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Latest items? Unedited? Fringe Report Uncut
Edinburgh Fringe 06 - The People!
People at launches, lunches, parties, in bars, offices, and in the street, August 2006 ...
(for London see London 06 - The People!)
CONTENTS & CONTACT:
Fringe Opening Party - 2000 (0330) Sunday 6 Aug 06
if.comEddies Comedy Awards Lunch - 1300 (1530) Sunday 6 Aug 06
C Venues Press Launch 1 - 1100 (1200) Fri 4 Aug 06
The List Party - Spiegel Garden - 21:00 (05:30) Thur 3 Aug 06
Assembly Press Launch - 2000 (2230) Thur 3 Aug
Gilded Balloon Press Launch - 1700 (1900) Thur 3 Aug 06
Sweet Press Launch - 1230 (1400) Thur 3 Aug 06
The Pleasance Press Launch - 1100 (1230) Thur 3 Aug 06
Underbelly Press Launch, Edinburgh - 1830 (2000) Wed 2 Aug 06
Zoo Launch - 1630 (1730) Wed 2 Aug 06
Bedlam Theatre Launch - 1245 (1345) Wed 2 Aug 06
People Around Edinburgh - August 06
Fringe Report Writing Team
Assembly Rooms Press Office
C Venues Press Office
EdFringe Staff
Gilded Balloon Press Office
Pleasance Press Office
Underbelly Press Office
Big Four London Launch - Wed 21 June 2006
Assembly & Pleasance Programme Launch - Edinburgh - Thur 15 June 2006
Edfringe Roadshow - London - Sat 18 Feb 06
email - editor@fringereport.com
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It's a cool evening - the theme is to dress white. It's the 60th year of the Festival, and onwards to the future.
The air is cool too, with an Edinburgh edge to the temperature. Rain sprinkled today - it's dry tonight, with grey cirrus clouds drifting across a grey-blue sky with pink tinges at the edges. Edinburgh Quay is the end of a canal. There's a multi-storey office and club complex, with a boardwalk and restaurant bar Zizzi - and club Cargo, which is on a couple of floors. There's around 3,000 people, as each of the around 1,800 shows gets a double ticket. It's a party for performers and staff only, the last blast before the public pour into the Fringe.
There's a main covered stage outside, with acts on all night. There's a pavilion building on the left quay for performances; and more upstairs in Cargo. All acts are from the Fringe - so it's a chance for performers to showcase to each other, and any press present.
Lavatories on the quay are portaloos. A bit primitive, but the canal boats parked just outside the quay probably use bucket-and-chuck-it when the water bailiffs aren't looking - so it's a notch up the hygiene ladder. And Cargo has plumbed-in lavatories.
(* outraged canal-dweller Kate Saffin replies here, and shamelessly plugs her show, and her canal-boat friends' show)
Belle of the ball is pretty actress Victoria Johnston. Poor Victoria has bad bruising on her left elbow and leg where she fell saving a box of Irn Bru from catastrophe. Takes a Scot to reverence the national drink so extremely. Victoria is inspired by the all-white theme of the evening to buy nurses uniforms for her and co-star Hayley Rudd to flyer their show Iron Brew (GB Teviot Balcony, 1300). Tonight she's pretty in purple, with a white pashmina.
Here is charming director and producer Christopher Sudworth. Professor Michel Julian. Handsome Pleasance director Anthony Alderson. Pretty Amy Lamé. The three naked men (modestly wrapped in white dressing gowns) of Happy Hour. Playwright Sam Snape. Bedlam press manager, handsome Simon Hodges, delighted he's got one of his acts on the front page of the Scotsman. Erudite and recklessly good-looking ScotsGay editor Martin Walker is here with handsome and charming partner Steve Mathieson. Ace reviewer Tony Challis. Gentlemen photographers Andrew Murphy (www.murphysedinburgh.com) & Stanley Reilly. The Black Sheep aka Ciaran Murphy and Andrew Jones (aka Hugh Jones in Spotlight) are doing Edinburgh, and will be at London's Trafalgar Studios (21 Aug - 2 Sep at 3pm and 7pm) with their show Professor Bumm's Story Machine. Assembly West press officer Andrew Neilson is here with pretty girlfriend Alison Burns and his pretty sister Emma Neilson. Here are Caroline Pearce; PRs Tracey Carson, Paul Sullivan, Kim Morgan. Actor and venue director James Wren. Paul Sinha. Playwright Colman Higgins (A Tourist's Guide to Terrorism, Sweet 3-13 Aug, 19:50 (20:40), www.touristsguidetoterrorism.com).
Edfringe Press Office charming chap Leroy Harris is looking relaxed, along with his colleagues. The Edfringe crew have organised the event. They deserve lots of free drinks and thanks. A party for nearly 4,000 people? They don't bat an eyelid. Now they can cautiously exhale. The party's set for dawn.
John Park - Edinburgh Quay, Cargo Bar, 129 Fountainbridge, Edinburgh EH3 9QG - Sunday 6 Aug 06 - (c) www.fringereport.com
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Lovely Nica Burns, producer, theatre proprietor, queen of comedy awards and the West End's sexiest - and kindest - lady, is losing her voice. But she's able to silence heckling (from the restaurant staff) to state her point of view. And, as they used to say about Westminster Council when Dame Shirley Porter ruled the world, when Nica shouts, Edinburgh jumps.
It's the comedy social highlight of the year, the Edinburgh Comedy Awards Lunch, for comedy press and others, sponsored by the comedy awards that were, till last year, The Perriers, and are, from now till forever, the if.comEddies, courtesy of new awards sponsor Intelligent Finance (IF).
'What a bunch of gorgeous people!' says Nica Burns, tossing aside her pretty black hair tumbling over her face. 'Welcome to the 26th year of the comedy awards, and the first year of IF sponsorship'. A big review was carried out, she says, 'We asked you what you thought. It's been the most brilliant process. I was really touched by the support, advice, and constructive criticism. All comments have been incorporated.'
This year and onwards, 'Many things are the same. The same judging process. Thanks to IF we can develop and expand the awards. You said there should be a new award. There is a new prize - the Panel Prize. We've doubled the money. It is now £8,000 for the main award, £4,000 for the Newcomer, £4,000 for the Panel Prize. The Panel Prize can reflect the madness of Edinburgh. You can put your suggestions in and they will be forwarded to the panel.'
