Juliette Burton is tired. Very tired, after a possible sell out run of her show “Look at Me” at the Edinburgh Fringe. Since our interview with her at Brighton Fringe 2014, she’s been busy making new work. In this interview she discusses “Message”-based comedy and her next steps.
Belfast Boy won a 2014 FringeReview Outstanding Theatre Award at Edinburgh Fringe. Here the writer, Kat Woods and performer, Declan Perring from Purple Penguin Productions talk about bringing this solo theatre piece from page to stage. (You can read our review of Belfast Boy here).
Greg Clarke is Director/Chief Executive of Adelaide Fringe. Adelaide Fringe is an annual open-access arts festival run over four weeks in Adelaide, South Australia during February and March. Unlike a curated festival, the open-access nature of Adelaide Fringe means that anyone with a show, exhibition or cultural event is able to register and be part of Australia’s largest arts event. The result is one of the most diverse arts festivals in the world, renowned for fresh ideas, spontaneity and fun. In this interview Greg Clarke offers a person view of the Fringe and shares a vision for its future.
Butterfly in Shades of Blue is a romantic comedy playing at the Edinburgh Fringe 2014. But what is a romantic comedy? Paul Levy talks to actor Ceri Bostock about playing Vicky in a new play”which follows Stephen and Vicky when they first meet and then as they fall in and out of love. The play is a bittersweet study of how their relationship changes over the years due to differing aspirations.” The play is written by Ed Penny, directed by Allan Wilcox and also stars Iago McGuire.
Broken Dolls (Razbitye Kuklu) is a new play by New York-based Matthew Ackland. In this interview, Paul levy talks to Matthew and actor Ilona Saic about bringing a play about the sex trafficking industry to the stage. Matthew offers insights into the writing process, and Ilona shares her approach to inhabiting the character of Razbitye. Show details here.
Jethro Compton is a theatre maker and a renaissance man. But how does a successful theatre maker balance the roles of artist, director and producer? What will jethro look like in twenty years’ time? I a frank interview about the art AND the “business”, jethro talks of his decision to bring “trilogies” to this year’s Fringe – the return of the acclaimed The Bunker Trilogy, and the new The Capone Trilogy.
(Please note: Our interviewer, Paull Levy, was recovering from a lost voice when this interview was recorded and over-compensated a bit on the microphone, hence the occasional annoying “pop”)
George Orwell’s classic Animal Farm is brought to the stage in an epic production by Georgia’s premiere theatre company – Tumanishvili Film Actors Theatre. In a ground-breaking collaboration between Olivier Award winning Director Guy Masterson and renowned Artistic Director Keti Dolidze, Animal Farm is performed by 25 actors with stunning physicality and power. Director Guy Masterson and Actor Ana Nikolashvili take Paul Levy into the rehearsal room.
Jollyboatare two brothers. One of them, Tommy Croft celebrates packed houses and queues down the street for their Fringe show Jollyboat: Five Stars, F*****ck Yeah!with Paul Levy and lifts the lid on creating comedy and music.
Laurel and Hardy have taken over Philip Hutchinson’s life. Yet he’s in the process of creating a very different new show for 2014. Here he updates Paul Levy on the journey that has taken them across the pond, and around the UK, with Hats Off to Laurel and Hardy.
How do you make death life-affirming? Frank Wurzingertalks about his new show, Goodbye Günther, and shares his journey as a theatremaker from previous Fringes to this one. How do you create solo theatre work? Paul Levy finds out.
FringeReview’s guest blogger, Robert Cohen, gives us plenty of insight into the process of writing and the creative journey that led to his highly acclaimed solo theatre piece, Hi Vis, and the creation of Quint.
What began as a blog, became an acclaimed piece of theatre. In this fascinating talk with Performer/writer Heather Bagnall and director Luke Tudball, Paul levy explores the craft of the solo show and the uniqueness of Single Married Girl.
Daniel Taylor talks to Paul Levy about The Tommy Cooper Show, and the difference between portrayal and impersonation. How does a performer bring a TV legend to the stage, tell the dark story as well a celebrate the much loved icon?
Rhiannon Vivian from the much loved Maydays, an improvised comedy troupe from Brighton, UK, talks about their new show Oh Boy! The Quantum Leap Show, which pays homage to the classic TV sci-fi series, as well as sharing her thoughts on how Maydays keep their improv fresh, and the importance of fun in the whole process.
Paul Levy finally got to meet the famous socks and their artistic partner, Kev F Sutherland. Their new show, Scottish Falsetto Sock Puppet Theatre – And So Am I, forms the basis of this long and wide-ranging interview. A fascinating insight into sock puppetry, the making of comedy, and Kev’s own creative journey.
