As we reach the end of Week 1, I’m about to change my focus from being a punter, to a role supporting Japanese producers, then Maltese theatre companies and finally Ukrainian producers and programmers as they explore Edinburgh in August, often for the first time. I’m busy booking tickets for the Ukraine delegation to run from venue to venue tasting the different environments which make up the complex world of EdFringe. But first, here are my next set of shows I have seen with a few thoughts which I’ve shared on EdFringe.com Audience reviews. The links offer routes to book tickets or find out more.
After loving Dreamscape by Rickerby Hinds in 2025 also produced in the UK by Andy Jordan, I was so pleased to be in an absolutely packed house for Blackbox, once again featuring two of the Dreamscape actors. I so hope to see this show again when it is allowed a little more space for aural calm and connection to us. Shows are often packed tight in a fringe slot. This is a powerful exploration of slavery and one man’s testimony of escape. Henry Box Brown never played Edinburgh in his life as far as we know but he would, I feel sure, be grateful that his story, and the truth about generations of slave trading will be shared with a new audience. I for one am rattled by what he shared. Thank you Andy Jordan for bringing shows to Edinburgh for over 40 years, since we were both at Bristol.
I bought a Flip Phone
This is a solo exploration of isolation which starts with the obvious answers I might give you if asked “How Are You ?”, through to the answers which might be reflections on what I’m truthfully feeling in my heart. I too often flippantly say I have no friends. I always worry whether someone will respond as I hope they might. I doom scroll. I have not been brave enough to get a flip phone. This show explores one amazing young man’s mirror on himself through drama. His first Fringe but most definitely, I hope, not his last. Do try and go to his daily exploration of what it is to be a young man in the modern world.
Then yesterday I chose 3 shows from my longlist of interesting marketing/copy and ideas. I had no connection to these shows, so I truly was just a punter taking a punt. And I had three wins.
I loved the invitation from writer performer Ivo Mūller to let the words flow through me into my soul. Many did and I feel enriched by this exploration of life, love, trust, release, creativity and death or eternity. Beautifully staged to give us a visceral and visual complement to the trains of deep thought. I feel this is a lifetime Masters in Creative practice gathered with love into a single hour. Now I must go and buy Rilke’s Letters to a Young Poet and begin my own slow and solitary exploration. Thank you to all who created the imagery and copy which attracted my attention to have this on my Must See list.
A day of shows where I’ve totally relied on the copy and image to attract me. I’m so glad to find Broken Box Mime Theatre with their 8 beautiful mime duets exploring the comedic and the cosmic. Tia Cassmira and David Jenkins drop into each new world, age, and character ensuring every gesture and movement enriches our reading of the silent scene before us. Thank you. Def one for any international promoter looking for non verbal storytelling.
Occasionally I stumble on a show which should/could be a worthy part of the Edinburgh International Festival or have a premier slot within the international programme of Traverse, Scottish Storytelling Centre, Pleasance or Assembly. But it isn’t. It’s tucked in Zoo Playground and I hope it attracts national, international critics and awards. Atomic Tales takes a personal testimony of one life and mother and paints a global canvas of human suffering and love. Elena Arvigo is a phenomenal storyteller drawing us into her world in something Theatre Village rightly calls A Masterclass in solo performance. Please return to Edinburgh. Please take it to London. And please, international programmers, grab a ticket and allow Svetlana Aleksievic’s Prayer for Chernobyl to be seen globally. Maybe world leaders will take notice of the level of humanitarian risk Russia’s hideous invasion of Ukraine is putting on human life.
and then I wrapped up my evening with a show I will be following in its future life, alerted to me by producer David Pugh.
Last night I made my first visit to the Traverse. I find it very difficult to slot Traverse shows into my schedule because of the flexing times, and most recently I’m glad I have not tried because of the many late starts and even cancelled shows there. They are obviously having a very challenging time. All tribute to the actors of Cathy led by Elaine C Smith for coping with a 15 minute delay to the start and then a lighting board failure. Eilidh Loan’s play balances deep issues of family loss and grieving with belly laugh Scottish humour. An absolutely packed audience which felt more Kings Theatre than Traverse were having a great time. I look forward to seeing the play again when it heads out on a UK tour produced by David Pugh who has championed the young writer/director. Our star is joined by Sally Reid, Chloe Hodgson, Michele Gallagher and Alan Orr in top form as a family brought together and strained by the loss of Husband, Father, and Grandad Tommy.
Today is a day at the desk and welcoming the first of our 14 guests staying at various times through the festival in every corner of the house, and then back to shows tomorrow (Sunday). We return to quiet with the three of us on 31st I think – before then rehearsals in the studio, a family from France, a solo artist with her third EdFringe premier, and a few others that must be on my schedule.