Nica Burns talks about how and why the award and new sponsor came together. 'Why Intelligent Finance? The word 'intelligent' is attractive. IF is Scottish. It's a young brand. I loved the product. Everyone needs a mortgage.' Nica Burns says that last year she bought 4 theatres for £11.5 million and took out a mortgage of over £5 million. She's happy, she says, if IF can get her a better rate. 'They fell in love with our child (the awards). They are really committed to all we're doing.'
'This is the 60th anniversary of the Festival. The Scottish papers coined the word Fringe in 1948. Edinburgh has been bloody good to comedy. To me (the new sponsorship) is a mark of rooting it in Edinburgh.
'I believe in the awards for 3 reasons. First - we really do spotlight comedy. Comedy doesn't get status in newspapers. Second - we really do develop careers. Third - it sells tickets.
'We want to carry on selling tickets for comedy. We have a new grassroots programme. I look forward to a bumper year.'
Nica Burns ends by proposing a toast 'To the Edinburgh Festival Fringe. And to comedy.'
Nica's speech is interrupted by a staff call behind her among the restaurant staff. Then by atmospheric piped music starting. As she has (when needed) the authority of a particularly cross sergeant-major on a parade ground, the interruptions strangle at birth.
Guests include:
Daniel Bee, the charming face of Avalon. Jennifer Graham, Gilded Balloon festival organiser. Karen Rosie, BBC producer of 28 Acts In 28 Minutes for BBC3 TV; BBC StandUp Show forf BBC2; Live Floor Show for BBC2; Comedy Nation for BBC2. Alex Rochford, Comedy Store. Rob Sandy, RBM. Ian Shuttleworth, Financial Times. Julian Hall, Independent. Claire Walker, Claire Walker PR. Mel Brown, Impressive PR. Matt Harvey (Phil McIntyre Promotions). Hannah Oldman, Old Man Management. Charlotte, Comedy Store. Don Ward, Comedy Store. Richard Bucknall, Richard Bucknall Management (RBM). José Ferran, business manager and mainstay of The Pleasance, who leaves The Pleasance this year. Gorgeous Shelagh Bourke, PR. Handsome Fringe Director Paul Gudgin. Pretty Hannah Chambers, with lovely black curly hair and stunning (very) low-cut red dress. Ebullient and lovely Mel Brown, Impressive PR. Here is demure and blissfully pretty Susan Turnbull, in lovely black and white dress, black choker, and auburn hair; Susan is at AngelEye TV where she makes radio programmes for Channel 4, and she's the power behind legendary arts website ComedyLounge; Susan does The Mighty Boosh's website and is about to run their fan club (she is also a fan of Aha, but doesn't publicise it). Sexy Kerry Teakle, head of press at Assembly. Sexy too is Fraser Smith, head of press at Gilded Balloon, looking astonishingly rugged today; pretty Ellie McDonald is press office manager - she and Fraser are never far apart. Handsome chap Nick Barber is the ace Independent reviewer often found in fabulous Panama hat at fringe theatres and cinemas in London, where he patrols the fringe beat for the Indie; today Nick's hatless, but charming as ever. Graceful Tracey Carson, comedy PR, looks gorgeous with long dark hair, sensationally sexy formal dress, and sweet smile. Handsome David Burns, looks terrific with sexily re-styled hair in a new hyper-arty image - ace. Joss, Cosmic Comedy. Gorgeous Madelaine Bennett looks fabulous in pretty, plunging (and it's a deep plunge) black dress and long elegant black hair. Comedy key man, lovely Rohan Acharya. Rohan is working for both the BBC and Granada at the moment. He's moving from the Beeb to Granada shortly to produce 10 episodes of a show for new and emerging talent for ITV2, due to air around November 2006. It couldn't be happening to a nicer or better person. Ro's dedication to people, to encouraging new talent, and to comedy, over his years in the business has been, and continues to be, phenomenal. Here is adorable Michelle Farr, BBC TV, looking lovely. Rugged with 5 0'clock shadow (at 1 0'clock), sexy PR Paul Sullivan. Hunky NewsRevue musical director and their astonishingly gifted pianist, Royal Academy of Music harpsichord graduate Pete Smith. Lovely if.comEddies lunch organiser Rose Parkinson, NiMax Theatres. Pretty Alison Martin, head of press at The Pleasance. Suavely sexy Charlie Wood, joint director, The Underbelly. Adorable Penny Sims, head of press, Underbelly. Stylish journalist Veronica Lee. Pretty Karen Koren, Gilded Balloon director, looks sensational. Comedy doyenne, AmusedMoose, and flame-haired temptress Hils Jago. Charming Chortle editor Steve Bennett. Rugged comedy boss Nigel Klarfeld. Delightful and definitive comedy journalist Bruce Dessau. Ace PR and Underbelly press man Owen O'Leary. Handsome Pleasance director Anthony Alderson. Here is pretty Sophie Chapman, Avalon. Comedy producer and Fiat driver, charming James Seabright. Top tech Becky, ex Canal Café, looking gorgeous, now works at if.comEddies. Lovely blonde bombshell Suzanne Radford, producer, used to organise this lunch. Comedy key man Brett Vincent is at Underbelly. Lovely Louise Page is Edfringe head of press; handsome Leroy Harris is press and marketing manager. Gorgeous Victoria Lloyd is at BBC R4 and is a comedy judge. She looks like an angel in sensational (and innocent-looking) white dress.
Fringe Report does a petite faux pas at the lunch, accidentally (come on, you believe that) smashing a glass with a (water) decanter. Shards of glass shower the food of beautiful Victoria Lloyd and handsome Pete Smith, also infecting the central supply of vegetables for the table. Quel domage! Ever the woman to be next to in an emergency, Hils Jago organises disaster relief - and you thought she just ran a comedy empire. The chef cooks new food at express speed. No-one eats glass. Pete Smith is a gent, Victoria Lloyd the very definition of a lady: but then, you knew that already.
