Threeweeks EDINBURGH PHILIP WHITCHURCH PHILIP

THE EDINBURGH FESTIVAL SORTED | WEEK THREE ISSUE | WWW.THREEWEEKS.CO.UK ThreeWeeks EDINBURGH PHILIP WHITCHURCH PHILIP

Catriona Knox: Post-boom bloom MR B

START POINT GET THE LATEST NEWS, REVIEWSFor AND all INTERVIEWS the latest festival IN YOUR news INBOX as it breaks DAILY sign up for the free ThreeWeeks Daily email nowwww.ThreeWeeks.co.uk/news at ThreeWeeks.co.uk/signup

It’s the Edinburgh Fringe’s awards frenzy Contents ThreeWeeks 2014 wk3 And so, as we approach the Fringe finale, it’s BrewDog Fringe Award time for all the awards. START POINT Because while some His Fringe programme for the award at a special Caro writes… 04 having generated show on 20 Aug at 3pm, gongs are dished out 04 both an Edinburgh including Will Hodgson, Tim Letter To Edinburgh earlier in the Festival, FitzHigham and Phil Kay. it is these last few days Comedy Award and It’s a line-up that suggests when it all gets a bit two Malcolm Hardee this is, in fact, an area where INTERVIEWS Awards last August, crazy in Fringe-awards- comics have long wished Bob Slayer has decided to prove their worth. “I do Catriona Knox Q&A 06 ville. it is he who should be believe this will become the Vladimir Shcherban Q&A 06 highest accolade in comedy”, We here at ThreeWeeks handing out the prizes this year. added Slayer. “I mean, who Dan Clark Q&A 07 will present our Editors’ doesn’t want their own beer?” Awards on Saturday And somehow he’s managed The competition will take morning, celebrating to find a gap in the Edinburgh place at Bob & Miss Behave’s COMEDY Bookshop, the Fringe venue the ten things - shows, awards spectrum, a prize that celebrates comedians’ Slayer is co-running for the Rayguns Q&A 08 performers, companies, knowledge about all things second time this year, albeit Comedy Reviews 09 initiatives - who made beer. It’s obvious when in a new location. “We had this year’s Edinburgh you think about it. Though a lovely shop last year, and Gein’s Family Giftshop 10 this year we have gone even Festival particularly presumably any knowledge Question of a certain Australian better with our lovely spot at special. Meanwhile the lager brand counts against the bottom of the Pleasance Jason Cook Column 11 ThreeWeeks news team contenders. on Holyrood Rd”. will keep you up to date “It’s the first proper “We rented an empty Barry Ferns Column 12 on all the other prize award judged on proper space, knocked down walls, 13 criteria”, Slayer boasted to pulled up floors, put some Dane Baptiste Column givings as they occur at ThreeWeeks. “And it also has stairs into the basement, ThreeWeeks.co.uk/news a proper prize too. The winner added toilets and most will get the chance to brew a importantly a vibe that THEATRE But first, we find out beer with BrewDog at Brew feels far removed from the 14 more about two of the HQ and all the worldwide commercial Fringe. Everyone Philip Whitchurch Q&A awards taking place critical acclaim they could should pop their head into the Theatre Reviews 15 ever dream of!” Bookshop at least once, and this week, a brand new Every performer at maybe come along for the competition, and an old the Fringe was invited to credentials” the only entry to press some top acts were anarchic, anything goes late favourite. compete, “decent beer requirement. And as we went already lined up to compete night show”. MUSIC Njo Kong Kie Q&A 18 Total Theatre Awards Music Reviews 20

The Total Theatre Awards No less than 436 shows were eligible Theatre Award umbrella. proliferation of world-class circus at are back for another this year, and the Total Theatre team “It’s been an incredible year for the Fringe”. MUSICALS Fringe, celebrating, in the saw each of them in the early stages shows across all four of the Total The Awards’ Associate Producer Musical Reviews 20 of the Festival. “The assessors are Theatre Awards categories”, Awards Becki Haines adds: “For 2014 we have programme’s own words, looking for new ideas and examples Associate Natalie Querol says. “In teamed up with Jacksons Lane, widely “artists and companies of excellence” says awards producer addition to awards for physical and acknowledged as the UK’s leading presenting innovative work Jo Crowley. “And we spend a lot of visual theatre, we also have one supporter of small to mid-scale circus, CABARET time discussing the craft and skills for innovation, experimentation to introduce The Total Theatre And within devised theatre, live Mr B Q&A 21 art, visual performance, mime, employed in the work, the relationship and playing with form, another for Jacksons Lane Award For Circus. This puppetry, physical theatre, between form and content, emerging artist or company, and will launch a critical dialogue about Cabaret Reviews 21 consideration of the audience, and the this year also the Total Theatre And circus as an art form in its own right at experimental theatre, clown, rigour with which the work is made”. Jacksons Lane Award For Circus”. the Fringe and will award a company circus, street, immersive, The assessors meet regularly to Circus shows have grown in number or artist that is advancing the medium outdoor, site specific discuss the shows they have seen, at the Fringe in recent years, the genre and helping to create new audiences CHILDREN’S SHOWS performance and more”. eventually producing a shortlist which being specifically name checked in the for contemporary circus, from artists Children’s Reviews 22 It’s a wide remit, though the was announced last week. And that Fringe Programme for the first time in both at home and overseas”. kickstarts a second stage of judging, 2014. “The Total Theatre Awards have simpler definition is in the with a panel charged with the task of always recognised circus within its This year’s overall Total Theatre winners will title I guess, ‘total theatre selecting overall winners in the four nominees and winners” says Crowley, be announced on 21 Aug. Look our for news FESTIVAL PEOPLE experience’. categories that sit under the Total “and over the years there has been a on the winners at ThreeWeeks.co.uk/news Welsh Dance Strand 23 TW EDINBURGH LONDON TW www.ThreeWeeks.co.uk TW www.ThisWeekLondon.com The Edinburgh Festival sorted | since 1996 Culture in London sorted | all year round

WEEK THREE | WWW.THREEWEEKS.CO.UK | PAGE 03 TW START POINT NEWS & UPDATES VIA TWITTER @ThreeWeeks REVIEW ALERTS VIA TWITTER @TWittique Letter To Edinburgh: from Damian Sandys

Director Damian Sandys fantastic without you in my life. Rather and worship them for the month from afar; than the usual jumping from rehearsal to I haven’t seen some of the most magical, isn’t in Edinburgh this rehearsal, or trying to obtain print approval creative, beautiful productions there are; I Festival. So he wrote this after the insertion of an extra comma, I haven’t even seen the Cringe of the Fringe; simply enjoyed myself. I saw people; I slept I haven’t declared for three weeks that I’m letter instead. in, waking only to watch Jeremy Kyle; I never going to climb Arthur’s Seat again and looked at holidays abroad and realised then found myself rounding everyone up Dear Edinburgh, I could actually go if I wanted to. There and leading the trip to catch sunrise on the This trial separation has been an were no technical forms to fill in, no last final morning. interesting period. For thirteen years solid minute script adaptations, no freak outs I guess, I’m trying to say I’m sorry. If it’s CARO WRITES> we have lived together each glorious about accommodation or transport issues. not too late, maybe we can start again? And, summer. It’s had its ups, it’s had its downs. Everything was calm. Everything was quiet. no word of a lie, the day you opened I found Ah, Edinburgh Festival. You’ve done that thing again, haven’t But we’ve always held each other up along And that was when I realised I missed myself making a huge plan for next year. I’m you? You slipped by in the blink of an eye, despite the fact you the way. Through the sleepless nights and it. I missed you. Suddenly my world was in actually ready to start work on it right now. were once pretty much a whole month stretching out ahead the permanent glaze of the eyes; through disarray. I’ve been with you every summer I’ve got making up to do, I know. But give me of me. Time passes faster in Edinburgh during August than it the euphoria of sell out shows and five star for the whole of my adult life. Thirteen a chance. Don’t forget me. does anywhere else, and that’s ancient Caro’s scientific fact. reviews; through that horror when five years together and I’d taken it away. I had I know that you’ve probably found Or perhaps it’s just that we are all so busy, we don’t have time reviewers turn up to the very first preview; the crushing realisation that I actually had someone else by now, but, Edinburgh, I’ve to think, our days being filled with that endless round of show- and through the countless hours of flyering no concept of what the rest of the world realised that you are everything. You are the going or show-making, working, schmoozing and drinking… on the Mile, watching the weather go from actually did in August. one place that whenever something goes well, for some of us. sun to rain to hail and back to sun, all within All I knew was life within the Edinbubble wrong, it can simply be celebrated as “all But if you are involved in this monstrously large and the space of half an hour. and I had single handedly taken a pin and part of the Fringe experience”. Your beauty entertaining beast, you don’t stop for a moment, and it’s Until this year. I’m still not exactly sure viciously popped it with no thought of the lies in the imperfections and I’ve realised surprising how quickly the end then comes into sight. And why but, for some inexplicable reason, my consequences. And now I’m scared that, that, Edinburgh, I love you just as you are. in sight it is. Even though, as I write this, there’s a whole heart said we needed a break from each having taken it away, will we ever get it You know, if you’ll have me, I could be there week of the Fringe still to go, and a full two weeks until the other. My head tried to reason with it (“It’s back? I see now it was a rash decision. I in four and a half hours. Just give me the International Festival has its big firework finale. Which is only a phase you’re going through… You’ll thought I could handle it. Yes, it’s given me word and I’ll be there. Edinburgh, be mine actually quite a lot still to come, isn’t it? But you know what regret it if you don’t… Buck up and just sleep and vegetables and home cooked forever. it’s like, Week Three slips by fastest of all, and by the time you get on with it”) but it would not budge. No food. Yes, I’ve spent the least amount of read this the Fringe will be very much in its final stretch. matter how much love was there, for the money I ever have during a summer. Yes, Damian is a freelance theatre director and has first time it felt like it just wasn’t enough I’ve been to the theatre and not fallen asleep And Week Three always feels like the wind down week. At directed or produced 33 productions at the Fringe and we needed to look elsewhere for a little once in the darkened, warm space. since 2001, including eight years of running C the start of it, everyone is tired and fighting off Fringe flu. But while, even if just to confirm that, actually, But I haven’t had that Edinburgh feeling; theatre and ‘Shakespeare For Breakfast’. then, by Wednesday evening, everyone picks up speed again, we are meant to be together. the rush of exhilaration because the final weekend is in sight, and an energy burst It felt like a betrayal at first. Back in and exhaustion as is in order. Don’t waste the whole lot on too much partying the spring, when friends started talking you walk out in the and performing though, you’ll need at least some of it to get excitedly about their Edinburgh plans, I’d morning, ready for that heavy suitcase down six flights of stairs to the taxi come guiltily have to admit that I wasn’t actually another day of the Monday. Or whenever it is you are leaving the Festival City. taking anything to the Fringe this year, and Fringe. I haven’t Unless you live here, in which case enjoy the fireworks on the probably wouldn’t even visit. Every time queued in the rain 31st. the reaction was the same. “But you have whilst a show goes up I, like most others I suspect, am experiencing my start-of- to go! You’re always there!” they whispered, late or danced with week-three lull right now, yes, just as I write this letter. And I’m their faces agog with silent horror. I felt glee at getting a ticket fantasising about sleeping for long periods once the Fringe the shame but pressed on with my plan. to the big sell out show; has ended. They are pure fantasies, of course, because for I’d started on this slippery path towards I haven’t visited the myriad reasons I am rubbish at sleeping in, and I have a child breaking out on my own and to veer off it Mosque kitchen or had who wouldn’t allow it even if I were a world champion. But you already would be a sign of weakness. that moment where can bet I’ll be doing something really relaxing as August ends. The months passed by and, for a brief nothing else will do Like scrubbing and cleaning my neglected-throughout-July- while, I felt at peace with my decision. apart from a Piemaker and-August home down south. Jealous? Yeah. When the Fringe brochure was published, tattie dog; or eaten Anyway, enough of that, let’s talk about the bounty contained I avoided it at all costs under the guise of every meal from a in this, the final issue of ThreeWeeks for 2014. ‘out of sight, out of mind’. If I pretended paper plate with plastic you didn’t exist then everything was fine. cutlery for a month. First, we asked veteran Fringe director Damian Sandys to It may not have been the most mature way I haven’t rocked out welcome you into our pages with his letter to Edinburgh, of dealing with our separation but hey, it to the pre-show music and then, we’ve got some fascinating interviews: this worked just fine. For a time. when the audiences week we’ve spoken to a couple of our comedy favourites, Yet fast forward to mid-August and here have reached the Catriona Knox and Dan Clark, popped some questions to I am, gazing miserably out of a London sell-out point; I haven’t mash-up rock duo Rayguns Look Real Enough, and chatted window, surrounded by newspapers and proudly collected with Philip Whitchurch, the man behind acclaimed Fringe computer tabs, all lying open on pages of lanyards and waved play ‘Shakespeare, His Wife And The Dog’. We also talked Edinburgh reviews, and thinking wistfully of them to get discounts to Njo Kong Kie, the brains behind ‘Picnic In The Cemetery’, what might have been. on everything; I haven’t gentleman rhymer Mr B, and to Vladimir Shcherban from Now, don’t be getting all big headed been able to become Fringe First gong winning Belarus Free Theatre. and think I can’t live without you. I’m an absolute fan boy of As well as that clutch of Q&As, we’ve got columns from Dane not going to lie, July was actually rather a show or performer Baptiste, Jason Cook and Barry Ferns, plus lots and lots of TW reviews, including a recap of some of the 5/5 critiques already published in the ThreeWeeks Daily, our daily bulletin to which you should all sign up in order to receive news and reviews right through to the end of the Festival month (ThreeWeeks. co.uk/signup). I hope you enjoy reading our last issue. And I hope you enjoy sleeping and ‘healthing’ your way through September. I am about to start preparations for Fringe 2015. How about you? See you there! Caro @ ThreeWeeks TW PODCAST PS: If you’re based in London, why wait until next August for our next catch up, check us out at ThisWeekLondon.com all year round. Get online for the audio guide to the Fringe | ThreeWeeks.co.uk/podcasts

