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Glasgow's London Victoria in Edinburgh
Actress Victoria Johnston's Glaswegian and lives in London. Her new play is at Edinburgh 06 ...
by Victoria Johnston
I've never produced a show before, but I've been in one - I was 13. We were bussed to and from Glasgow, where I grew up, for a week to perform Dances To Schubert - in a church hall.
Edinburgh 06 all started with an ambitious acting wish-list just over a year ago. I thought - it's now or never. My motto became - make it happen.
First on the list was to appear in 10 short films. 28 short films later, it was to produce a show reel. One show reel done, and no excuses for avoiding the list's major challenge - taking a play to Edinburgh 06.
The catalyst was a showcase at Courtyard Theatre in London’s Kings Cross for London Actors' Workshop (LAW) - which resulted in an invite to perform at Oslo's Volapuk Festival. Mind you, it could have been because the writer who invited us wanted to seduce my very sexy scene-partner, Cecile Baird, who's half-French and quite naughty. We performed our newly, specially-written play to 60 serious Norwegian poets. We aroused them sufficiently to a surprise, er, standing ovation. And a return booking at The Authors Are Coming at Oslo's underground venue Josephine's. And lots of confidence for tackling Edinburgh. But how?
Previously, I'd wondered what to audition for. How good would the play be? And the part, actors, director, venue? But after producing a show at Oslo which had been written for us, I realised I'd already got the recipe. Produce the play myself.
Scriptwriter Sam Snape, an old friend, wrote the play - a two-hander, cast with me and actress Hayley Rudd. We got a great venue - Gilded Balloon - and Sam came on board as director. Which left the crucial problem familiar to anyone making the Ed journey - where to stay.
A friend solved this, too. He's moving out of his flat to live with his boyfriend. So we're moving in. It's on the Royal Mile.
Time to enrol the family. My sister Rebecca Johnston was recruited as designer. Which has led to its own delights and storms - not all of which have been in teacups. Eddie Macnaughtan
at Big Byte printed the flyers and posters. And we've had masses of help from the Edinburgh Fringe Office, and the Gilded Balloon. Which just leaves doing the play.
END
(c) Victoria Johnston 22 July 2006
Victoria Johnston and Hayley Rudd are in Iron Brew at Gilded Balloon Teviot Balcony, daily 1300 (ends 13:45) 2-28 August 06. Show details - Gilded Balloon -
EdFringe.com. Website www.roarfilms.com
Fringe Report's review of Iron Brew is here
Fringe Report (c) Fringe Report 2002-2010