John Park - Point Hotel, Bread Street - Sunday 6 August 06 - (c) www.fringereport.com - thanks for additional reporting to Rohan Acharya, Hils Jago, Susan Turnbull, Pete Smith
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C Venues follows the pattern of the other big venues in expanding press launches beyond the humanly-possible-to-absorb. But C gets it right.
C has not one, but three, launches in one day - simply ridiculous. Launch 1 is 1100-1200, Launch 2 at 2000-2100, Launch 3 at 2300-0000. Excessive? Vainglorious? Conceited?
Perhaps. But if the later launches are as good as Launch 1, they are almost justified. The argument of the big venues for over-long launches may be that they have so many shows, that picking an hour's worth doesn't let them show their range. The counter-argument is that writers are busy, and an hour is easily long enough for a venue to make its point.
C seems to be doing a compromise - 3 hours total launch in 3 bite-size sessions, scattered around the day and night. That is fair on small venues, by not hogging large chunks of time at one. It's fair on writers, leaving them time to write up what they see and fit in other events. It allows them the choice of picking a single complete slice of the venue's showcase and missing the rest. It meets the venue's beef of wanting to show a spread of shows. It's still too long, and we only attend and report here one of the launches, but it shows consideration all round.
Crucially, C Launch 1 is by far the best of any of the others we report on this page. The quality of some of the shows, and the quality of the event itself, are outstanding. All credit for this careful selection and timing goes to the staff of the event, including C head of press Laura Davis and C director Hartley Kemp.
Acts at the launch are: Chotto Ookii's And Even My Goldfish has 3 mime and noise-making actors (2M, 1F) using the domestic setting of a chair and rug, and contortions, to portray a man's reactions to two threatening characters. Ku - a man and woman dance to a sound track in bare feet. The man has black trousers and bare top; the woman wears a black top and trousers with her left leg bared. The dance is slow, intimate and formal, their bodies entwining sensually.
A Hint Of Lime's Killing Time has two actors (1M, 1F) as a couple on a sofa discussing their dark secrets. More intrigue evolves, involving prison and murder. Producer/director is Jacqui Garbett; writer - Richard Stockwell; composer of original music - Doug Buist. George Calil plays Rick; Claudia Christian plays Jane. Website www.hint-of-lime.com
Fantastic Mr Fox is a charming children's drama extract from 8 actors (3M, 5F). Poor Mr Fox has just had his tail shot off, to the dismay of Mrs Fox and their two daughters. 3 farmers try to dig the foxes out of their lair, but the foxes dig deeper. A badger narrates. There's a good story; superb, imaginative costumes (hilariously, the well-educated fox girls wear fox tops and pleated school skirts); and fine acting. It would be great if all, most, or some adult plays were of this quality. This may be why children prefer children's plays.
The Duels has four actors (2F, 2M) in Regency costumes. Daniel Defoe and a rival male author imagine tales of female pirates which the two women pirate characters act out. The women wrestle, and fight each other with cutlasses. It's cleverly written, blissfully acted and choreographed, with much understated humour, and no slapstick. It's the highlight of the launch.
Out Of The Blue. Twelve male a cappella singers dressed in blue t-shirts, blue jeans, trainers, sing and vocally orchestrate Stevie Wonder's song Superstition. They blend it into the BeeGees' Stayin' Alive, and back again - matching the blend with a gently humorous dance routine. It's outstanding, and concludes a consistently strong event.
C Launch 1 is hosted by pretty Sarah-Louise Young, and man-in-glasses Sam Fletcher, both of whom appear in C shows. Actress and cabaret performer Sarah-Louise Young is in Confessions Of A Paralysed Porn Star (C central (cabaret bar) 4-28 Aug (not 14, 21) at 20:40 (0hr55)). Sorry, we have no details for Sam's show. Launch 1 runs exactly 50 minutes, with nothing going on too long. Prompt start, no over-run, excellent quality. The best of all the launches this week.
According to C Venues, it is staging 'over 180 events in more than 12 performance spaces from 50 to 200 seats' at Ed 06. If C director Hartley Kemp can be persuaded to reduce all his launches into one single session of 60 minutes from 2007 - to this outstanding quality - he'll set the perfect example to his rival venues that it can be done - and done superbly.
John Park - C Venues, Chambers Street - Friday 4 August 06 - (c) www.fringereport.com
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Edinburgh and Glasgow's superb all-year-round magazine The List has a sensational party in Spiegel Garden - part of Edinburgh's pretty George Square Gardens housing two Spiegeltents.
There are perhaps 500 guests, in tents and at tables - it's a soft Edinburgh summer night. The Famous Speigeltent (www.spiegeltent.net) is hosting the Edinburgh Jazz Festival till the weekend, when it switches to the Fringe. The other Spiegeltent includes shows from the Fringe tonight. The Famous Spiegeltent's charming doorman tonight is Bernard Curry, handsome in Victorian circus-barker's suit and bowler hat. He explains how the tents were first built in the 1900s to house circus and other shows, and are now spread throughout the world, including New York. Pretty Lana De Jager, who is originally from South Africa, is publicist for Spiegeltent; she greets guests at the Garden's entrance.
The List is (according to The List) Scotland’s best selling entertainment, events and lifestyle magazine. It covers film, music, theatre, comedy, clubs, art, sport, books, gay life, travel, shopping, food, drink and more in Glasgow and Edinburgh. It started in 1985, and prints between 18,000 and 25,000 copies per issue. Readership is 58,670 regularly, peaking to 112,280 of, according to The List, 'young, socially active Scots'.
Many of them are here tonight. In the early stages of the party, the social activity is drinking - things might change later.
John Park - Spiegel Garden, George Square Gardens - Thursday 3 August 06 - (c) www.fringereport.com
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Debonair and recklessly good-looking William Burdett-Coutts is director of Assembly, Edinburgh and Riverside Studios, London. He's a man who thinks big, and his vision has seen Assembly grow to such an enormous scale that it's now the Edinburgh Festival in everything but name. Tonight, for the second year, he takes over the old Scottish Parliament debating hall for a showcase of Assembly 2006.
