to recommend. Just pure invention and delight from start to finish. In this physical comedy, two men speaking mostly in goobledegook, go on a chaotic journey across Europe with all their set and scenery (and sometimes costume) being rendered with hundreds of pieces of cardboard. It has to be seen to be believed how invested you will become in this wacky cardboard world and its characters. This is absurdist theatre magic at its best.

Lachlan Werner: Voices of Evil - The gem of the festival for me. A late night show for an intimate audience in the cellar of the Pleasance Courtyard, this puppet horror/comedy was brilliantly crafted and breathtakingly performed. 'Lachy' is introduced as the shy queer impending virgin sacrifice of the muppet witch Brew who invites the audience to take part in her satanic ritual to summon a demon. A first time Fringe performer, Lachlan Werner is one of the most multi-talented acts I've ever seen in a one-man show - an astonishing ventriloquist, he is also exceptional at improvisational comedy, physical comedy, acting and singing. Seek this show out! It's a demented little masterpiece. 

Luke Wright's Silver Jubilee - A performance poet veteran of the fringe, if you've not seen him before then this anniversary show is the perfect introduction as Luke delves into his personal origins and produces new verses that are characteristically funny as ever while also being deeply moving and bursting with humanity. 

Kathy and Stella Solve a Murder - Yeah, believe the hype. This is a dynamite must-see show.

Have a great Fringe if you're still there or yet to go!

     

I'm at the Fringe as a Media Accredited Reviewer, but I'm also a theatre-maker (occasionally!), and so I went to an industry event last week, talking about trying to give your work life beyond the Fringe. It was not a good meeting, with a lot of feedback about poor audiences, and not being able to get *anyone* from any part of the industry to come and see your show. 

It is becoming increasingly obvious that this entire house of cards is unsustainable, and needs a root and branch overhaul. It currently isn't working for performers, reviewers, or audiences.

The venues are staffed by volunteers, the press offices are largely staffed by volunteers, and most of the venue technicians are likewise volunteers. Performers are paying venue hire, sometimes a % of box office, and sometimes also a tech fee. As you note, most of the performers will make a loss. From talking to, or noting who other reviewers are, its obvious that a lot of us aren't getting paid either. Ticket costs are actually quite high, IMO, despite what the Fringe Society and Big 4 Venues are desperate to tell you about '2 for 1' deals, and other discounts. If you're not in an 'EdFest.com' venue (the Big 4 plus the Space, Zoo and Just the Tonic), you appear to be very lucky to get any sort of audience at all. 

So the only people making money here are the venue operators, the food and beverage operators, the Fringe Society (who charge performers and audiences) and, presumably, the EUSA and Uof Edinburgh, who appear to own the overwhelming majority of the buildings that are currently hosting shows - some of which are absolutely not suitable as a performance space. 

The problems you've pointed out with congestion arise because this city has a population of 500,000 for 11 months of the year, and the infrastructure can cope with them, and the people like me who live in the surrounding Lothians and come in and out of the city for leisure and business reasons. But during the Festivals, that increases to (apparently) 2.7million people. It's no wonder no-one can get anywhere in any reasonable time - especially when about 2.69 million of those people seem to be on the Royal Mile and the Bridges. 

I don't think I'll be able to get a ticket to Kathy & Stella, which is disappointing. Although pleased it's selling so well!

Don't think it's anything to do with the turnover times, if anything filling the seats how the Pleasance do often takes longer. TheSpace UK have tighter turnaround times and don't try and occupy seats in a rigid order. I've found the Pleasance to be the most zealous in that regard this week. The rest of the big four generally only ask to avoid leaving gaps and filling from the ends of each row, if that.

As an example of how the Pleasance's policy causes more trouble than it's worth, I was watching Showgirls and Spies in King Dome at Pleasance Dome which has raked seating apart from the second row which is flat on the same level as the first and the stage. The performance I attended was maybe about two thirds full so busy but not packed, yet the ushers tried to fill from the front row back. That was fine for me, as I got a spot on the front row, but not so good for the people then directed to sit right behind me. As people objected, the staff continued to try and direct everyone who came in to those second row seats, despite them offering the worst view in the venue. 