TW PAGE 04 | WWW.THREEWEEKS.CO.UK | WEEK THREE

INTERVIEWS NEWS & UPDATES VIA TWITTER @ThreeWeeks REVIEW ALERTS VIA TWITTER @TWittique

Catriona Knox

You, like us, may have I made an audience member Improbable’, aired a few months excellent eye actor too. And if first come across the do an entire French oral and ago so we’re still working on that doesn’t encourage you to super-talented Catriona a ballroom dance. One of my projects together. We have see the play I don’t know what characters this year is Nick a lot of mutual friends so will. Knox as one third of the Clegg, which is fun. Trapped we’ll probably all get to be rather successful sketch people full of desperation and bridesmaids at a wedding at TW: Is it hard to switch troupe the Boom Jennies. self-loathing are always fun to some point, and p’r’aps try out a between theatre and comedy But she is back at the play. few new sketches there. on a daily basis? Fringe this year with an CK: Not as hard as I imagined all new solo show, which TW: Does each new show have TW: As well as doing your solo it might be. The main thing has garnered high praise all new characters or do you show, you are also appearing been training myself not to bring old favourites back? in a theatre show. Tell us expect laughter in the play. It’s a from our reviewer, who CK: I always try to make the about that. really comical piece but Pinter’s praised her “joyful set” show all new, despite the CK: It’s the Pinter play ‘A Slight not known for the belly laughs and “perfectly pitched fact that my mum constantly Ache’. It’s an intense psycho - I know, informative... you’re creations”. implores me to resurrect a drama in which an undersexed welcome - and because it’s character I did back when God woman and her husband theatre people often just listen. And Knox is keeping was a foetus. “I don’t want to murder a wasp and are undone And apparently that doesn’t pretty busy this Festival, do that one Mum, it’s from ten by a balaclava clad man. All always mean they hate it, it also appearing in a years ago”, “well why not just before lunchtime in a sweaty might mean they actually like it. do it as an encore?” “I probably shipping container in the theatre piece alongside won’t Mum”. Pleasance courtyard. It’s pure TW: You guested on Clever fellow comedy types crazy, I love it. Peter’s Radio 4 sketch show. Simon Munnery and TW: Do you have a favourite Have you seen their live Thom Tuck. We’ve heard character this year? TW: What are Thom Tuck and show here this year? Are they lots of good things about CK: The mad evangelical Simon Munnery like to work coping without you? Knox over the years, and preacher Gaston Paul. He’s with? CK: I haven’t seen their show yet felt it was high time we joyful. Sort of without meaning CK: They’re really smashing. because I’ve essentially been a to I’ve created more male Simon and I have wonderful hermit, but I’m telling everyone hurled a smattering of characters than female ones daily chats behind the shipping to go because they’re brilliant questions her way. this year, which is ever so container next to a bag of and their radio show was political of me, guys. overflowing rubbish before we brilliant. I should think they’re TW: Tell us about your show go on (we share everything feeling my loss keenly though. this year. What kind of TW: We first saw you at the from a pint of cider to concerns It’s tough when we’re apart. characters can we expect? Festival as one of the Boom about vermin) and Thom CK: Ridiculous, high-octane, Read more from Catriona at Jennies. Are the three of you manages to do the show totally very very silly ones. This show’s ThreeWeeks.co.uk/catrionaknox likely to join forces again in brilliantly every day despite definitely the most riotous ‘Catriona Knox Thinks She’s Hard the near future? having done infinity shows the one I’ve done, which is saying Enough’ is on at Pleasance Courtyard CK: The second series of our previous day and drinking all something, seeing as last year until 25 Aug. Photo: Rich Dyson BBC Radio 4 show, ‘Mission of Edinburgh dry. Simon’s an TW

Vladimir Shcherban, Belarus Free Theatre

Belarus Free Theatre is a bold arts TW: What is the premise of state education programmes are vulnerability of trans* people, president of Belarus, has on more organisation, established to present ideas ‘merry christmas Ms Meadows’? often failing to do. whose visibility makes them the than one occasion made negative and issues usually denied public debate What made you decide to tackle As we began our research for target for violence. comments about the LGBTQIA this subject matter? this project – which was nameless And in Belarus this violence is community, openly stating that by the Belarusian dictatorial regime. VS: The show is dedicated to at the time - the news of the tragic encouraged by the government’s he, personally, will only justify Performances in Belarus must be staged in one of the most vulnerable and death in Lancashire of trans* attitude to such communities. lesbians as women who “couldn’t secret, its performers risking persecution marginalised groups of people in primary teacher Lucy Meadows Lukashenko, the long-governing find the real man”. It’s factors like from the state, and its founders forced to society today – trans*. At Belarus reached us. We followed the story relocate to London for their own safety. Free Theatre we are always in the media, and in doing so interested in exploring human began to turn our attention to the The company’s productions often tackle rights, and the catastrophic situation worldwide; we realised contentious and timely political issues, situation in Belarus - with the that such sad events take place with their latest piece considering the prohibition of activism and not just in dictatorships, but also protest, the arrest of activists and in democratic states like the UK. treatment of the trans* community in the the closure of LGBTQIA social modern world. spaces - has inspired us to explore TW: The piece has been the problems experienced by built on gender studies and And while ‘merry christmas Ms Meadows’ LGBTQIA society. observations from across may have been initially inspired by the We touched on this topic in our the world. What form did the treatment of LGBTQIA people back in prize-winning show ‘Minsk 2011’, research take? Belarus, the tragic death here in the UK which explored sex and sexuality VS: In the course of our research of teacher Lucy Meadows – from whom in Belarus and its capital Minsk. for the show we met with different the show’s title originates – proves that, But as the situation became representatives of LGBTQIA worse in Belarus for the LGBTQIA communities, not just in Belarus whatever achievements have been made community, we made the decision but also in other countries: in countries like this, society still leaves to dedicate a whole show to transgender people in Malaysia, trans* people feeling vulnerable. this subject. We want to draw drag performers in Thailand, attention to these issues, and to sex-workers in Ghana, and others. We spoke to BFT’s Vladimir Shcherban to take upon ourselves, in a way, the Speaking to them heightened our find out more… function of educator, to do what awareness of the extreme, global

TW PAGE 06 | WWW.THREEWEEKS.CO.UK | WEEK THREE INTERVIEWS GET THE LATEST NEWS, REVIEWS AND INTERVIEWS IN YOUR INBOX DAILY sign up for the free ThreeWeeks Daily email now at ThreeWeeks.co.uk/signup

Dan Clark

Edinburgh veteran Dan and a proper moustache. I’m a selfie? Surely selfie means by forgotten how much I loved and Photo: David P Scott Clark hasn’t done a full still nowhere near getting those your self? missed it. I made some enquiries run at the Fringe for seven things. Especially the tache. And to The Pleasance about doing there’s a little bit about death and TW: You mentioned the show a short run but the only spaces years, and it’s got to be mortality. But not in a depressing includes a bit on death and available were for the whole said, we missed him. Still, way. mortality. But you are known for month. I told myself it would be we don’t blame him. He’s having an upbeat style. Will you good for me to do it, as it would been busy, of course; TW: You put the fairly recently be dealing with these topics in force me to write a proper new distracted. Not least by coined word ‘selfie’ in the title. an upbeat way? hour show, which I hadn’t done in work on his TV series ‘How We here at ThreeWeeks aren’t DC: I’m not interested in three years, partly due to TV stuff. Not To Live Your Life’. overly fond of this neologism. Is deliberately making an audience And doing the full run does mean it one that you have embraced? feel awkward. But I do like to talk you get the show in such great But when we heard he’d DC: I don’t think selfies are a about things which are personal shape if you wanna tour it after. modern thing on a psychological and confessional and maybe be back at the Festival this level. We just didn’t have the sometimes a bit dark. But all my TW: How has the run been so year, we were pleased, and technology to do them before. reviews always make a point far? Have you slipped back a little surprised. And keen It was too much of a pain and of saying there’s a warmth to easily into the Fringe routine? to find out more about his potential money loss to do a selfie my shows. So hopefully people DC: I’m loving my shows up here new show, why he is back with the old film cameras. Can still find the material funny and so much. But it’s still gruelling at the Fringe this year, and you imagine? Taking a picture of engaging, even if I talk about doing the full month. Nowhere yourself and then saying “well I death and loneliness. else in the entertainment whether or not he takes a hope that turns out well in two business do you feel quite as in good selfie. weeks when I pick up my photos TW: When we spoke to you in competition with so many other from Boots”. Though in the old London a year or so ago, you things. That part bothers me. But TW: What is your show about days of hard-copy photos, if said you couldn’t see yourself it’s an incredible festival unlike this year? Does it have a specific someone gave you their snaps returning to the Fringe for a full any other. Also, and probably theme? from a holiday you’d also been on, run. What made you change most importantly, I don’t drink DC: My show is mostly about you’d flip through them all and your mind? like I used to. I was a bit of a party having been single for almost only really stop and look properly DC: Ha. Amazing. Can’t believe animal. I drank a lot. Now I’m twelve years and what it’s like at the photos you were in. We’ve you remember that. I haven’t home every night by 12.30am. being a bachelor at 38. Hence the always been self obsessed. We done the full run for seven years. It’s making the run much easier title ‘Me, My Selfie and I’. Although just couldn’t do it as easily before. I was last here for a short run of and shows much better. Wish I’d I now wish I had named it after three nights in 2011. Yes, I did say known that in my twenties! one of my jokes where I confess TW: Do you take a good selfie? I wouldn’t do the full run ever to having written a book called DC: Is there a skill in it? I’ve taken again. What changed? Hmm. I ‘12 Years A Slag’. The show is also the odd selfie yeah. Not sure if hadn’t done stand-up in quite a about how I still don’t feel like I’m I’m good at them. I’m not great at while. I fell out of love with it. I was Read more from Dan at a real grown up. When my dad artificially smiling in photos. So I literally on the verge of quitting. ThreeWeeks.co.uk/danclark was thirty eight he was a proper always look moody. By the way, is But I did a gig in March as a favour ‘Dan Clark: Me, My Selfie and I’ is on at adult. He had three kids, a house a selfie with another person still to a friend and it was amazing. I’d Pleasance Dome until 24 Aug.