Tonight's event doesn't work as a press launch - it's far too long and clashes with the tail-end of Gilded Balloon's press launch, two other launches including The Stand, and The List's epic party with SpiegelTent. But Assembly is so big now, that - frankly - it doesn't need press (or the other venues). Its reputation is so well-established, its queues so enormous, its ticket sales so astronomical, that it is review-proof, and has no need for publicity. Tonight's extravaganza - there are over 1,000 in the audience, the venue is packed - makes perfect sense as a public event. Tickets are sold, and it provides a public showcase for a public audience, generating a strong revenue stream, and giving excellent potential for word of mouth to an Edinburgh audience.
Unfortunately, writers aiming to do their job cannot spend 2 hours 30 minutes of peak night-time at one venue in the week dedicated specifically for press launches - particularly when it rides over the events of other venues.
If Assembly does consider the idea of a specifically press launch in future, then 60 minutes, not clashing with anything else, would be ideal. Press launches allow a venue director to brief writers on what is special about the particular year, and to show half a dozen acts representing the material - all in an hour. Writers can then go on to other events and report the whole of the Fringe. It's perfectly reasonable for Assembly not to bother. Assembly's gifted director and team have achieved epic results over the long years of its rise. Like Rome, it has achieved Empire status, with William Burdett-Coutts as a handsome Caesar.
Acts at the event, compered by comedians Adam Hills & Jason Byrne, are: Jim Henson's Puppet Improv. End Of The Rainbow, with Caroline O'Connor as Judy Garland. It focuses on the decline of the famous American singer. In this extract (with 2 male characters) she takes drugs, drinks - to the despair of one of the characters - and sings Come Rain Or Come Shine. MyoSung - Streetdance. Three Mo' Tenors are 6 men - 3 in evening dress and tails, 3 with white shirts. They deliver stunning classic close-harmony with fabulous voices. Their reportoire tonight includes classical and jazz. Maria Bamford - Plan B. Tango Fire. Spymonkey - Cooped. The Spaghetti Western Orchestra. Songbird - A Tribute To Eva Cassidy. The Kransky Sisters - We Don't Have Husbands. Jump - Martial Arts Comedy. Soweto Gospel Choir.
Tonight's Credits: Artistic Director - William Burdett-Coutts. General Manager - Edwina Lunn. Producer - Rebecca Austin. Technical Director - Mark Burlace. Head of Sound - Chris Ekers. Head of Lighting - Georgie Hill. Venue Production Manager - Ruari Cormack. Websites www.assemblyrooms.com and www.myspace.com/assemblytheatre. Assembly's lovely head of press is Kerry Teakle.
John Park - Assembly - Thursday 3 August 06 - (c) www.fringereport.com
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There's a great drinks party for the first hour of the event, always the most fun of the press launch week. It's hosted by pretty Karen Koren, director of Gilded Balloon (GB), who makes a short speech from a podium that's worryingly like the one used by aristocrats at the guillotine. Karen as Marie Antoinette, and the press as tricoteuses? Now there's a play. Karen's a generously-built gal - by any objective criteria, the hostess with the mostest, and ravishingly beautiful. Tonight she's stunning in black skirt to the knee, pink high heels (the minx!), lovely pink jacket, fabulous blonde hair, and lots of postbox-red lipstick.
Amy Lamé comperes the acts appearing in the GB Debating Hall starting 18:30: Tim Minchin - So Rock: a man mimes instruments. Carol Tobin is a singer with long hair and white dress, accompanied by a man playing guitar. She sings 'Time Flies When You're Pleasing Yourself' about masturbating. Tonight's audience is around 300. Alun Cochrane reflects on holding up his microphone and assymmetrical arm development. His voice is quiet, laconic, masculine; his material delightfully funny. Gamarjobat are two men in light suits, sun glasses, with pink Mohican haircuts and mustard-coloured suits. They mime a heavy suitcase, cutting off hands, erections, extending fingers, and use props from the suitcase. The description may sound flat, the act is original, unusual, endearing, and very funny. Geraldine Quinn has a mop of orange hair, jacket, trousers, acoustic guitar. She sings 'Something About The Way You Look Tonight / My Mannish Girl' in a loud, coarse voice, with steely guitar accompaniment. James Campbell's Onomatopoeia Society II has 4 actors (2M, 2F). A man with a moustache wrapped across his face talks with another man - they are entomologists, doctors, and discuss joinery. One woman is impatient, the other is dressed as a cat or squirrel which is increasingly anxious. It's hard to hear, and dull. Reggie Watts is a plump man with long hair, yellow t-shirt and blue jeans. He makes sounds with his mouth into an electronic device that stores and repeats them. He uses this to build up complex layers of sound - including vocal simulation of tap-dancing - and finally a complete song. It's more interesting than words may suggest. Women With Standards are four female singers, with a 3-man backing group on piano, double bass, drums. They wear stylish and glamorous formal dresses and suits and sing fabulously in close-harmony - light jazz with a big jazz sound - 'I'm Singing The Blues In The Night'. Maeve Higgins does stand-up. She says she's Irish and her heroine is Beyoncé; she reflects on God's way of making Irish girls. Happy Hour are 3 men naked under dressing gowns; two are tall with dark and blond hair, one small with dark hair and glasses. They expose themselves to each other and a blindfolded woman from the audience, but never to the audience, in a clever and funny dance routine. Stand-up Charlie Pickering delivers quiet humour about writing his biography, quoting extensively from that of BB King. Rain Prior in pretty black and white dress sings, forcefully, Everyday I Have The Blues. Finale is Miss Kimba's Speakeasy Stomp. The event ends 20:00.
The Debating Hall is a swelteringly-hot room. The Gilded Balloon, almost uniquely among the venues, gets the act lengths right for a press launch - they're generally 2-4 minutes each. Amy Lamé's expert and dignified compering keeps them shifting. But 60 minutes works for a press launch. Tonight's 90 minutes of performance is simply too long, and 13 acts is too many. Finishing at 8pm, it clashes directly with the Assembly launch a fast 20-minute walk away.
Credits: Gilded Balloon technical and production staff. Gilded Balloon's charming head of press is
Fraser Smith. Ellie McDonald is press office manager. Jennifer Graham is festival organiser.
