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drinks Monday 1 September 08 Edinburgh Reunion in London
Topping And Butch Hit Leicester Square 26-27 September 08
Shore Thing's First Time
'You need to know what you are trying to sell. Start looking for accommodation really early. Logistics often come ahead of the artistic input. You mustn’t avoid stuff that needs to be done.' What director Joe Murphy learnt at Edinburgh 05
by Peter Andrews
'We came to Edinburgh to present amateur youth dramatics on a world stage,' says Joe Murphy, director of Being Earnest: It’s Rather Important at Edinburgh Fringe 2005. 'We also came here for fun.'
This was Shore Thing Theatre Company's first visit and their most ambitious project to date. Formed in 2000 as a section of Out of the Blue, a company that is now closed, Shore Thing members decided that they wished to continue independently producing theatre.
Joe Murphy performed at Edinburgh in 2004, and enjoyed it so much that he convinced Shore Thing it was the place to be. '24 performances will our longest run, and we will have the chance to see many other plays. Also Edinburgh is such an amazing place to be.' Joe wants to pursue theatre professionally, and feels the experience of bringing a company to the Fringe is a good way to start.
'Other members of the group just love theatre – they have a massive passion for it – so we’ve come here and decided to have a go. Being new to the Fringe with only five in the company and a 10 o’clock start flyering has been rather heavy and hard core. If no-one knows you, it takes a bit more selling that you’re good and worth coming to see.
'Being Oscar Wilde has helped a lot. People have been asking "what’s it about", and we’ve been telling them that we think it’s a bit neglected and we’ve put a new youthful spin on it. People are really enjoying the show, and though the early time slot could be a problem, those with limited time who want to see as many shows as possible do come.
'C Venues and the Fringe Office have been really helpful. We didn’t at first realise the scale at which we’d be doing things – it kind of snowballed from the original idea. There were forms to fill in, marketing, press releases - and many other things snuck up on us and a bit more prior planning would have been useful. Having everything ready before we came up would be better – it’s been a bit haphazard. We only meet every 10 weeks, so organising has been difficult.'
Rehearsing in college holidays and doing one local preview was all the preparation they had. But this performance did raise funds for Edinburgh and they used the limited time and resources as well as they could.
What was important in bringing a show for the first time? Joe says that to have real enthusiasm for your show and the people you’re doing it with is critical.
'We’re not here to make money or be highly professional. In the end it’s just about being here and enjoying yourself. If you don’t have a passionate belief in what you’re doing you may as well forget it.
'We all get on really well together, and have known each other for a number of years - and that helps a lot.
'One practical thing we have learnt is if Edfringe or the venue ask for a form then send it back the next day. Flyers, posters and publicity should be ready a few months before. You need to know what you are trying to sell. Start looking for accommodation really early. Logistics often come ahead of the artistic input. You mustn’t avoid stuff that needs to be done.'
In spite of labelling themselves ‘amateur’ and ‘youth theatre’ neither of these accurately describes what Shore Thing actually do. They plan well, have a refreshing artistic flair and above all their work is fun for performers and audience alike.
END
(c) Peter Andrews 2005
Fringe Report (c) Fringe Report 2002-2008