these that have brought us to the idea you develop inevitably becomes For us it’s a personal show that we Read more from Vladimir at ThreeWeeks.co.uk/belarusfreetheatre of education, and to the construction political. By doing this show, voicing dedicate to our loved ones and friends ‘merry christmas, Ms Meadows’ is on at Pleasance Dome until 25 Aug. of what we are calling a ‘show- the issues and articulating the who suffered discrimination, those encyclopedia’. problems, we are already making a who died as a result of violence, and to The aim of the show-encyclopedia political statement. The attraction, all of those who paid a dear price for is to introduce the audience to the by the means of our show, of public their right to be themselves. And we latest medical and scientific research attention to the breaching of the are not just observers when it comes in this area with the help of the unique human rights is a political act. to these issues. 50% of the people in language of theatre, to trace how over As a result of the research we our company identify as LGBTQIA, thousands of years the knowledge of conducted, we realised that the so this show is a dedication and an sexuality and gender has formed and politicisation of discourse about education at the same time. transformed in different societies. social status, gender and sexuality The Albanian Virgins, Hijras in in any society is unavoidable. It is TW: What will happen to the show India, texts of Ovid and Plato, quotes easier now for British society to after Edinburgh? Do you have plans from the French philosopher Michel accept gay marriage, which is a great to tour? Foucault, statistics, medico-scientific development and an achievement in VS: We are hoping that ‘Ms Meadows’ definitions and articles from The terms of the improvement of human will have a great future. BFT is an Daily Mail – all of these became a rights, but the situation with Ms ensemble of actors who have worked literary base for the show. In the Meadows shows that there are other together for nine years now and 2015 show these threads are intertwined questions in line… Is progressive is a very important year for us: the with real stories of real people from society ready to refuse or change the tenth anniversary of our company. different countries: people who have gender binary in favour of gender They have not been easy, but these the courage to be who they are. The multiplicity? The paradoxical visibility last ten years have been fully loaded question we ask is: can contemporary and, at the same time, invisibility of creatively; the richest years of our society fully allow people to be trans* people makes their integration lives. We have a dream to tour themselves? into society or ‘normalisation’ very worldwide to celebrate our milestone. difficult. There should be no general I really hope that we will do this, and TW: It seems that you had a definite rules of masculinity or femininity; the no dictatorship, political or financial, political message? human is an individual, a personality, will stop us from doing so. VS: Absolutely. In Belarus, each topic and has to be treated as one.

WEEK THREE | WWW.THREEWEEKS.CO.UK | PAGE 07 TW COMEDY NEWS & UPDATES VIA TWITTER @ThreeWeeks REVIEW ALERTS VIA TWITTER @TWittique

Photo: Rich Dyson

Heading for the Hall Of Fame? Rayguns Look Real Enough

TW: So let’s begin at the beginning. TW: What’s your best ever mash-up show. Any tips for how we could Ray: I makes me want to comté back TW INTERVIEWS How did Rayguns Look Real Enough combination? achieve rock infamy? to the Festival. form? Ray: It has to be Alanis Morissette’s Ray: I have a detailed manual in my Luke: *face palms* Luke: I lost my cat and put up posters ‘You Oughta Know’ with PJ and dressing room. You should come and Rayguns Look Real with my number on. Ray was the only Duncan’s ‘Let’s Get Ready To Rumble’. take a look after this interview is over… TW: There are fewer music types Enough are back in reply. Luke: Turns out that Ant and Dec I also have a vibrating sofa. here this Festival. How would you Ray: I was hungry. And I know how to really help accentuate the pain that Luke: He has back problems. persuade other rock stars to come Edinburgh with their sing for my supper. Alanis felt at the time…Psych! Ray: Having a good figure is very to the Fringe? Who would you like to unique blend of mash- important. My work-out regime is a see performing here? TW: Musically speaking, what do we TW: What happens in ‘Hall of Fame’? closely guarded secret. Ray: I would love to see Top Cat up rock and tiger suits get? Who are your influences? Luke: It highlights our struggle to Luke: Deep fried haggis is not what dressed as Tony The Tiger Sings Tiger (well, just the one tiger Luke: Anything and everything. He achieve the infamy we rightly deserve. I’d call a secret. My tip is to learn to Feet… at Tiger Tiger. hums it. I play it. Ray: And I get to grind my crotch in appreciate black clothes. Luke: Oh God. suit in fact). Ray: If you listen closely to our show, women’s faces. Ray: On a split bill with Bill Murray you may notice a Michael Jackson TW: How are Fringe audiences reads Garfield Live! And this time they’re theme. TW: Is it really the voice of Lionel reacting to the show? What keeps Luke: My dream is to see Morrissey do heading to the Rock Luke: Though not entirely intentional. Blair that we hear? you coming back to the Festival? a one man show ‘My Crying Falafel’, Personally I’d like more Metallica. Luke: Yeah. He was riding the Luke: They’re reacting superbly. Quite in a Yurt And Roll Hall Of Fame. Ray: Never gonna happen. ‘Celebrity Big Brother’ wave and humbling in fact. It makes my guy- Ray: I. Would. Hate. That. Maybe. Well, they’ve thought that being involved with the liner run. Luke: Uncultured swine! TW: You call yourself a mash-up Rayguns would further his career. Ray: They’re the reason we come definitely named their rock band. How do you go about Ray: Let’s face it, he needed the boost. back… them and the Cheesee Peasee Hall of Fame, The Voodoo Rooms, until 24 show ‘Hall Of Fame’. putting your songs together? Cheese Van. Aug What’s the process? TW: You say your bid for rock Luke: Is that another “closely guarded Ray: As a rule, we like to sit in the infamy features throughout the secret”? ThreeWeeks found the sunshine, open a few beers and then TW band’s stars Ray Gun annoy the neighbours. Luke: Annoy? They get a free fricking and Luke Reel at the gig! comedy in London sorted bar and asked them Ray: Oh yeah. You’re right. I’ll pop an invoice in their letterbox when we get all year round some quick questions. back. TW www.ThisWeekLondon.com TW PAGE 08 | WWW.THREEWEEKS.CO.UK | WEEK THREE COMEDY GET THE LATEST NEWS, REVIEWS AND INTERVIEWS IN YOUR INBOX DAILY sign up for the free ThreeWeeks Daily email now at ThreeWeeks.co.uk/signup

on pretending it’s your special TW REVIEWS day. Ricketts is a wonderful 5/5 SHOW impersonator, easily creating The Irrational Fears Of vivid pictures and making the Rillettes (Harriet Kemsley / stories come to life in front of you. This is storytelling comedy with Free Festival) real heart; go hear his story. With BBC3 appearances and a Just The Tonic @ The Mash House until Brighton Fringe New Act award, 24 Aug. tw rating 4/5 | [Keara Barnes] Harriet Kemsley is something of a rising star and, as she quips herself, “one to watch (out for)”. A Simon Feilder: personable comic, she easily gets All The Things I’m Not the room on her side, particularly (Simon Feilder) after slamming down a heckler With the right audience, or with true aplomb. Kemsley has perhaps just a slightly larger a knack of pondering her own one, this show would be twice punchlines, as though disturbed as enjoyable, and yet it’s already by the darker thoughts that pretty good. Simon Feilder has occasionally slip out, while at the put together an extremely slick, same time looking surprised and well-oiled routine with some delighted when her jokes get a impressively creative ideas laugh. It’s an endearingly self- and he’s clearly desperate to Photo: Rich Hardcastle conscious style, which only falters make this a success. Despite when she rushes her delivery the lack of traditional stand-up and it becomes hard to catch the material, Feilder’s meticulous Tim FitzHigham – Hellfire (Brett Vincent for Get Comedy / PBJ Management) words. Nerves and performing preparation, self-awareness and History and comedy seem to have been a popular double act at the Fringe of recent years, but this show takes it to skills can be honed though, and raw enthusiasm still provides another level. ‘Hellfire’ is an eccentric and passionate look into one of the world’s most secret societies, nicely rounded it’s clear that Harriet Kemsley the laughs. For all its positives out by Tim FitzHigham’s own frenetic style of stand-up. The show was not only hilarious, but incredibly intriguing too; has potential for many Fringes to though, this is a performance yet it’s a feat that seems effortlessly achieved via the anecdotes of this veteran adventurer. His honest enthusiasm for the to find its niche, leaving some come. subject, and the energy he exudes as he bounces around the stage were a delight to witness. As the full-bellied laughs audience members amused, if Laughing Horse @ The Counting rang out, there wasn’t an audience member that left without a grin across their face. A truly entertaining show that may House, until 24 Aug. a little puzzled. If you’re a fan tw rating 3/5 | [Laura Gavin] of comedy but also yearn for teach you something too! more of an introspective, chaotic Pleasance Dome, until 25 Aug. tw rating 5/5 | [Bethan Highgate-Betts] Natasia Demetriou: journey through the mind of a self TW confessed man-child, then this is You’ll Never Have All Of Me taking place on stage. The the ideal show for you. (The Invisible Dot Ltd) show occasionally dips into his They may appear flip and Pleasance Courtyard, until 25 Aug. personal life, helping to break up tw rating 4/5 | [David O’Connor] asinine, but Natasia Demetriou’s what would otherwise be just a characters – some live and solid hour of impressions, though some pre-recorded – hide a 10 Films With My Dad (Aidan the show is at its best when Desai deeper point: the silly accents Goatley / PBH’s Free Fringe) incorporates his characters into and synthetic wigs subtly It’s nice when something’s just the narrative. Best suited for fans deconstructing bad character nice, isn’t it? This is a nice show. of quickfire comedy who enjoy comedy, asking what makes it In lieu of a ‘proper’ discursive the art of impressions. funny and constantly drawing relationship, soft, creative Aidan Laughing Horse @ City Cafe, until 24th attention to our laughter. The and his Navy dad went to see Aug. tw rating 3/5 | [James McColl] characters and script only work lots of films. In this show, he because they are delivered by constructs a narrative around Aye Right? How No?: The her; in the mouth of anyone ten of them, from John Wayne Comedy Countdown To The else this material would fail. through ‘Star Trek’, ‘Escape To Referendum With Vladimir Victory’ and ‘Avatar’. The rights Sometimes it’s the premise and McTavish & Keir McAllister sometimes the delivery that to film clips are expensive, so (Vladimir McTavish & Keir makes each character so funny, instead there are some short but all are united by Demetriou’s filmed scenes in which Kimble, McAllister) supreme ability for titting about, Aidan’s dog, takes on various McTavish and McAllister were barely hiding a faint smile that roles, including the shark from ahead of the game by doing shows she knows how ridiculous ‘Jaws’. It’s every bit as twee as a comedy show about the this all is. And it is ridiculous it sounds, as his love for both referendum in 2012. This year, in the extreme, but joyously, his subjects genuinely shines now that more people are talking exuberantly enjoyable too. through. As for the heartwarming (and joking!) about it all, they’re back with this updated version, Underbelly Cowgate, until 24 Aug. final story about the Blues tw rating 4/5 | [Tim Bano] Brothers, well now, that really is condensed to allow room for nice. special guests (Rory Bremner Paul Ricketts’ West End Story Voodoo Rooms, until 24 Aug. with some good stuff tonight). (Comedy Verity) tw rating 3/5 | [Bruce Blacklaw] And good for them - a mature If there is one lesson to be democracy should be able to learned from Paul Ricketts’ Anil Desai’s Late Night laugh at whatever aspects of itself seem, well, funny. It needn’t be a show it’s this: treat every day as At The Movies mature laugh, mind: leaving aside if it’s your birthday. You could (Anil Desai / Free Festival) wind up at a flamenco party, or the question of whether fat jokes Anil Desai was in love with the are acceptable in general, why simply get a free drink. In ‘West movies from an early age. That End Story’, Ricketts ponders the shouldn’t they be about the First love soon became an obsession, Minister? I should probably add life of a comedian, discusses as he watched the legends of pornography and talks about for balance that the No campaign the silver screen and, soon after, gets a considerably firmer attack the type of person you usually learned to impersonate them. encounter in London, and but, most importantly, it’s mostly He reels through his catalogue funny. the ones you usually don’t... of impressions with a pinpoint unless you take his advice and Assembly Rooms, until 24 Aug. accuracy - some of them are so tw rating 4/5 | [Bruce Blacklaw] remain open to possibility, seize perfect that it’s hard to believe every opportunity and keep the physical transformation TW