John Park - Gilded Balloon Teviot, Bristo Square - Thursday 3 August 06 - (c) www.fringereport.com
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Sweet director Julian Caddy opens the event with a speech. Acts at the launch: Compere, comedian Glen Foster. The Rise and Fall of Deon Vonniget. Creena Defoouie includes 3 actors (2F, 1M). A woman with glasses and orange hair - Smelly Kelly - interacts with a woman in dominatrix-style black clothes - Creena Defoouie, in an apparent satire of counselling methods. A man in military jacket does a scene with Creena Defoouie. Routines involved stylised dance moves to sound tracks. Looks fun.
Who U Callin A Pig? by Fatima Bajwa tackles the contradiction that it's all right for black men to single out and racially harrass white and Asian women, calling them 'cunt, bitch, whore' - in song, on the street, on the bus. But if a white or Asian woman - or anyone else - calls a black man a nigger, he becomes a victim. And guess who gets arrested? That's the theme of the segment shown today, with stunning actress Maria Cassidy (alternating with Michelle Forde) playing the police officer posing difficult questions. It's likely to be too strong for the prevailing ethos of much (but not all) of fringe theatre. But trainee-lawyer Fatima Bajwa is not afraid to speak the truth - and that can be uncomfortable. Who U Callin A Pig? 3-13 Aug, 20:20 (21:20), Sweet Cabaret.
Police Emergency Performance has 3 performers (2F, 1M). A man narrates incidents from an Australian police emergency switchboard room. A woman acts as telephone operator. A woman blows an atmospheric trumpet sound-track. A screen repeats a washed-out black and white film mainly of police marching. Some of the phone calls are from psychiatric patients. Initially interesting, but after a while it becomes very repetitious and dull. Some seeing this may never want to hear a trumpet again. Bhartham is dance by a woman in an orange and green dress wearing jewellery, red dance shoes, head-dress, ankle cymbals. She dances formally, elegantly to a sung, sitar and percussion backing track. Her moves and expressions suggest the telling of a story, perhaps to words on the soundtrack.
The launch ends 30 minutes late at 14:30. Sweet Box Office staff include: Sally Macdonald. Sweet staff include: Lucy Jackson (who is also producer of improvisation troupe Improverts). Press & marketing manager is Kate Day.
John Park - Edinburgh College of Art - Thursday 3 August 06 - (c) www.fringereport.com
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Mark Watson comperes the launch, which starts at 11:30 and overruns to 12:50, biting into the time allotted in the Official Fringe's Clash Diary to the Sweet Press Launch. His stage character has a Welsh accent and nervous delivery, it's an endearing creation, which works well in the difficult task of keeping people used to being up at night happy in the morning. Anthony Alderson opens the launch. It is his first season as director of The Pleasance, with the retirement of founder Christopher Richardson in 2005. Anthony Alderson, a very handsome man with craggy, chiselled classical features - a John Buchan hero in the flesh - wears a light grey suit, with silk scarf in the top pocket, and white open-necked shirt. His speech is elegant, fact-based, short, and he reads it (which keeps it to time) - four aspects of speech-making that could discreetly be recommended by tactful press-officers to their directors for all time.
Anthony Alderson commends his predecessor Christopher Richardson - quite like Brutus's speech, but without the caveats and messy knife-work. Christopher Richardson, he says, 'donated everything of The Pleasance to a charity ten years ago', thus ensuring its continuance. 'A huge thank-you to Christopher' he says, before encouraging staff not to be rude to the great man 'when he arrives in Edinburgh, led by his dog'. For those who don't know Mr R, he is a commanding figure, always with Panama hat and (bare-headed) dog. As an ex-schoolmaster (of Anthony A), Christopher Richardson would certainly approve of the new director's very intellectual and classically-top-noted speech.
Acts at the launch are: Los Gemelos Lombard, two male dancers in 3/4 length plum trousers, white t-shirts, sunglasses, and dark curly hair, leather belts with chains, one man with black jacket, the other with blue. They dance to a precision music track in various routines, take off their jackets, put on tap shoes, and tap; tap may appeal to many, to others not. Rob Spence is a mime artist. He does The Lead Balloon - a routine with a heavy red balloon - to sound track. He's in white t-shirt and grey trousers, and says he's Australian. He does some stand-up comedy intercut with mime episodes, including a drunk disco-dancing routine with synchronised sound effects.
Gods Pottery walks away with the launch. Gideon Lamb and Jeremiah Smallchild are two Christians from New York reaching out to unconverted and converted alike. They sing the magnificently crass 'A Brand New Start With Christ' to reach out to Jews and Muslims. Gideon (Krister Johnson) wears an orange and white shirt, pudding-bowl blond hair, sings and plays acoustic guitar. Jeremiah (Wilson Hall) has right-parted clean dark hair, grey cardigan top with red piping, and sings. Both sit in chairs, talk, break into song, and deliver big smiles. The show's manager and producer is Olivia Wingate, PR is Claire Walker. Pleasance Beside 16:00 (17:00). Website www.godspottery.com. It is a fabulous, grossly-insensitive satire of happy-clappy Christians, beautifully written. Wonderful.
Past Half Remembered has a twee armchair and cushion, plus table and samovar. 6 actors (3M, 3F) deliver a sentimental slapstick comedy of the wooing of a woman and family fussing over and interrogation of her suitor. Drags after a while, and that's just a 10 minute fragment. Dwight Slade, in faded blue jeans and slightly mauve loose jacket, with red t-shirt, collar-length light-brown hair - looking overall a bit like John Bon Jovi - apologises for being American and delivers stand-up about topics including staring at people, hands-free headsets, hand-guns, and stealing a trunk, in a confident, hard-edged voice.
It's 12:20, 50 minutes into the launch, and a lot of people leave. Star Trip is black-light theatre (special effects using blacked-out stage and assistants) of two men floating in space. They soar up above the stage, play with an apparently-heavy ball, ascend and descend, with lit helmets and white space suits. It's clever and imaginative.
It's 12:30 and the launch is now running over time. The Same ... But Different is two fragments from a play with four actors (2F, 2M) playing two couples. A strange-looking man with glasses, long hair, tie, white shirt walks round a woman with long hair, and short black skirt who he has tied to a chair; he's spiked her drink - and his own. In the second fragment, Tom and Lizzie discuss and argue the consequences (at length) of Tom saying that he doesn't love Liz any more. The first episode seems possibly intriguing; the second very predicable and dull. Overall the whole play, from these scenes, might be interesting - or perhaps not. Chanbara is a sword and drum show from a Japanese company. A man plays a floor-mounted drum. There is a sound track of, initially, water. Four male dancers do an energetic Samurai sword routine. Four women enter and perform percussion on small drums. One for fans of the genre.