Dave Waller: Where My Folk To ?is Dave Waller’s journey into Hip Hop and back to his roots. It’s a very personal tale. Here we have the remarkable story of a remarkable journey. Dave Waller discusses his show with Paul Levy.
A couple of years ago, FringeReview gave Theatre Ad Infinitum one of our Outstanding Theatre Awards for Translunar Paradise. Last year, they had an outstanding review for Ballad of the Burning Star. This year, they bring Light, a science fiction work, presenting “a dystopian future inspired by Edward Snowden’s surveillance revelations where implants connect brains to cyberspace and governments secretly infiltrate citizens’ minds.” Paul Levy talks to George Mann about the production and the dream that inspired it.
Lawyer-playwright and self-proclaimed “American middle class domestic extremist out in the Fens”, Rachel Mariner talks to Paul levy about writing Bill Clinton Hercules.
Pitschi, a Kitten with Dreams, comes to the Fringe from the Granger family and Komedia. A much-loved childhood story from Switzerland, this charming tale for younger children has been lifted of the page from Hans Fischer’s original work. Staying true to the original, writer and adapter, Colin Granger and performer, Natasha Granger talks to Paul Levy about bringing the tale to life on the theatre stage.
Randy Ross has brought The Chronic Single’s Guide to the Fringe. This solo show was born from a trip around the world and is drawn from a novel Randy has also written. Here he talks to Paul Levy about creating the show and his role as writer and performer and reflects on “One man’s global search for love.”
Dan Lentell talks to Phillip Aughey about The Exchange. Set in the outback, and based upon a real hotel in Muttaburra, Queensland. The Exchange is a comedy of barflies, BS and beer.
Dan Lentell talks to Eric (just Eric) of Eric’s Tales of the Sea. The former Royal Navy submariner gives his initial impressions of #EdFringe 2014 as well as an insight into how her surfaced into the world of stand up.
Smoking Ban, performed by Kate Goodfellow, was highly recommendedby FringeReview at the Brighton Fringe 2014. In this interview with Paul Levy, Kate talks about rehearsing in front of a mirror, self-directing, self-motivating, and the process of bringing this solo theatre piece to the Edinburgh Fringe
The Wind Road Boys is a musical which is also an anthem and a reminder of the mining communities around Durham county. Here Andrea Flynn and Simon Stewart share their passion for a production which receives standing ovations and ignites the memory and passion of past, present and future generations. How did the idea for the musical come about and how was it realised in stage? Paul Levy finds out as this new musical comes to the Fringe.
Blowers is back at the Fringe and happy to talk about the theatre and comedy of cricket. Henry Blofeld loves to improvise in the commentary box, and here he talks to Paul Levy about telling stories about cricket and their memories of Test Match Special in their always popular Fringe show. Some fascinating parallels are drawn between the world of theatre and the realm of cricket and sport.
Bruce A! Kraemer has penned a play about penning plays. What Do You Mean is a piece about the process of creation and realisation in the theatre. A dark comedy in absurdist style, writer, Bruce, and director, Joan Kane talk to Paul Levy about this new writing from Ego Actus Theatre Company.
Children’s TV Presenter, Sid Sloane is known to a lot of children and their parents! Sid is on a mission to empower the younger ones, as well as entertain them. Here he talks about the theatre performer and the TV presenter. Sid lifts the lid on touring Sid’s Show, and the difference between being live on stage and in front of a camera.
Josh Gardner brings his first show, a new work to the Fringe. Inspired by letters from George, a close relative who fought in the First World War, Josh talks about writing, creating and performing It’s All About George, a must-see show in the Free Fringe.
Richard Fry needs a diversion. After five shows of intense drama, he’s lightening up and doing his “happy” show at the Fringe. Here he chats to Paul Levy about the process of creating Pop Life, some back stage tales from the entertainment industry brought about by a unique encounter with a cat.
Bowjangles cut their musical theatre teeth in street performance. Their now show, On the Box, transfers flawlessly to the Fringe stage and here they share their wisdom with Paul Levy about fusing physical knockabout comedy with the unique comedy of the viola and other stringed weapons…
Gavin Robertson has created another solo show. Here he charts his creative journey and reflects with Paul Levy on the thread of continuity in his highly acclaimed theatre work. His new solo work, Bond!, is another adventure into physical theatre that isn’t afraid to play with philosophy and comedy along the way.
Bite-Size are back at the Pleasance Dome with three more menus of short plays as well as a children’s show with an environmental flavour. Here, Director Nick Brice talks about choosing and directing short play format theatre. The Big Bite-Size Breakfast Show has achieved acclaim over many years, but what makes a good short play?