WEEK THREE | WWW.THREEWEEKS.CO.UK | PAGE 09 TW COMEDY NEWS & UPDATES VIA TWITTER @ThreeWeeks REVIEW ALERTS VIA TWITTER @TWittique

Carl Donnelly: Now That’s What I The Church Of Zirconium Demi Lardner: Birds With Carl Donnelly Vol 6 (FUNT in association with Human Lips (Demi Lardner) 5/5 SHOW (Avalon Promotions Ltd) 1945 Productions) At 20 years of age, Demi Lardner Carl Donnelly has been on a voyage The satirical fish in the barrel here already has a couple of comedy awards of self-discovery since last year and, are those cults, where the gullible from her native Australia under her belt, naturally enough, he’s here to tell faithful pay top dollar to level up their and she conducts herself on stage like us about it. An engaging series of worshipfulness. Here, two gullible she was born to it. Calling her quirky stories ensues: from travels in India, losers are joined by another, whose really wouldn’t do her justice; part laser eye surgery and Peruvian spirit ex comes to rescue him from the stand-up, part surreal introspective, tea to the sometimes unfortunate clutches of the cult before end of the there’s nothing ordinary about Lardner’s consequences of “vicaring” (a word world. Hilarity fitfully ensues, though routine. This becomes apparent the comics apparently use to mean I still can’t decide whether to doff moment you spy the cardboard tapir picking up fans for post-gig sex), my cap to the writer or clout them in the room and she introduces herself His set is peppered with good gags with it for a particular soundalike gag in the guise of a moustachioed ghost and entertaining tangents, though which proves central to the resolution magician. From here, the comedian he could stand to lose the habit of of the show. Not terribly subtle, the gives us a glimpse into her psyche over-egging forthcoming punchlines; satire is mostly laid on with a clunky through a series of frustrating phone “and then he said to me literally the trowel. ‘The Church Of Zirconium’ chats with her dad, some life-coaching funniest thing anyone’s ever said”. doesn’t really develop far beyond a from the aforementioned tapir and Now, it did turn out to be a pretty half decent extended sketch, though a few hilarious encounters with a funny thing they said, but perhaps there are laughs along the way and sinister feathered nemesis. Even her best let the audience be the judge of enjoyable performances all round. observational material has touches of that. Otherwise, an accomplished and Just The Tonic at The Caves, until 24 Aug. Eddie Izzard-esque absurdity. Brilliant entertaining performance. tw rating 3/5 | [Bruce Blacklaw] fun. Pleasance Courtyard until 23 Aug. Gilded Balloon, until 25 Aug. tw rating 4/5 | [Bruce Blacklaw] tw rating 4/5 | [Laura Gavin]

A Question for Three: Gein’s Family Giftshop What gift would you take home (for yourself or a loved one) from the Edinburgh Festival Fringe?

Jim: I would take home the gift of health. The food I have eaten since being here has mostly come from the back of a van. Burgers, bratwurst, wraps, tatti dogs, and living above a fried chicken shop for the month are massively detrimental to my heart’s well being. So are the two pints per show. When I get home I intend to do what I did last year. Eat nothing but lettuce, drink nothing but water, and go to bed at a reasonable hour for at least a month. That way I can get back my old levels of fitness and continue evading the po-po.

Ed: I would take the gift of a working penis. By the end of the festival I will have shown my flaccid penis to over 1000 people (as part of the show you understand). That will have increased the overall number drastically from five and a half (one saw it with her hands) to 1005.5 or, if the last weekend goes well, 1006. The issue I have with this much exposure is that I can no longer feel anything down there, it has become just another prop that I have to take home and wash, ready for the next show.

Kath: As the woman of the group, I’d bring back the bubonic plague that lies in wait in the tunnels under the city, and in some of the free show venues. Sure, it’s deadly; sure it’s likely to wipe out large swathes of humanity; but I’m willing to take a hit on a few aunties and uncles if it diminishes some rival sketch group. It makes sense because we’re the perfect post apocalyptic sketch group, we can live off scrap metal and number plates like sharks. Also, a mini set of bagpipes on a magnet for my parents.

‘Gein’s Family Giftshop: Volume 1’ is co-written by Kiri Pritchard McLean, and is on at Pleasance Courtyard until 24 Aug.

The Comedian And His Future Wife (Ola / Free Festival) Ola wants two things from his life: to be the greatest comedian there ever was, and to find a wife. Full of laughs, this heart-warming show takes us on a journey through some of Ola’s past relationships, looking at what went wrong and what he’s learned from these experiences. Hilarious anecdotes and observations propel the show along and the hour flies by. A ‘nice guy’ comedian, Ola doesn’t single out audience members to make a joke out of them. Instead, he seems genuinely interested in their stories and relating them back to his own life. A brilliant, truly enjoyable show. From what I’ve seen, it seems like he’s already well on his way to accomplishing his first goal. Laughing Horse @ Espionage, until 24 Aug. tw rating 5/5 | [Bethan Highgate-Betts] Photo: Drew Forsyth

TW PAGE 10 | WWW.THREEWEEKS.CO.UK | WEEK THREE COMEDY GET THE LATEST NEWS, REVIEWS AND INTERVIEWS IN YOUR INBOX DAILY sign up for the free ThreeWeeks Daily email now at ThreeWeeks.co.uk/signup

Four Screws Loose In The Big Jason Cook celebrates broken flyerers Screw Up (James Grant Comedy) Four guys, a lot of wigs and a brilliant soundtrack: this is the sketch show to end all sketch shows. The Four Screws are full of energy, whimsy and disturbingly accurate impersonations of pop cult celebrities, and their charisma and camaraderie engages the audience from the second they jump into the spotlight. As the troupe make a mockery of traditional stories, popular music and even Jeremy Kyle, no one can help but be charmed and delighted by these (in their own words) screw ups. You will be hard-pressed to find another comedy troupe at the Fringe who can make an audience feel quite so in on the joke, and yet so pleasantly surprised. A laugh-a-minute sketch show with heart, hilarity and brilliant imagination. Assembly George Square, until 25 Aug. tw rating 5/5 | [Vicki Baron]

“Having a cup of tea, can you believe it?” So, with that in mind, you job today, dear TW COLUMNS “Giving a man mouth to mouth resuscitation” reader is simple: Hug a flyerer. It will make Ok, the last one may have been made up, but their day and lift their spirits. And you KNOW Veteran Edinburgh type Jason it does beg the question: how healthy is this it’ll annoy whoever is stalking them! “…and Cook – Clatterschenkfieternmaus behaviour? And how productive? they were just standing there, accepting My approach has always been to try and be kindness from a stranger…!” alumnus and creator of TV’s as nice as possible to those selling my show, Pictured: Jason Cook and his flyerer friends. ‘Hebburn’ – back this year with his buy them sweets, voice your appreciation ‘Jason Cook: Broken’ is on at Pleasance Dome latest show ‘Broken’, surveys the and generally show them that no matter how until 24 Aug. desolate Fringe landscape for one shitty things are getting, they are appreciated. particular type of downtrodden TW participant...

And so, we have crested the mountain of the Festival and are happily skiing down the other side to the last weekend, boozes, fond farewells, optimism for next year and the uplifting feeling of a Festival well done. But not for all of us. For some, their feet are still stuck fairly and squarely in the trenches of the marketing warfare of Fringe 2014. And by this, of course, we mean the flyerers. Those poor souls whose daily agenda lists only one item: hand out bits of paper to people who don’t want them, showing pictures of people who don’t appreciate you. Because the Fringe flyerer’s lot is a bad one; the buoyant momentum they must sustain for a whole day, as they see the smiling faces of festival-goers going to or coming from another wonderful show. Smiling until they make eye contact with our poor flyerer. That is when faces fall, derision appears and you can see the flyer-ee looking for excuses to refuse the promotional gift. And it has broken some. The emptiness behind the eyes has begun, the contempt for human beings as they file past, day-by-day, acting as if the flyerer does not even exist. 5/5 SHOW And that has to take its toll. Surely it is only a matter of time before a flyerer-created killing spree engulfs the Fringe, ending with a pile of bodies and a member of the offending TW RATINGS promotional team standing atop it in a coloured hoodie screaming: “Two for fucking one is it!?” 1/5 BAD Though, even worse than a broken flyerer, this Festival has seen the rise of the ‘Flyerer MEDIOCRE Stalker’. Broken comedians spying on their 2/5 own flyer team “to make sure they are doing their job”. I have heard half a dozen comics 3/5 GOOD talking about stalking their own promotional teams and stating, with some vitriol, the RECOMMENDED tasks that the spied upon poor mite was 4/5 undertaking rather than handing out one of the several thousand ‘ego-pamphlets’ that 5/5 HIGHLY RECOMMENDED form their day. “He was just standing there, texting”.

WEEK THREE | WWW.THREEWEEKS.CO.UK | PAGE 11 TW COMEDY NEWS & UPDATES VIA TWITTER @ThreeWeeks REVIEW ALERTS VIA TWITTER @TWittique

5/5 SHOWS Beta Males – Happenstance (Ditto Productions) ‘Happenstance’ starts off well enough, providing a few chuckles here and there. But it’s when the show accelerates into fifth gear that it becomes something really quite special. As the minutes and the sketches pass, the jokes become more frequent, more subtle and somehow more obvious at the same time. The Beta Males craft an entire comedy world together, and the chemistry between them makes even the less hilarious sketches worth watching. Between their attention to detail and pure physical exertion, the guys must be exhausted after each show, and deserved every second they overran (apparently they overrun a lot!). ‘Happenstance’ is a show that has it all: music, hunting humans, comedy and, of course, farce in spades. Pleasance Courtyard, until 25 Aug. tw rating 5/5 | [David O’Connor]