Head of press at The Pleasance is lovely Alison Martin. The Pleasance 2006 has over 180 shows in 20 venues, of which 54 show are theatre, and 115 comedy (source - Pleasance). The launch ends at 12:50.
John Park - Pleasance Dome - Thursday 3 August 06 - (c) www.fringereport.com
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Reginald D Hunter announces acts taking place outside the venue which include: OnkeOse by Siyaya Arts. The main launch inside the venue is compered by Stewart Lee. The acts are: Tossers - 6 men in a café juggle apples and oranges (cast 6M, 1F). Underbelly joint directors Charlie Wood and Ed Bartlam deliver the night's best act, doing a song-and-dance routine dressed in red fetish costumes as respectively Butch and Topping. The real Topping & Butch in black fetish costumes sing 'Are You There, Cherie Blair?'. Tapeire by James Devine - man tap-dances at speed (and at length) - impressive, but some may wonder why. One Man Star Wars - Charles Ross enacts Star Wars, including characters, music, sound effects. Gary Le Strange - third year of Waen Shepherd's rock-star character, now evolved to no make-up, pinstripe suit - sings Secret Wolf from Gary's new album Beef Scarecrow. The Irish Curse - 5 Irish men in America join encounter-group run by priest for chaps with small penises. Greedy - two women, two men, comedy: the men have a dance battle to tracks including Eminem's Slim Shady and Spandau Ballet. Jim Jeffries, comic discusses misunderstanding in gay wc encounter, losing girlfriend, anal sex, tit-wanks from small-breasted women. Into The Hoods by Zoo Nation - lively song-and-dance musical - dance sequence to sound-track from 14 people (8M, 6F) in white trainers, white t-shirts, and red tracksuit bottoms. The launch lasts too long at 90 minutes, with too many acts going on for too long - and a few people begin to leave. The venue is Underbelly's new Udderbelly in Bristo Square - an upturned purple cow tent. It seats 322 on three sides of the stage. The mural round the venue is by artist Ross MacGregor.
John Park - Udderbelly, Bristo Square - Wednesday 2 August 06 - (c) www.fringereport.com
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Acts at the launch are: Vocation of a Whore - Norwegian actress delivers monologue about her character's vocation as a whore. Her madame 'taught me how to respect cock'. Land of Enchantment - man recalls SM encounter where woman hammers nail into erect penis, meditation, California, shamans, hook-hanging workshops. Carbon Fever - Three men react to global catastrophe. They discuss attitudes to survival, Pringles, jelly babies - comedy about existence. How to Explain the History of Communism to Mental Patients - patients in 1953 Soviet-era asylum just before death of Stalin, act out Communist theory and history: one man represents 'The moderately mentally debilitated patients'; another recalls Molotov and Stalin discussing the loss of Crimea and Ukraine in the Second World War. Neil Edmond - endearingly po-faced UK comic satires survey pollsters - 'I like meeting people and counting things' - wry and funny. Compered by Paul Nathan who delivers some expert close-up magic. Zoo's shows include Stephen Daltry's Ludwig's Van. Venue staff include: James Mackenzie - venue manager. Matt Beer - press & marketing manager.
John Park - Zoo, Southside, Nicolson Street - Wednesday 2 August 06 - (c) www.fringereport.com
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Acts at the launch are: Umbilical Project Uncut - one of two versions of the same play (the other is Umbilical Project Cut at The Pleasance) by Lucy Kirkwood - four men and two women at a dinner party discuss middle-class angst. Kid Simple: A Radio Play In The Flesh - six actors (2F, 4M) enact radio play with live sound effects by Foley artist. Haozkla, two-thirds-life-size puppets each operated by 1 or 2 actors: the puppets are (bad) actors in a play about commemorating a living deity, and include 4 male puppets, one female, and one dog - beguiling, gently funny, and intriguing. The Improverts, a long-standing Fringe improvisation group led by Jamie Anderson, do two routines - speaking and miming each other's voices, and Should Have Said: changing what they've just said; today's line-up are a couple of handsome chaps - Jamie Anderson and Peter Cameron - and pretty actress Sam Carter. Catchy!, a musical about chirpy Cockney sparrers in the Great Plague (if the extract is representative) - a cast of 4F and 3M do bossa nova song-and-dance number 'There's A Cross On My Lover's Door' - this extract feels dire, but the whole show could perhaps be so bad that it's good. Bedlam staff include: Charlotte Jarvis - venue manager; Simon Hodges - press & publicity. www.bedlamfringe.co.uk
John Park - Bedlam Theatre - Wednesday 2 August 06 - (c) www.fringereport.com
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(6/8) Pretty Ava Vidal looks lovely walking through Edinburgh with her two charming children. She's here for her new one-woman show Responsible (Pleasance Courtyard 22:50 (1:00)). Waen Shepherd aka Gary Le Strange and lovely Kate Darby aka Mrs Waen Shepherd stroll through Ed after Gary's show Beef Scarecrow (Underbelly, 18:45 (0:55)), the title of Gary's new CD. Here's comedian and actor Matt Kirshen (www.mattkirshen.com) (Have You Seen This Boy?, Pleasance Courtyard, 21:30 (1:00)). Actor and director handsome Steve Keyworth. Fabulous actor and cheeky chappie (gets away with no end of scrapes, that lad) Gareth Kane.
(4/8) Stunning beauty Victoria Johnston is in Iron Brew (Gilded Balloon Teviot Balcony
13:00 (13:45) - website www.roarfilms.com). Victoria gets a day off from the show on Saturday 5 August to catch the train to her home city of Glasgow (the posh part) and be chief bridesmaid at the wedding of her very best girlfriend. Here is pretty actress and producer Jacqui Garbett, CEO of Hint Of Lime Productions (www.hint-of-lime.com). Here are the lads from Broadway Baby (www.broadwaybaby.com) - Publisher Pete Shaw, camera operator Tony Samuels, reviewer Alan Chorley.