Similarly, this weekend in Pleasance Two, it was a similar space to King Dome with raked seating apart from the second row. That show was sold out but they still filled from the front, rather than filling that second row last. Again, I was on the front row so it didn't affect me but people near the front of the queue had to settle for the most restricted seats in the venue. It must be in the training for Pleasance staff this year. It also seems to fail to take into account that not everyone wants to be in front row seats for shows involving audience participation, particularly stand-up comedy, although they've been accomodating enough about that to be fair if you do object.

Interesting to see the comments about the Pleasance. When I criticised some volunteers in my earlier post, this was the venue. Everywhere else, they were lovely.

There is a cast recording from when it was at the Fringe in 2021 with a different cast, then presented by Cambridge University Musical Theatre Society. It's available on Spotify. I agree it's a brilliant score, and I can't wait to see it again at the Fringe this year.

Eight shows yesterday and three today.

Edges- one of the two Royal Conservatoire's shows this year. I didn't know any of the music beforehand and thoroughly enjoyed it. This show gave the four actors much more of a chance to shine. A few tired voices but that may be expected for first thing on a Sunday morning nearly half way through the run.

Echoes of Paris- this was really special. Unfortunately, it was their last show at the Fringe or I would be recommending it to everyone. A cast of two, Alaw Grug Evans singing beautifully, accompanied on the piano by the Jake Sternberg (although he sang at times and had a lovely voice). A mix of jazz and classical, piecing together memories of a forgotten time in Paris. There was a simple plot, but the focus was really on creating the atmosphere. The real beauty of the show for me though, was listening to Jake Sternberg play the piano. Such incredible talent and I had goosebumps the whole way through. If there's ever an opportunity to see this elsewhere, I would highly recommend it.

Four Felons and a Funeral- the other Theatre GOYA show this year. Following a cast of four and their adventure while travelling to scatter their deceased friend's ashes. Some funny moments and one particularly catchy song that reprised throughout the show. Important messaging about gender and identity, perhaps with slightly heavier-handed delivery than their other show Actually, Love. An enjoyable hour.

Chriskirkpatrickmas: A Boy Band Christmas Musical- very silly show with lots of boy band nostalgia. None of the music stayed with me (eclipsed by Bye, Bye, Bye on the way out, perhaps), but a good few laughs and a cast having a great time.

Impro All Stars- an hour of improvised comedy with five experienced comedians. Perhaps slightly disappointing audience suggestions which maybe limited the show a bit, but some very funny moments.

Drunk Woman Solving Crime- I had no idea what to expect having never heard the podcast. I didn't quite get the format- a special guest shares a crime they've experienced, one of the hosts talks through a historic crime and the panel answer questions about what might have happened, and then an audience member talks about a crime they've experienced that the panel tries to solve. Some funny moments, mainly contributed by the guest comedian Thenwije, who I might well book to see at her own show, but not my favourite thing I've seen.

David O'Doherty: Tiny Piano Man- very funny, silly, non-controversial comedy.

Baby Wants Candy- Improvised musical by group of American actors. It's a bit of a Fringe staple, but I'd never seen it. Again, perhaps affected by the title suggestion from the audience (Barbies of the Galaxy), but skilful improvisation from a very experienced cast.

TINK- a one-woman musical, following Tink who was born big and began to shrink. I thought the writing was brilliant, expertly outlining the challenges faced by girls and teenagers. Simple but effective lighting which really added to the message. I was not the only one who was a bit of a weepy mess by the end! Although I see most shows on my own and am very happy to do so, I would have loved to have seen this in a group for some post-show discussion.

Tones: A Hip-Hop Musical- I booked this as a filler show and loved it! I know nothing about hip hop so will quite possibly embarrass myself talking about it, but it was solid hour of expert rapping by Gerel Falconer who also wrote the show. Even though hip hop/rap is not my thing, I was engrossed throughout. Evocative story telling, detailing some of the challenges faced by a young black man, with one particularly harrowing moment towards the end. Would highly recommend.

A Chorus Line- the first show of the Edinburgh University Savoy Opera Group run. A really impressive production of a challenging show, in a very difficult space. The live band sounded great, with some lovely performances from some of the cast, particularly Paul's monologue.