Photo: Steve Ullathorne Standing out in the Festival crowd: Lights! Camera! Improvise! Barry Ferns recalls top Fringe stunts The Improvised Movie (Mischief Theatre) Nothing has a right to be this good. Mischief Theatre return with to use in the show. When he arrived, under the name of a notorious their hilarious improvised movies, a concept so simple and well- TW COLUMNS however, he found that it didn’t fit reviewer, and Arthur managed to through the doors of the venue. Doh! drop it into the “To Publish” tray at executed that it defies imitation, even in the only city in the world currently housing more improv groups than people. The troupe Creativity is bursting from Still it made a great story… The Scotsman newspaper. It was published the next day and their appear to possess some form of telepathy, responding fluidly and the seams of Edinburgh over 8. The Loss Making Stunt. In 2011 shows were instantly sold out. Genius. expertly to the audience’s suggested movie (we plumped for a the Festival, it’s everywhere. Nathan Cassidy offered £1 to every rom-com set in a zoo). The host, “Oscar”, is in absolute command of And not just on stage, it’s also person who attended his Free Fringe 3. The Nationally Reported Stunt. In the proceedings, and gleefully needles his cast whenever they do in the PR and marketing of show. He swears that (somehow) he 2003, Aaron Barschak gate crashed something ridiculous (which happens a lot). Mischief Theatre are at hundreds of shows. didn’t lose money doing it. Prince William’s 21st Birthday dressed the absolute top of their game: the only reason not to see this is if as Osama Bin Laden. His show sold you are some kind of genetic aberration that hates laughing. We comedians will go as far as it 7. The Schoolboy Stunt. In 2012 Knut out that Festival, but Aaron was never takes to get noticed at the biggest and the Gang began sticking penis heard from again (!) Pleasance Courtyard, until 24 Aug. tw rating 5/5 | [Jon Stapley] arts festival of the world and I’ve stickers on rivals posters. They stood pulled quite a few stunts in my time out a mile, and got a lot of (angry) 2. The Political Stunt. In 2013 Gareth at Edinburgh, from performing the attention. When threatened with legal Morinan’s publicity stunt of listing first show on top of Arthurs Seat, to action, they issued this statement “I his own show 12 times in the festival doing a sketch show with pensioners apologise if one of my cocks got up programme made a Fringe Board in it, to changing my name to Lionel anyone’s nose” Member resign in protest – thus Richie by deed poll, to making up inadvertently giving Gareth even entirely fake reviews of my show. But 6. The Relevant Stunt. Two years more publicity. That board member performers have been at it from the ago, Jim Smallman got his show title certainly thought that through. very beginning – and here’s a top 10 of ‘Tatooligan’ tattooed on his stomach. those stunts for the uninitiated: That is certainly commitment. 1. The Hilarious And Spontaneous Stunt. When he got into a dispute 10. The First Stunt. In the 1960’s 5. The No-option Stunt. In 1986 with another performer, Malcom one sketch group actually pushed a comedian Martin Soan was camping Hardee didn’t complain, no, he just number of naked men and women in a tent, with his wife and their waited until his rival’s show had down Princes Street in a fleet of new baby, outside the back of The started and then (along with the wheelbarrows. They got a crowd. Pleasance. One morning they awoke audience from his own show) drove They got publicity. They also got to camera crews and photographers. naked on a Tractor through that arrested. It was the 60s though, surely Apparently his family were part of performers show, ruining it, and thus everyone was doing it? “The new artistic underclass” and making it legendary in the exact same became instant Fringe heroes. moment. 9. The Accidental Stunt. For use in his landmark show ‘Thus Spake 4. The Brass Neck Stunt. Pondering ‘The Barry Experience’ is on at Laughing Zarathustra’ Simon Munnery painted how to get audience for their shows, Horse @ Espionage until 24 Aug. a mini cooper Gold and drove it all the Arthur Smith and Malcolm Hardee way up to Edinburgh from London wrote themselves a glowing review Photo: Joanna Mlynarska TW

TW PAGE 12 | WWW.THREEWEEKS.CO.UK | WEEK THREE COMEDY GET THE LATEST NEWS, REVIEWS AND INTERVIEWS IN YOUR INBOX DAILY sign up for the free ThreeWeeks Daily email now at ThreeWeeks.co.uk/signup

Rob Deering: Music Face (CKP) Tedfest (Tedfest) Rob Deering opens with an attempt A four day festival on Inishmore to Ten things to do at the Fringe when to transport us from George Street celebrate ‘Father Ted’ has become to Woodstock. It takes some cajoling a cult hit, and it has now expanded but, before long, a competent wolf with a show at the Fringe. Sadly, there you’re dead (that is, you died on stage) whistler has been identified, the is very little of Father Ted left in it, audience is clapping along and things instead relying heavily on its own marine! There will be no sympathy from every show that you do. Maybe start coming together nicely. Using in-jokes. Between incomprehensible TW COLUMNS here, not in the comedy equivalent use those death throes to allow your a loop pedal to build layers of tracks, rambles by ‘Father’ Joe Dolan there of Vietnam (by which, I mean, some comedy life to flash before your eyes. he takes us through some personal are various acts: a stand-up comedy So every comedian’s been amazing art will be created by people Maybe you’ve always known you music history, including “bleepy dance competition (including an off-key joke there. The night you died on detailing their experiences here, but would die this way; do it with dignity. music” - good for raves back in the day, about turning gay people straight), some people will just go crazy, and Who wants to live forever on stage? All good for running now (the running a lovely girls competition and an stage. But you know what, you others will go home but leave a part of us, but then we’d have to be robots is for Parkinson’s research – look up excellent turn from magicians Morgan can survive it. You will survive of themselves behind). That’s how it competing against other robots, and I his justgiving page for more). His and West. Shambolic disorder reigns, it. And Dane Baptiste has some works, love it! Semper fi. think ‘Robot Wars’ is already a thing. knowledge, skill and love for music however, and there are many painfully tips for doing just that. really comes across, with plenty dull moments. Overall, it seems like the of laughs before a finale involving warm heart of ‘Father Ted’ has been 1. Drink bubbles, bongos and a remote control ripped out, to be replaced by raucous This is the other great comedian helicopter. You won’t get that on pandering to a soused crowd. pastime of course, other than doing George Street at any other time of Underbelly Cowgate, until 24 Aug. gigs in a converted butcher shop for year. tw rating 2/5 | [Tim Bano] a room full of fruitarians and vegans. Assembly Rooms, until 24 Aug. You’ve died, now have fun and tw rating 4/5 | [Bruce Blacklaw] The Thinking Drinker’s Guide embalm yourself. To The Legends Of Liquor (Ben Short & Curly – Who Dunnit? McFarland and Tom Sandham) 2. Eat (Short & Curly / PBH’s Free A show about booze, featuring Recharge and carb load, it’s a Fringe) free booze. What’s not to like? The marathon not a race up here. With this murder mystery of sorts, audience tastes samples of beer, Edinburgh accommodates both all Short & Curly present a comedy gin, vodka, bourbon and tequila types of comedy and all the comfort/ show that makes a detective out of while learning about the elbow- binge eating you could imagine. the audience: we get to look back at bending antics of the Ancient Greeks, You can famously have everything the lives of each of the suspects, so Peter the Great, FD Roosevelt and, deep-fried here. Pizza, Mar Bars, your we can decide ‘Who Dunnit?’ All the memorably for several reasons, Andre dignity. Stuff your face, and then why characters are played by the comedy the Giant. They’re small samples, not wash those trans-fats down with duo, who implement quick changes mind: “drink less, drink better” is some alcohol, because you could use and even quicker wit. The sketches are the Thinking Drinkers’ admirable it. well written and excellently executed, motto. Their accompanying stand-up and the pair create characters who “infotainment” is by turns fascinating 3. Gig! are all entertaining to watch. There and funny, if occasionally puerile. If Usually you have to wait at least a were some issues with timing, making learning that TS Elliot’s cat was called day, maybe a week, to regain your the show feel a bit rushed, but this is Noilly Prat pleases you, and you can confidence on the normal circuit; here, understandably a risk you take with so handle “Putin’s a cunt” as a punchline you can get back on the horse within much audience participation. Overall, (French rather than Russian vodka the hour. No-one would ever know it was extremely entertaining and very is served by way of political protest), that you’ve died, as you can get back funny - it’s worth a watch for the wigs then you best get along and join the on stage before rigor mortis sets in on alone! ranks of the thinking drinker. that material. Try to revive it straight Ciao Roma, until 23 Aug. Famous Spiegeltent, until 25 Aug. away, maybe the Portuguese Girl tw rating 4/5 | [Bethan Highgate-Betts] tw rating 4/5 | [Bruce Blacklaw] Scouts at the hostel gig weren’t the target audiences for that bit after all.

4. Remember the terrain 5/5 SHOW This beautiful historic city is a great tourist destination, but also serves Steen Raskopoulos: I’m Wearing Two Suits the fattiest snacks I’ve ever known and alcohol all day long, all in an area Because I Mean Business (Underbelly Productions) that boasts the most hills I’ve ever Steen Raskopoulos’ concentrated shots of character and sketch comedy, seen. After travelling up and down these hills, audiences might not be up with lots of improv thrown in, challenge the audience not to like him. 7. Forget 10. Laugh for it! Don’t worry if you get a crowd Scenes veer between observation, absurdity and tragedy and he has You are in a place where drinking Because it’s a comedy festival, and that seem to be just gawking, they’re happens all day long and you know you’ve bankrupted yourself to come a sharp knack for plunging the audience into recognisable situations, probably just getting their breath then twisting them into something funny. Steen has complete faith what audience-plus-alcohol equals for up here. You’ve been living on a diet back. comedians – a shit time. Why should of tobacco, alcohol and pizza, and in his audience and the show is carefully crafted to make audience they have all the fun? Maybe you have regressed to the lifestyle of a participation work without 5. Walk it off could use a drink. Let’s drown that student at Fresher’s Week with that being demeaning. It’s facial Edinburgh is a nice city full of pain in booze until you don’t even first instalment of the loan. All your expressions and subtle interesting characters. Observe remember the gig. Perfect! other horny comedy friends are up gestures that help him them all and they could possibly be here doing the same thing, add to become his characters part of a newer, more socially aware 8. Drink the mix the finest in narcotics (I don’t - not costume changes. piece of material. Also have a look No? Fine, I’ll have one in your honour; I know nothing about nothing, police) It’s in the nuance, not the around some of those dark alleyways. know I’ve had a tough time here. No, I and really, death was inevitable. Better overt. With songs and There are plenty of secluded spots DON’T have a problem, I just died, and it be on stage, where you know you for a recently deceased comedian to dances, this is a tight and now I’m toasting my death and all of can recover. If all the fun was off stage, self-medicate, meltdown or cry in the you probably wouldn’t last longer than clever one man variety my comrades that have died before foetal position. Those other people in me. the month! show, sheer fun and the alley, they were comedians, just buzzing with ideas, none of like you. ‘Dane Baptiste: Citizen Dane’ is on at which feel remotely stale. 9. Learn Even in the biggest international Pleasance Courtyard until 24 Aug. 6. Suck it up Underbelly Bristo Square, comedy and arts festival, a gig is still until 25 Aug. Remember that this is comedy boot a gig, and you can get something tw rating 5/5 | [Tim Bano] camp, and you’re in the shit now, TW

WEEK THREE | WWW.THREEWEEKS.CO.UK | PAGE 13 TW THEATRE NEWS & UPDATES VIA TWITTER @ThreeWeeks REVIEW ALERTS VIA TWITTER @TWittique Philip Whitchurch: Re-imagining the Bard

yourself and/or the audience. It’s more on with other stuff. My favourite role TW INTERVIEW fun being on stage with someone else. though was Iago in ‘Othello’. One of the great parts and I was lucky enough TW: So the idea of performing the to be directed by the fabulous Michael TW: What is the premise of the play? piece with Sally was there pretty Boyd. Villains are great fun. What happens in it? much from the off? PW: So much is written about PW: Yes, I always intended to do this TW: How does playing the man Shakespeare and yet so little is known show with Sally. We’ve been married himself compare...? about him other than his work. for twenty two years - not quite as PW: Playing the man himself? What I Everyone assumes he retired a rich long as Will and Anne - but we’d wanted to portray was a husband who and successful playwright, but how never worked together. She’s such a just happened to write plays - but it does an artist simply stop working? fine actress and I wanted to create had to work on several levels. People I decided to turn the assumption on something we could do together. who like Shakespeare can enjoy the its head so... Shakespeare has retired verse but basically it’s about the mess to Stratford and, yes he is rich and TW: What’s it like working together of a long marriage, warts and all. successful, but he is not happy. Why? on this, especially when you’re All that money and fame? Why can’t playing a couple? TW: Do you think people need to be he sleep? Who is he waiting for? Why PW: Working with your partner? Not a bard-aficionado to enjoy the play? can’t his wife Anne find their dog? A always easy - in fact quite tense at PW: No, as I said, it’s really a play about sleepless night in Stratford. The lies, times - but we managed to leave most two people locked in a long and not secrets and resentments of a marriage of the disagreements in the rehearsal always happy marriage. Jealousy, laid bare. room. I have huge respect for her resentment, betrayal, laughter instincts and opinions. and madness! – it’s all there. The TW: Where did the idea for the show comedy and the tragedy. That’s why If you’ve so much as walked past your television set in the last come from? TW: You borrow some of the lines Shakespeare is so modern, so timeless. PW: I had this idea about doing a one from Shakespeare, don’t you? People who love Shakespeare can couple of decades, you will surely recognise Philip Whitchurch man show about Shakespeare set the How did you select them? Is there enjoy spotting the quotes but some of from his extensive work on such programmes as ‘The Bill’, ‘Wire night before he died. It would be about method in it…? them are quite well disguised. There In The Blood’, ‘Holby City’ and ‘My Hero’. the man looking back on his life and PW: I was interested in the relationship are also some hidden allusions to would include all my favourite bits of an artist has with the work and a other writers as well, but you will have What you might not know is that Whitchurch is also an Shakespeare, including bits from the private life. I became intrigued by the to come and see the play if you want accomplished playwright, and this summer he has come to parts I would never get cast in! I wrote idea that Shakespeare’s work was to spot them. the Fringe not only to present a play, but to appear in it too, the first twenty pages and showed it autobiographical. Steinbeck’s great alongside his wife Sally Edwards. ‘Shakespeare, His Wife And to my wife and asked her opinion. Her novel ‘East Of Eden’ is in fact a fictional TW: You are well known for your TV The Dog’ has garnered great reviews, not least from our own only response was, “where’s my part?” imagining of his own family history, so and film work. How does it compare So, it became a two hander. If I’m I wrote about a man who plundered to live performance? ThreeWeeks reviewer. We spoke to Philip to find out more about honest, one person shows are difficult his private life and experiences and PW: I love film and TV work, but if I’m what inspired him to write a show featuring the bard. to pull off. The only dynamic is with put them into his plays. As an artist honest my best times have been in he is so steeped in his work he cannot theatre. Theatre is family, whereas TV separate it from his real life and this is like staying with friends. drives his wife to distraction. She is furious to see their private life TW: Have you performed at the made public. Once I had settled on a Fringe before? How are you finding storyline, quotes and clips from the it this time? plays happened organically. PW: The last time I was on the Fringe was 1987! I came up to do a Joe Orton TW: You’ve written quite a bit in the play. We lost all our money but had a past. How does writing and acting great time. I’m loving being up here compare? Have you performed one this time with my own play but it’s of your own plays before? hard work. There is such competition. I PW: Yes, I’ve always written. My think I might be too old for all this! first commissioned play was at the Liverpool Everyman back in ‘Shakespeare, His Wife and the Dog’ is on at 1984. Since then I’ve had my plays Summerhall until 24 Aug performed at various theatres in the UK including a soul musical - ‘In The Midnight Hour’. I like telling stories and that’s what actors and writers try to do. This is the first time I’ve ever performed in my own work and I wasn’t sure if I’d enjoy it but I’ve had a great time!