(3/8) Here is Scotland's most beautiful woman Ellie McDonald, GB press office manager. Comedian Aaron Barschak. Comedy performer and ex-Giant Pineapple Boy, handsome Anil Desai. Lovely Jennifer Graham, GB festival organiser. Gorgeous femme fatale and Brighton belle Nicola Haydn co-directs Brighton's legendary Marlborough Theatre and is managing Roman Eagle Lodge in Edinburgh. Macho actor Dan March, producer Phil Lunn.
Paul Provenza is a hardline political stand-up, comedy producer and director, film director, and completely lovely man. He's Best Director (Film) Fringe Report Awards 2006 (for Aristocrats, which since became the US top-selling DVD). Paul couldn't come to the FR Awards ceremony in London due to US gigs. So Kieran Butler, Anil Desai and John Park presented Paul Provenza with a temporary award certificate - a Highland Cow postcard from Edinburgh in a classy paper bag from the newsagent - at the Gilded Balloon Teviot Debating Hall lobby on Thursday 3 August 06. Paul Provenza is hosting Talk Of The Fest (White Belly, 23:15 (1 hr)). We will present his main award next time Paul is in London, hopefully at the end of August 06.
Here is recklessly good-looking PR guru Dan Pursey, CEO of Mobius Industries Ltd. Dan and friend and business partner Will Lewis used to run Mobius together. Recently and amicably they parted in business, with Will returning to a massive salary in the City. So Dan now ploughs his lonely furrow alone. But don't feel sorry for the lad: he's outrageously handsome; his lover is stunningly gorgeous comedian Laura Solon who won the last-ever Perrier (2005); his new team of 6 at enlarged Mobius is now honed to conquer the world, and he and Will who've been friends since age 10 (sharing no doubt all kinds of coming-of-age rituals too murky to mention in a family publication) remain the best of friends. On the other hand, Will is probably earning £100k basic with his own private jet. Life has its ways of balancing things.
Lovely actress Adele Cameron (Love Labours Won, Gilded Balloon Teviot Debating Hall 15:00). Andy Williamson, director of 2006's first Edinburgh Food Festival (www.edinburghfoodfestival.co.uk), run by Flat Five Records and The Pleasance; their poet-in-residence is Leon Conrad. Adorable and gorgeous fair-haired Claire Walker, PR. Hollywood lawyer, tall and handsome Michael R Blaha is joint producer - with Nigel Miles-Thomas - for Fringe Management LLC (This Is Not About The Simpsons (American Voyeurs), and The Heretic). Debonair chap Brett Goldstein with adorable co-star Caroline Steinbeis (Love Remains Pleasance Dome 16:20). Anthony 'Lou' Macari aka Clint Westwood (www.clintwestwood.com). Writer Sam Spade. Pretty actress Hayley Rudd. Comedian Andrew J Lederer. Stunningly gorgeous producer Suzanne Radford. Beautiful PR Sheridan Humphreys. Tall and handsome actor Adrian Poynton. Pretty actress Isabel Fay (Magic Steve's Disappearing Act, Holyrood Tavern) says 'I've broken my Wayne Rooney bone' - actually it's her little left toe. Lovely Isabel has her birthday in the Fringe on 4 August, sharing it with Michael Topping (Topping And Butch), though they are different ages. Handsome Tom Hopgood, TV developer, will smash (says proud fiancé Isabel Fay) the EdFringe producers' record for seeing the biggest number of shows in 3 weeks - 143 of them. Tom keeps his hand resting lightly on Isabel's crutch (she needs it for her poor little toe).
Gorgeous PR Shelagh Bourke, with bright red lipstick and sunshine smile. Rakishly good-looking actor Gareth Kane. Pretty Mel Brown, PR. Relaxed rugged and charming comedy boss Nigel Klarfeld. Gorgeous PR Kim Morgan, with a seductive gap in her front teeth. Handsome chap Paul Sullivan, PR. Lovely journalist Veronica Lee. Good-looking PR David Burns. Handsome comedy king Rohan Acharya, running 2006 BBC StandUp Live. Kieran Butler (www.kieranbutler.com), doing Whimsical Tricycle (www.whimsicaltricycle.com) (Acoustic Music Centre at St Brides 18:20) with musical partner and real-life love Michelle Wilson.
Gorgeous Michelle was arrested at Heathrow and locked in a cell for 28 hours because her previous (Scottish Government) employer forgot to process her work-permit papers - making her a woman wanted not only by lover Kieran, but also by Interpol. Not a great advert for devolution.
Once the mess was sorted out, now-jailbird Michelle had to fly back to Australia (Michelle is Australian), then back to the UK for her gig. Kieran Butler also appears in Che Guevara On The Fringe 2 (3 Tuns, 14:30) with Austin Low.
(2/8) ... Pretty playwright Lucy Kirkwood, graduated this year from Edinburgh University with first-class honours - just call her smartypants (and happy). Divine Holly Payton, star organiser of Brighton Fringe, is proprietor of Roman Eagle Lodge. Lovely Teresa Plant promoting Iphigenia (Zoo, 11:00am (00:40) www.iphigenia.co.uk). Chortle editor Steve Bennett. Ebullient Ewan Spence (www.ewanspence.com) producer of Edinburgh Fringe's daily podcast for The Stage. Gorgeous PR Sheridan Humphreys. Handsome Brown-Eyed Boy TV developer Tom Hopgood. Ruggedly good-looking PR David Burns. Gentlemen photographers Andrew Murphy (www.murphysedinburgh.com) & Stanley Reilly. Ewan Spence, Fringe PodCast organiser. BBC Live Stand-Up staff member James Platt.
Martin Walker, handsome and charming, is the newly-appointed editor of ScotsGay - previously Martin was Arts Editor; former editor John Hein is now publisher. Lovely Tamsin Jarvis (Komedia). Rugged tattooed PR hunk Kevin Wilson. Charming PR Paul Sullivan. Gorgeous curvy blonde Karen Koren. Sultry femme fatale Hils Jago, just back from Montreal Comedy Festival. Pretty Synthia Tom, working at Pleasance. Hunky comedian David Ward. Pretty producer Rachel Abel. Handsome Tony Challis, reviewing for newly-renamed Gay Humanist Quarterly - formerly it was Lesbian and Gay Humanist.