I'm really enjoying reading everyone else's experiences. I have found all the staff and volunteers to be helpful and amiable, but recognise how the instructions to fill from the front at the Pleasance could be frustrating. Some of the seating can be tight and for one show this weekend, it definitely felt unnecessary to be completely filling the front rows for a show that wasn't sold out, when the audience could have been a bit more comfortable. I was listening to two actors being interviewed earlier today (sounded like possible podcast material?), and the main theme was the cost of accommodation, food and drink which they felt was limiting opportunities to participate in the Fringe which definitely echoes what others are saying.

I'm back to work again tomorrow with only a few more shows booked at the end of the Fringe. Will keep an eye out for further suggestions.

I'm back from a few days at the Fringe (my first time!) and here's what I saw, in order of when I saw them, and my thoughts:

Thursday
Bangers - Excellent performances, especially from Danusia Samal. But I found the story a bit hard to follow as they switched characters and timelines.
Tinderella - Slightly awkward stand up as it was in a small room and the atmosphere was a bit dead, but there were some great funny moments, particularly the song "I don't live with my parents".

Friday
Diana: The Untold and Untrue Story - AMAZING. Completely bonkers of course, but amazing. Lots of audience participation in this one, but thankfully I didn't get picked! 
Showstopper the improvised musical - Great as usual, on the night I went it was set at a puppet festival and titled 'No Strings Attached'.
Lash - A very intense, energetic and fast-paced show, which I again found hard to follow at times (but this is probably because I was exhausted at this point!)

Saturday
Shake it up Shakespeare - Improvised Shakespeare, which was joined by a member of the Showstoppers cast. Very funny and huge props to the cast, as it can't be easy coming up with flowery Shakespeare lines on the spot!
Showstopper - I hadn't planned this before coming to Edinburgh but had a free spot, saw the review here and decided to go. Isabel Klein is hilarious and the show was a lot of fun, only downside being that it was absolutely boiling in that room!
Newsrevue - Great topical sketches, although there were a few references/characters I didn't get. 
Six chick flicks - Absolutely hilarious re-enactments of Titanic, Legally Blonde, The Notebook among others. Left with a huge smile on my face. This one was in a lecture theatre which felt a bit strange!
An Interrogation - Excellent play and a great way to mix things up after all the comedy I'd seen that day. Great tension and use of cameras in the set. Would highly recommend.

Sunday
Appraisal - A play about a work appraisal gone wrong, this was well-written but didn't grip me as much as I thought it would. I thought the character of Nikki was a bit unrealistic. Tim Marriott was excellent though.
Austenatious - My third and final Fringe improv show and again very funny, this one was called 'The Good, the Bennet and the Ugly' and included hilarious attempts at pronouncing enmity in an American accent.


On another note, did anyone else find the app extremely frustrating? Issues include:

- Saying a show is available when you first go to look at dates, then when you try to buy one it now tells you it's sold out. 
- Giving you unnecessarily anxiety with a 'Cutting it close!' message in the planner when a show is an hour apart from another one or right after it in the same venue
- More something that happened only when I had intermittent internet on the train up to Edinburgh, but it would inexplicably take me to the homepage instead of the payment screen.
- Not giving you the option to search by time, only date. A feature that lets you find whatever shows are still available for a free time slot you have (like 4 to 5pm) would be great. Otherwise, you can spend ages looking at shows, thinking something sounds good, but then seeing it's either sold out or clashes with something you already have. 

Also found that signposting could be improved, some venues were tucked away with little help in finding them, or when arriving at a venue you weren't sure which way to go for a particular show. 

Gilded Balloon?

Another day's hard work...

Richard Pulsford

My one concession to stand-up. This guy tortures puns in such a way it is only a matter of time before he is investigated by the ECHR. I love it!!! Great short jokes too.

Persephone

On pregnancy. And grief. Tangentially reimagines the Persephone myth but too much emotive writing, not enough meat on the bones despite a strong performance from writer/actress Isabelle Woolley. It feels more like prose than dramatic writing.

Land Under Wave

More fine storytelling at the Scottish Storytelling Centre, this time from the Young Edinburgh Storytellers, three actor/musicians who take us on an underwater journey to Faery. Each of them tells a tale, backed by the other two, and then there's a bonus tale. Really enjoyable for anyone who likes myth/folk tales or storytelling.

Hekabe

Euripides' play on the aftermath of the Trojan War gamely tackled by a young cast from Edinburgh University.