TW: Have you performed in many Shakespeare plays? What’s your favourite Shakespearean role? PW: Actually I haven’t done a huge amount of Shakespeare. I love the plays but many of the parts I wanted never came around, so I got TW

TW PAGE 14 | WWW.THREEWEEKS.CO.UK | WEEK THREE THEATRE GET THE LATEST NEWS, REVIEWS AND INTERVIEWS IN YOUR INBOX DAILY sign up for the free ThreeWeeks Daily email now at ThreeWeeks.co.uk/signup

TW REVIEWS

Beans On Toast (Patch Of Blue) Scott loves Jen, and Jen loves Scott, but Jen has gone. ‘Beans On Toast’ goes through all the significant moments of their relationship, out of sequence, with a song or two thrown in for good measure. These ‘loveable’ characters are sassy, fast-talking and so underdeveloped they remain practically stationary. Apart from when they have their sole argument, their relationship appears completely faultless, apparently formed with some kind of perfect couple cookie cutter. This lack of any real conflict makes for rather plodding viewing, with any meaning almost entirely lost in the action. The production is staged well by the cast, who all play Jen and Scott at various points, but this does nothing to stop it being a one dimensionally pretty, rather than meaningful, production. Zoo Southside, until 25 Aug tw rating 2/5 | [Charlotte Taylor]

Guinea Pigs On Trial (Sh!t Theatre / Escalator East To Edinburgh) You can’t accuse Sh!t Theatre of lacking ideas, although you could accuse them of lacking a decent idea filter. In fact, I got the sense that they just crammed every concept they ever had into this show, however appropriate these may be. The result is a piece that explores the murky world of drug trials in a half documentary expose, half absurdist comedy style. The amusingly zany routines work well to highlight the ridiculousness inherent in a system 5/5 SHOW where people are paid to attend “Flucamp”, but this wackiness obscures Dr Longitude’s the core message about questionable Marvellous pharmaceutical companies. As it stands, the show is fun and interesting Imaginary Menagerie enough, but it’s no more effective (Les Enfants Terribles) than reading what might well be Sh!t Theatre’s inspiration, Ben Goldacre’s A magnificent musical of massive ‘Bad Pharma’. proportions, this show has Summerhall, until 23 Aug. everything - fantastic songs, tw rating 3/5 | [Andrew Bell] fabulous costumes and above all, fun! We follow the tale of Dr Ernest And The Pale Moon (Les Enfants Terribles/Pins & Longitude and his esteemed Needles) colleague on their quest to find I would like to sincerely apologise weird and wonderful animals for to the nice lady in Pleasance One his Imaginary Menagerie. There’s whose leg I grabbed during ‘Ernest dancing, singing and even a bit of and the Pale Moon’. It was a scary swimming as we encounter the bit. The story of disturbed Ernest’s fantastical beasts that he finds obsessive love for Gwendoline (and on his journey. Award-winning its tragic consequences) is a brutal creators Les Enfants Terribles gothic horror, with scenes that linger long in the mind. One in particular, use expert puppetry and quirky featuring some hideous fingernails-on- costumes to bring the animals wood sound effects, will truly haunt to life in front of your very you. The music woven throughout is eyes. There wasn’t a child in the hugely effective, particularly Rachel audience that wasn’t squealing Dawson’s atmospheric cello. I do think with delight. With just the right the creepiness would have been better sustained if some performances had amount of audience participation, been dialled back a little, but overall this big, bold, tongue-in-cheek this is something anyone who likes a comedy has got it all. good scare should see. Just don’t sit next to me. I’ll grab your leg. Pleasance Courtyard, until 25 Aug. tw rating 5/5 Pleasance Courtyard, until 23 Aug. tw rating 4/5 | [Jon Stapley] [Bethan Highgate-Betts]

WEEK THREE | WWW.THREEWEEKS.CO.UK | PAGE 15 TW THEATRE NEWS & UPDATES VIA TWITTER @ThreeWeeks REVIEW ALERTS VIA TWITTER @TWittique

of Jamie and who he is, his anger, his TW REVIEWS confusion and his frustration. If I have to nitpick (and I do), the ending is a little Kingmaker abrupt, leaving questions unanswered (The Spontaneity Shop) and sub-plots dangling, and one character’s rather unconvincing Irish “Why put up with cava, when we could accent is a little distracting. Otherwise have champagne?” asks London mayor though, this is a heartfelt and moving and would-be Prime Minister Max play boasting an absolutely towering Newman in this fast-paced political performance. comedy. ‘Kingmaker’, a sparkling tale of Westminster intrigue and Gryphon@West End, until 23 Aug. tw rating 4/5 | [Jon Stapley] deception, certainly leans towards the latter. Clever observations combine with cutting one-liners to hugely Sochi 2014 entertaining effect as Max (Alan Cox) (FULLfuse Theatre / The King’s attempts to protect his leadership bid Head Theatre) from a scheming whip and a young In the build up to the 2014 Winter pretender. The mayor, a “teddy bear Olympics in Sochi, an international crossed with a serial killer”, will seem spotlight was briefly focused on the familiar; but Cox’s excellent depiction oppression of the LGBT community draws from rather than imitates real- in Russia, only to fade as the Olympic life, and is stronger for it; laced with torch moved away. This powerful satire but not stifled by its source. At piece of testimonial theatre, however, points ‘Kingmaker’ feels it needs more turns that light firmly back on. Simply time - but that is minor piffle in an staged but deeply researched, ‘Sochi otherwise splendid performance. 2014’ gives a chilling insight into the Pleasance Courtyard, until 25 Aug. discrimination and shocking brutality tw rating 4/5 | [Sarah Richardson] suffered by Russia’s homosexuals, as five actors give voice to victims denied Odd Shaped Balls the chance to speak themselves. Based (Chris Sheridan) on verbatim testimonies, the piece combines moments of gut-wrenching A rugby player is thrust unwillingly into emotional power with challenging the spotlight after being outed as gay political commentary, and in showing in this stirring, thought-provoking piece the different attitudes LGBT Russians of new writing. A one-man show, ‘Odd have towards their situation, has an Shaped Balls’ is anchored by actor Chris unexpected and thought-provoking Sheridan, who delivers a captivating complexity. Compelling, intelligent performance as rugby player Jamie theatre. Hall. The story works so well because it’s completely character driven – Pleasance Courtyard, until 21 Aug. everything that unfolds is a direct result tw rating 4/5 | [Sarah Richardson]

TW PAGE 16 | WWW.THREEWEEKS.CO.UK | WEEK THREE THEATRE GET THE LATEST NEWS, REVIEWS AND INTERVIEWS IN YOUR INBOX DAILY sign up for the free ThreeWeeks Daily email now at ThreeWeeks.co.uk/signup

5/5 SHOWS < Spoiling (Traverse Theatre Company) Set in a near future, where the Scottish people have decided to leave the UK, ‘Spoiling’ chronicles the morning of the Foreign Minister’s first speech since gaining independence. By leaping forward in time, Traverse Theatre Company are able to bring some important and fresh ideas to the contemporary debate. These are made in an intelligent and informed manner, and are performed to perfection by the two actors, making it a timely piece of theatre that is sharp, funny and well executed. The show also looks back at the history of the UK and draws parallels with Northern Ireland. ‘Spoiling’ manages to balance the political and personal reasoning behind the ‘yes’ movement, and will leave you questioning your views on these complicated issues. Traverse Theatre, until 25 Aug. tw rating 5/5 | [James McColl]

> Travesti (Unbound Productions) There’s something bizarrely compelling about watching a man, stripping and putting on make up, while speaking the words of a woman who’s been the object of male intimidation. From sexualised pop routines performed with obvious and comical enjoyment, to the poignant realisations of a rape victim, ‘Travesti’ explores the varied experiences of being a woman. It’s impossible to pick out an individual member of the young, all-male cast for praise. They all give nuanced, naturalistic performances, relating the stories from real-life interviews with great empathy. Rebecca Hill’s direction juxtaposes different female perspectives, so that they create layers of new meaning, disagreement and unanimity. You know you’ve touched your audience when there are audible murmurs of agreement throughout. Flawless. Pleasance Dome, until 25 Aug. tw rating 5/5 | [Laura Gavin]

WEEK THREE | WWW.THREEWEEKS.CO.UK | PAGE 17 TW MUSIC NEWS & UPDATES VIA TWITTER @ThreeWeeks REVIEW ALERTS VIA TWITTER @TWittique Njo Kong Kie: A musical picnic with a twist