John Park - around Edinburgh - 2-7 August 06 - (c) www.fringereport.com
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Fringe Report's officially accredited writers to Edinburgh Fringe 2006 are: (alpha order): Peter Andrews, Lea Harris, John Park, Gill Smith.
John Park - Edinburgh - August 06 - (c) www.fringereport.com
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Kerry Teakle is head of press at
Assembly. Sara Murray - Chief Press Officer. Kylie Aitchison – Press Officer (in charge of TV, radio and photography inside Assembly Rooms, Queen’s Hall, Assembly Hall, Assembly at St George’s West). Caroline Gillespie – Press Officer. Iain Walters – Press Officer. Claire Hammond – Press Officer/Publicist for Assembly Produced Shows (Maria Bamford; The Jim Henson Puppet Improv; Jerry Sadowitz; The Kransky Sisters; Laughapoolooza; Best of the Fest; The Talk Show Trials). Mary Gleeson – Press Officer/Publicist for Assembly Produced Shows (Ali Bain and Phil Cunningham; Dougie MacLean; Eddie Reader; Havana Rumba; Loudon Wainwright; End of the Rainbow; Richard Thompson; Spaghetti Western Orchestra; True West; End of the Rainbow). Sophie Arnott - Press Tickets Co-coordinator. Patricia Lyons – Press Cuttings Editor. Andrew Neilson - Press Officer for Assembly at St George’s West - Andrew is based on site at 58 Shandwick Place. Other officers are at Assembly Press Office. (Source - Kerry Teakle 27 July 06)
(c) www.fringereport.com
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Kieran Healey - Press & Marketing Manager. Laura Davis - Press Officer. Louise Hall - Marketing Officer. India Macleod-Collins - Press Co-Ordinator. Jemma Gross - Marketing Co-Ordinator. Amber Burrow-Goldhahn - Distribution Co-Ordinator. Lynn Chealander - Artwork Co-Ordinator. Dan Koop - Events Co-Ordinator. Glyn Roberts - Events Co-Ordinator. Sam Fletcher - Events Assistant. Jila Bazrafkan - Press & Marketing Assistant. Sophie Anne Stott - Press & Marketing Assistant. James Crawford - Press & Marketing Assistant. Rachel Myall - Press & Marketing Assistant. Carina Schneider - Press & Marketing Assistant. Dave Pickstone - Design Assistant. Siva Zagel - General Manager, C Venues. Hartley TA Kemp - Director, C Venues.
(c) www.fringereport.com
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Press Office: Louise Page - press and marketing manager. Leroy Harris - press and marketing officer. Tracey Fisher - press and marketing officer. Steve Pucci - accreditation. Fringe Director: Paul Gudgin - Fringe Director
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Fraser Smith is head of press. Ellie McDonald is press office manager. Cambridge medical student Louisa Harding-Edgar is the charming press officer in charge of press tickets.
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Alison Martin is head of press at
The Pleasance
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Penny Sims is head of press at the Underbelly - her colleagues include Owen O'Leary.
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Assembly, Gilded Balloon, Underbelly, Pleasance, launched at Soho Theatre London - full report - here
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Inside the Jam House, Press clamber up a staircase to the splendour of a mock-Gothic chapel now posing as a bar, in the former home of the BBC. Voodoo-themed paintings, reflecting the roots of jazz, add slashes of colour to the sombre walls. New arrivals ease past hot bodies gathering round the booze-table. Deep leather sofas offer respite from the milling thongs –oops - throng. Pretty Becky Singh sparkles as as she hands out press packs (and coyish smiles).
It’s the programme event for Assembly and Pleasance, part of the giddy roundabout of launches that fill journalists’ diaries for the silly season running up to Edinburgh Fringe 06. There are ice buckets brimming with beer. And canapés: bloody beef carpaccio; warm falafel; blobs of chicken parfait on onion marmalade; salmon with sour cream and twee prawn tartlets. Very nice - but impractical when trying to write, drink, eat and talk at the same time – napkins needed.
Fringe director Paul Gudgin is here, pretty in pink. He’s surrounded by his sexy entourage from the Fringe Press Office – Louise Page, Leroy Harris and Tracey Fisher. Pleasance head of press Alison Martin is chic in red dress and black leggings, and lovely bubbly smile.
William Burdett-Coutts, artistic director of Assembly announces Assembly’s 26th programme. Film transfers to stage with Midnight Cowboy; Mel Smith plays Churchill in Allegiance – Winston Churchill and Michael Collins; Jim Henson’s Muppets are in two shows (one for children, one not); Soweto Gospel Choir. Two-thirds of The Goodies return - Bill Oddie is off with the birds. Comedians include Craig Hill, Danny Bhoy, Rich Hall. William B-C thanks sponsors (see www.assemblyrooms.com), and causes accidental laughter as he hands over to new Pleasance director Anthony Alderson - calling him Christopher Richardson. The legendary founder of The Pleasance retired last year.
Anthony Alderson says that when the Assembly Rooms first opened as a venue, he was 8. This year’s show supported by the Charlie Harthill Special Reserve is The Same … But Different. William Shakespeare’s The Tempest is being performed by an all-male cast. Auditions for 11-14 year-olds will be held throughout August 06 at The Pleasance Grand for parts in The Jungle Book and Cinderella at Christmas, when The Pleasance opens its Edinburgh doors for the festive season. New for 2006 is Edinburgh’s first Food Festival (www.edinburghfoodfestival.co.uk). Charita Jones, owner of Brighton's Soul Food, featured in Gordon Ramsey’s Kitchen Nightmares. She will cook Soul in a Bowl daily at lunchtimes in the bar at Pleasance Dome in Bristo Square. The Pleasance is offering 180 shows in 20 venues.
(c) Lea Harris 2006 - The Jam House, Edinburgh - Thursday 15 June 06 - www.fringereport.com
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The Edinburgh Fringe Roadshow hit London - full report here
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John Park / Edinburgh / August 06
(c) Fringe Report 2006
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Fringe Report (c) Fringe Report 2002-2012
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