Photo: Rich Dyson

collective is made up of artists from a picnics there often. The scenery is discarded from observation about light hearted. One is the inevitable TW INTERVIEW cross section of disciplines, including beautiful, and the setting quiet; it how the show is working… I thank destination for all of us, the other visual artists, designers, composers, offers a momentary relief from the my team for being patient with me is about choices we can make. It ‘Picnic In The Cemetery’ is directors and producers, all behind hustle and bustle of the world. It also for changing cues every night prior is a musing on dying, but more one of three shows brought the scene artists. Without their offers the chance to reflect on life and to show. If you have seen the show, importantly a reflection on how we contributions, ‘Picnic In The Cemetery’ make peace with an inevitability that and if you come back again, you may live. Everybody will take away from to the Fringe by the Macao- would only be a concert, not the multi- we are all scared of, one way or the have a different experience because the show something different. There is based collective Point View disciplinary experience that it is today. other. It offers a connection to, or at something may have changed in the a lot of abstract imagery, created with Art Association. It’s a piece least a meditation on, what may lie meantime. videos, installations, props and live of work that almost seems TW: Some of the music in ‘Picnic beyond our day-to-day. action. They can seem specific but do to defy categorisation; the In The Cemetery’ originates from TW: How would you describe offer room for interpretation. composer himself struggles an album of the same name – did TW: There are various elements to your music? Does it fit into any you always intend for this music to the show – props, physical theatre, to place his style within a specific genre category? TW: Tell us more about your become part of a performance, or film as well as the music – was it NKK: This is a hard question to answer. fellow musicians – have you conventional genre, and did that idea come later? always the intention to include I’ve been trying to find an apt and performed together much while this show has music NKK: I released the album in 2006, those, or did they emerge as you simple description of my work so I before? at its heart, it’s only a part having composed the materials developed the piece? can market it better - it’s also easier NKK: I recorded the album with my during a period of touring with NKK: As I said, it was always my of what’s on display. Our when it comes to grant applications Canadian colleagues, but when I musicians Simon Claude and intention to build this show to include reviewer was won over by this - but I have not succeeded. When work abroad, I often like to work Alexandre Castonguay, when we were elements outside of the musical realm. experimental and avant-garde talking to audiences, however, the with musicians from that region. Our working with the La La La Human Collectively they give a much more words they often use are minimalism, violinist Hong Iat U performed this acoustic performance, and her Steps dance group. I called our trio lasting impression for the audience. romanticism, rhythmical, visceral, piece in Macau last year. He is from enthusiasm inspired us to find Day Off, in reference to the fact that I But this is definitely a work in progress melancholic, cinematic, dance-like, Macao and a graduate of the Central out more about the show from wrote new music during the days off as far as the staging elements are Philip Glass, Takemitsu, Umebayashi. Conservatory Of Music in Beijing. He its creator, Njo Kong Kie. on tour in an attempt to amuse the concerned. Because of its roots in classical has an eclectic taste in music and is other musicians. I’ve presented the Because of the specifics of the music, my work may be attractive an aspiring jazz musician. I find that TW: Where did the idea for the repertoire at regular concerts, but venue here, the show is rather to an audience who enjoys classical musicians who have experience and ‘Picnic In The Cemetery’ show come always knew I would like to create a different from the version we did last music, but I think that it is music for interest in a wide range of musical from? theatrical production. It only became year in Macao, and is different even those who don’t even enjoy classical genres tend to get my work a lot NKK: The idea for the ‘Picnic In The reality, however, when I met the Point from the version we did at the start music, as it definitely has a more quicker. David Wong, our cellist, hails Cemetery’ show came about after View Art artists in Macao. of our run here. We changed the contemporary sensibility about it. from Hong Kong. David comes more I joined the Macao-based artist configuration of the room in a major from an orchestral background but is collective Point View Art Association, TW: It’s an interesting title – where way just this past week. Doing so TW: Is there a specific story you adapting to playing this kind of music which is bringing three shows to does that come from? many shows in a row, we do take the very quickly. the Fringe, the dance theatre piece NKK: I love picnics, and I love opportunity to hone our production are trying to tell, or message ‘Playing Landscape’, ‘ Picnic In The cemeteries. For many years, I lived as we go. you are trying to communicate Read more at ThreeWeeks.co.uk/njokongkie Cemetery’ and an object theatre adjacent to a beautiful cemetery Many elements of the staging with this show? ‘Picnic In The Cemetery’ is on at C nova until piece ‘ Puzzle The Puzzle’, all under in Toronto, the Mount Pleasant come about through improvisation NKK: ‘ Picnic In The Cemetery’ 25 Aug the banner Made in Macao. Our Cemetery, and I found myself having during the show, others are added or juxtaposes the macabre with the TW

TW PAGE 18 | WWW.THREEWEEKS.CO.UK | WEEK THREE

MUSIC & MUSICALS NEWS & UPDATES VIA TWITTER @ThreeWeeks REVIEW ALERTS VIA TWITTER @TWittique

TW MUSICALS Circle Line (Red Brick Rent) Circles are brilliant metaphors, and Ciaran Walshe uses them to great effect in this musical. Seven passengers, sitting in a straight line on a tube carriage, are forced to interact when their train breaks down. They could cut the chunks of dialogue that turn the characters into caricatures, and the credit crunch theme feels out of date, but the music is excellent. Most of the songs, aside from one or two jazzier numbers, have a melancholy, unresolved quality, lingering on suspended notes and weaving unusual melodies. There is a real sense of the crushing grind of a daily commute in a starved economy, and the wonderful music emulates that sensation of feeling alone even when surrounded by hundreds of people. Greenside @ Royal Terrace, until 23 Aug. tw rating 3/5 | [Tim Bano]

Dido And Aeneas (The About Turn Theatre Company) Purcell’s opera is given a WWII- era makeover in About Turn’s surprisingly elaborate production. The talented young company tackles the score with gusto,though special credit should go to Victoria Pym’s delightfully malevolent sorceress. I do have to question some of the more extravagant staging decisions though. For instance, a large suspended cloth obscures the stage when the audience 5/5 SHOW enters, then spectacularly drops to reveal the cast. It’s a nice moment, but The Addams Family (Royal Conservatoire Of Scotland) thereafter the cloth serves no purpose except to give the actors something to Complete with a doom and gloom atmosphere, signature finger snaps, and even contemporary references, ‘The Addams Family’ is that classic trip over. Also, while I did like the WWII family musical that never dies. With a fantastically spooky set and ‘dead on’ sound design and lighting, the show vastly resembles the television aesthetic, Aeneas walked into one and cinematic representations. The only exceptions are a female Lurch and the presence of numerous ghostly relatives from a variety of scene looking quite a lot like Biggles, decades past. The show is performed by students of the MA Musical Theatre Program at the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland, and was an which undermined the drama a bit. exceptionally professional production overall. Stand-out performances came from Andrew Perry as Uncle Fester; Martin Murphy as Gomez Still, the singing is faultless and the Addams and Hannah Howie as Alice Beineke. This is one for the whole family, folks- even Thing. story a classic. The Assembly Hall, until 25 Aug. tw rating 5/5 | [Keara Barnes] theSpace @ Venue 45, until 23 Aug. tw rating 3/5 | [Jon Stapley]

mood, however, and the illusion musical skill. Though Irenie Rose Free Fringe Music Mosaico Flamenco TW MUSIC that the orchestra was joining them looks less comfortable on stage than (National Museum Of Scotland) (Alba Flamenca) remotely by live broadcast was not her older sister, the two are matched Spent all your ticket money? Well, This exciting collaboration between Concerto Without Orchestra convincing. Their jokes and stage with equal talents on a collection of there’s still good music to enjoy jazz, folk and flamenco musicians was manner were wonderfully witty, with instruments including the melodian (Worbey And Farrell) for free, every day in the eclectic an intense labour of love. A recreation musical slapstick and exaggerated and fiddle. The frequent smiles If Franz Liszt had met a daft friend to National Museum of Scotland of the album ‘Tierra’ by Vicente Amigo, gestures; only the break in the fun and visible bond between the two in collaboration with Live Music the album made a lasting impression collaborate with, instead of bumping stopped this from being a 5 star show. adds a real dose of warmth to the into Richard Wagner, these side- Scotland. Today’s performers were on Spanish guitarist Andrew The Assembly Rooms, until 24 Aug. performance. One tune on the tin splitting, clever arrangements for young Latin jazz guitar duo Knox and Robinson, so he called together some tw rating 4/5 | [Louise Rodgers] whistle is wistful enough to leave many-handed pianos could have been Ion. They wasted no time creating skilled musicians with diverse styles me welling up a little, and songs of a relaxed, airy cafe atmosphere in and personalities - this foot stomping the result. Those who remember the Highland Clearances, departed Victor Borge and Gerard Hoffnung’s Elsa Jean McTaggart these vibrant surroundings, not far night is the result. Fiddle player and Miss Irenie Rose relatives and journeys of all kinds are from the legendary Millennium Clock; Heather Kennedy was a school friend musical humour will enjoy this; it’s tinged with bittersweet nostalgia. A A sibling duo from the Isle of Lewis, even toddlers found them irresistible and he met the others on his journey funny and intelligent - particularly lovely respite from the milling festival Elsa Jean McTaggart and Miss Irenie and tried to storm the stage. Their from classical to Spanish guitar. I was the making of cocktails whilst playing crowds outside. Beethoven’s ‘Für Elise’. The inclusion Rose offer a session of melodic folk, music was a mixture of their own taken by the passion of singer and SpaceCabaret @ 54, until 22 Aug. of the performers’ own serious lifted by ethereal harmonies, soulful compositions (including the lively, palmos artist Danielo Olivera and by tw rating 4/5 | [Laura Gavin] composition interrupted the hilarious songwriting and accomplished quirky ‘Mary’, in memory of Tom Ion’s the cheekiness of drummer David granny) and standards such as ‘Isn’t Montes. If I had been able to close my She Lovely?’ for Frazer Knox’s new eyes I could have been in Spain! But fiancée. Accomplished and likeable, close my eyes and miss this? No way, music + musicals in London sorted with a talent for composition, this José! all year round pair’s offerings made for an enjoyable Alba Flamenca, until 24 Aug. working lunch. tw rating 4/5 | [Louise Rodgers] www.ThisWeekLondon.com National Museum of Scotland, until 24 Aug. tw rating 4/5 | [Louise Rodgers] TW TW

TW PAGE 20 | WWW.THREEWEEKS.CO.UK | WEEK THREE CABARET GET THE LATEST NEWS, REVIEWS AND INTERVIEWS IN YOUR INBOX DAILY sign up for the free ThreeWeeks Daily email now at ThreeWeeks.co.uk/signup Chap rhyming on the cabaret Fringe: Mr B

Chap-hop pioneer (or TW: Your show blurb also promises TW: And tell us why you’re down on ‘superstar’, to cite the show advice on “how to be magnanimous modern hip hop. name) Mr B is back at the after a breakup”. Any tips you can MB: I’m not down on all modern hip-hop. share with us now? There is an awful lot of wonderful stuff Fringe. And this time he’s MB: Just assure your erstwhile out there. It just never gets heard on promising “chap-hop, acid sweetheart that the only thing you wish the radio or anything like that anymore. ragtime, drum and brass and to keep will be the plastic surgery. My chagrin is twofold though. On one naughty ballads”. And what hand, there’s the over-hyped nonsense more could a Fringe audience TW: How does a Gentleman Rhymer one does here on the radio, which I desire? “Mr B will educate you fill his days during the Fringe? don’t believe people actually like. They in such matters as love, lust, MB: Shopping for tweed, largely. merely accept it as the norm if they are lazy enough. That and the snootiness how to be magnanimous after TW: Any recommendations for how of the ‘keep-it-real backpack brigade’ a breakup, and why hip hop is other Fringe-going chaps can chill who have an equally narrow view of the rather rubbish these days” says during the Festival frenzy? genre. Apart from that it’s all lovely. the blurb. Curious? We were. MB: See above… and the occasional So we tracked down the chap distillery tour usually does the job. TW: Favourite rhyme? himself to find out more. MB: Probably something by Kunt And TW: You’ve played a number of The Gang. TW: For those who have somehow festivals other than Edinburgh. How never seen your shows, tell us all we does the Fringe differ? TW: Favourite time (that’s my need to know about chap-hop. MB: The Fringe is different from all the favourite rhyme by the way)? MB: Chap-hop is what you might get other festivals. Most British summer MB: Tea time. if Chuck D, Noel Coward and George festivals are simply jumped up village Formby drunkenly decided to form a fêtes, enjoyable as they are, but TW: Favourite rhymer (other than band. Edinburgh is a city transformed into yourself)? a sort of beautiful, colourful medieval MB: There are so many… Melle Mel, TW: You’re also promising some version of Surrey. Ronald Frankau, Dame Edith Sitwell… “acid ragtime, drum and brass and naughty ballads” this year. Do you TW: Can you reveal anything TW: And best tweed for the Fringe? have genre quotas in the show to about the “exclusive new ditties” MB: I would head (as I generally do) ensure you deliver on the sales pitch? you’re promising this year? straight for Walker Slater, if I were you. MB: I have no idea what that last bit MB: I’d rather not reveal too much, ‘Chap-Hop Superstar’ is on at the Voodoo meant, but there will certainly be a suffice to say they are poorly Rooms until 24 Aug. bit of what was mentioned in the first rehearsed. That in itself should provide sentence. entertainment. Anything actually witty within them is just a bonus. TW 5/5 SHOW Divallusion (Christina Bianco and Ian Stroughair) How good can an hour of diva impressions (with more costume changes than Beyoncé) actually be? The answer is: pretty darn good. Christina Bianco’s vocal chords are more than versatile, they’re like elastic, transforming her already formidable voice into the sounds of Barbara Streisand, Shakira and more. She even recites a William McGonagall poem in the Geordie twang of Cheryl Cole. In his flamboyant alter-ego Velma Celli, Ian Stroughair twirls and belts his way through pop and rock classics. A highlight was a memorable homage to Aussie star Sia’s ‘Chandelier’ video (complete with glittering body stocking). The duo’s onstage chemistry keeps the humour bouncing back and forth, and makes their obvious talent shine all the more brightly. Fabulous in every sense of the word. Assembly Checkpoint, until 21 Aug. tw rating 5/5 | [Laura Gavin]

WEEK THREE | WWW.THREEWEEKS.CO.UK | PAGE 21 TW CHILDREN’S SHOWS NEWS & UPDATES VIA TWITTER @ThreeWeeks REVIEW ALERTS VIA TWITTER @TWittique

5/5 SHOWS

The Sagas Of Noggin The Nog (Third Party Productions) > Four of the least gruff Vikings you’ll ever meet bring to life two gentle tales of Noggin The Nog in this delightful, funny hour of children’s theatre. Combining live action, Python-esque animations and endearingly cute and surprisingly emotive puppets, this show walks the line between fun for kids and knowing jokes for adults without a single misstep. The cast effortlessly swap between a multitude of roles, with the wonderfully boo-able Nogbad The Bad really standing out. The script is sharp, mixing jokes, storytelling and song in equal measure, while the combination of puppetry and live action works remarkably well. ‘The Sagas Of Noggin The Nog’ is hilarious, sweet family fun that will entertain adults and children alike. Assembly George Square Gardens, until 25 Aug. tw rating 5/5 | [Andrew Bell]

I Do, Do I (Greg Sinclair) Music like you’ve never heard (or seen) it before! Greg Sinclair’s show puts the kids firmly in charge as he becomes their musical puppet, flitting between instruments and everyday objects to make music. The children conduct him from pre-recorded audio, with the silent anticipation in between soon becoming as big a part of the show as any of the sounds. The show challenges the the lion’s flannel mane, delighting beautifully choreographed movement Ricardo Garcia’s ‘Flamenco For Kids’, way we think about music, how TW REVIEWS the adults in the audience too. While of each puppeteer is delight to behold. a short workshop aimed at younger we listen to it and how we make maybe a little long for its target Although billed as a piece for 5-105 children. It begins with a discussion it. A beautiful, honest, endearing Big Red Bath (Full House audience, this is a lovely introduction year olds, it’s not for the faint-hearted: of what to expect from the coming performance that leaves you with Theatre with Half Moon / to the theatre, and to the magic that there wasn’t a child in the audience hour, then Garcia himself emerges, imagination can bring. that didn’t cry. This is a beautifully put guitar in hand, to introduce the a smug smile on your face. This is Escalator East To Edinburgh) Pleasance Courtyard, until 24 Aug. together production, the narrative children to the music of flamenco. one of the most original pieces, I’ve ‘Big Red Bath’ has a very simple tw rating 4/5 | [Gemma Scott] challenging only because of how Before long, he is joined by a brightly seen this year, a must see for kids concept: two children are having emotionally evocative it is. If you’ve clad dancer, and the pair take the a bath, and things - a dog-shaped and grown-ups alike. Land Of The Dragon - Gwlad y ever fancied losing yourself in Welsh children through a number of different slipper, a rubber duck- come to life Summerhall, until 24 Aug. Ddraig (PuppetSoup) folklore for 45 minutes, this is the moves, which are joined together for around them. There’s lots of singing show for you! a final ‘performance’. The children tw rating 5/5 | [Bethan Highgate-Betts] PuppetSoup, a Welsh group that and dancing and very little dialogue, concentrate very hard, enjoy dressing create spectacular and completely ZOO, until 25 Aug. making it perfectly suited to the up in Spanish attire, and are proud to immersive storytelling experiences, tw rating 4/5 | [Bethan Highgate-Betts] festival’s youngest audiences. The receive their carers’ applause at the have done it again with ‘Land Of The actors play the animals with joy end. A lively experience, that had me Dragon’. Mesmerising puppetry brings Flamenco For Kids (Ricardo and humour, giving a real sense looking up flamenco classes in my to life the tale of the Welsh Dragon Garcia’s Flamenco Flow – Spain) of character to each, but it’s the area shortly afterwards! designer who really makes this show in this fantastically entertaining If you’ve got a child who is interested C, until 25 Aug something special. Every detail is children’s show. Swapping between in music, colour and movement, then tw rating 4/5 | [Caro Moses] perfect, from the toilet seat turtle to Welsh and English narration, the you can’t go wrong with a trip to family theatre in London sorted all year round TW www.ThisWeekLondon.com TW

TW PAGE 22 | WWW.THREEWEEKS.CO.UK | WEEK THREE INFORMATION GET THE LATEST NEWS, REVIEWS AND INTERVIEWS IN YOUR INBOX DAILY sign up for the free ThreeWeeks Daily email now at ThreeWeeks.co.uk/signup

Festival People All about ThreeWeeks LONGEST ESTABLISHED: ThreeWeeks columns, and reporting on key events THREEWEEKS DAILY EDITION: Showcasing at the Fringe: is the longest established magazine in the Festival City. The ThreeWeeks Daily Edition Welsh Dance Strand at the Edinburgh Festival, the world’s lands in the inbox of thousands and biggest cultural event, and has been VIBRANT REVIEW TEAM: This thousands of Fringe fans every day, in discovering and championing new experience is complemented each the run up to and during the Festival. There are many reasons research, investigating the and exciting comedy, cabaret, dance, year by a vibrant young review team It provides all the latest news, performers come to relationship between the musical, theatre and spoken word who take in hundreds of shows interviews, columns and reviews in the Edinburgh Fringe, audience and performer and how those boundaries can be talent every summer since 1996. first hand, sharing their opinions in one place. To sign up for free go to but an important one dissolved”. ThreeWeeks, and helping us spot and ThreeWeeks.co.uk/signup is the opportunity to She continues: “TaikaBox HALF A MILLION READERS: Each champion the best new talent. showcase work in front presents ‘Beyond The Body’, a August half a million festival-goers THREEWEEKS ONLINE: of both audiences multi sensory mix of beautifully rely on the ThreeWeeks free weekly MEDIA-SKILLS PROGRAMME: Since In addition to the weekly magazine crafted choreography and cultural decision magazine, daily email, website and 1996 ThreeWeeks has also run an and daily email, there is ThreeWeeks with stunning visuals and makers from across podcast for a comprehensive guide acclaimed media-skills training Online. All our features and reviews the globe. And so good soundscape. Harnisch Lacey Dance brings ‘SPIN’, an action to all of the festivals that take place in programme each summer, providing appear here, plus you can search is the Festival for such packed mix of contemporary, Edinburgh during August, including formal and on-the-ground arts content by genre and venue. And it’s showcasing, cultural parkour and break dancing. the International, Book, Art and journalism training to hundreds of here you will find the ever popular bodies in numerous And Kitsch And Sync will bring Politics festivals and the awe inspiring talented young writers, giving future ThreeWeeks Podcast for audio countries and regions their unique cabaret style Edinburgh Fringe. arts and media talent guidance, coverage of the Festival. Get online at now assist performers of comedic dance theatre, feedback and unique access to the ThreeWeeks.co.uk featuring electro swing hop and companies to help ALL OVER EDINBURGH: The world’s most exciting festival. An movement styles, audience them get the most out participation, and toe tapping ThreeWeeks weekly magazine is all-new ThreeWeeks media-skills THISWEEK LONDON: of their Edinburgh music all tied together with a available to pick up for free at sites all programme will launch in Spring ThisWeek London is a new sister experience. One new loving bow”. over Edinburgh during August, with 2015. This year we welcome back a media to ThreeWeeks, providing initiate in this domain Coreo Cymru is supporting pick-up points in bars, cafes and box number of alumni from media-skills year round coverage of cultural is the Welsh Dance the featured companies in a offices at all the key festival venues. programmes past to review the events in London, including Strand taking place at number of ways, including on This preview edition is also delivered Festival. daily recommendations from the marketing, PR and promoter Zoo this week, featuring direct to homes all over central ThisWeek team, and the Caro Meets engagement, “allowing artists four dance theatre to develop their practice while Edinburgh. THREEWEEKS WEEKLY EDITION: interviews with some of our favourite companies from Wales. minimising the risk involved” The ThreeWeeks Weekly Edition is performers, producers and directors. It’s organised by Coreo Blade adds. “It’s important that EIGHTEEN YEARS EXPERIENCE: our flagship publication, published ThisWeek London also benefits from Cymru, an organisation Welsh work is seen outside The ThreeWeeks editors have been weekly during August and packed ThreeWeeks’ eighteen years covering set up in 2012 to promote Wales”, she concludes, further covering the Edinburgh Festival for with reviews, interviews and the Edinburgh Festival, tipping Fringe “dance talents and dance explaining the rationale for the over eighteen years, and provide exclusive columns. You can pick up favourites old and new (and brand products” in Wales. Welsh Dance Strand project, their expertise and continued your free copy of ThreeWeeks from new) as they appear in London. Check “giving artists the opportunity passion for the world’s greatest all the key venues at the Edinburgh us out at ThisWeekLondon.com, or to develop their practice, build cultural extravaganza each August, Festival and numerous other places sign up for the weekly bulletin at “Last year we presented the international relationships interviewing performers, directors across the city as well. ThisWeekLondon.com/signup. Dance Dome at the Fringe” and acknowledge the quality says Coreo Cymru’s Carole of their own work in a wider and producers, commissioning guest Blade, “and the Arts Council Of context”. Wales developed the Wales In CREDITS & INFO> Edinburgh Fund, which helped All four productions are playing at support Welsh companies Zoo until 25 Aug. Editors & Publishers: Louise Rogers, Patricia Ann Young, Published by TW Publishing, being presented at the Festival. Chris Cooke and Caro Moses Stephanie Gray, Tim Bano, Vicki Baron. a division of UnLimited Media The Welsh Dance Strand is an www.unlimitedmedia.co.uk extension of that idea to have Commissioning Editor: Caro Moses Commercial Manager: Sam Taylor a stronger presence at an Tel: 0131 516 8842 international festival for Wales. Production & News Editor: Chris Cooke Accounts & Admin Manager: Jason Rust This international exposure is ThreeWeeks is a member of Picture Editor: Kat Gollock Design Support: Edward Stone a key part in developing the the Festival Media Network touring opportunities and Podcast Editor: Tom Bragg Founders: Chris Cooke, Geraint Preston, www.festivalmedianetwork.com professional practice for our Alex Thomson artists”. Sub Editor: Gemma Scott GET IN TOUCH! “We have an electric mix Editorial contact: [email protected] of dance makers and styles Review Team: Andrew Leask, Andrew Advertising contact: [email protected] in the Strand”, Blade says, Bell, Bethan Highgate-Betts, Bruce All ThreeWeeks content is News desk: [email protected] outlining the four productions Blacklaw, Charlotte Taylor, Dave Fargnoli, © UnLimited Publishing 2014. Complaints: [email protected] being presented under the David O’Connor, George Robb, Hannah www.ThreeWeeks.co.uk umbrella this week. “Renowned Printed by Mortons Print Limited www.facebook.com/ThreeWeeks Cutting, James McColl, Jon Stapley, dance artist Jo Fong brings www.twitter.com/ThreeWeeks ‘An Invitation…’ a unique piece Keara Barnes, Laura Gavin, Laura Kidd, Distribution by Door To Door Delivery www.twitter.com/twittique developed through extensive EDINBURGH LONDON TW www.ThreeWeeks.co.uk TW www.ThisWeekLondon.com The Edinburgh Festival sorted | since 1996 Culture in London sorted | all year round

WEEK THREE | WWW.THREEWEEKS.CO.UK | PAGE 23 TW