Last year, for the first time, we committed to doing Edinburgh for a full 28 days and nights, clocking up 145 shows in all, including a few days of previews before the Fringe started “officially”. It seemed a successful plan – so we’re doing it again this year! I hope I don’t simply conk out before the month is up.
Like last year, I’m going to write just one blog a day, previewing the shows we will see the next day, uploading it around 10 pm every evening, and then following up with updates as to how good each show was. I’ll update at least once a day, probably at the end of the evening – or I might update as each show finishes depending on whether I have the time and the space to sit down and collect my thoughts! If I don’t update until the following morning, please forgive me – it can be an exhausting few weeks!
Here’s the schedule for 31st July. These are all previews, so I will of course take that into account when I give my comments later:
10:50 – Shellshocked – An Explosive New Play, Pleasance Courtyard. From the Edinburgh Fringe website:
“From the creative team behind the five-star, multi-award winning plays Jesus, Jane Mother and Me, and Heroin(e) for Breakfast. The horrors of war have broken young Wesley, but could the madness he encounters beyond it save or destroy a soldier’s shellshocked mind? A powerful new play from multi award-winning playwright Philip Stokes, recognised by the British Library as a culturally important playwright of the 21st century, and Olivier, Tony and Emmy award-winning producer Richard Jordan. Starring Jack Stokes (Winner, Adelaide Critics Circle Award 2023) and Lee Bainbridge – Heroin(e) For Breakfast: ***** (Sunday Telegraph).”
We were very impressed with this team’s Jesus Jane Mother and Me last year – which was also our first show of the Fringe for 2023, so it only seems appropriate to kick off with Shellshocked this year! I’m expecting great writing and great acting – here’s hoping!
12:35 – Sell Me: I Am from North Korea, Pleasance Courtyard.
“On her 15th birthday, Jisun, a North Korean girl, decides to sell herself to an old man to buy medication for her dying mother. But after risking her life by crossing into China, she learns that her under-developed body is not-sellable. Will she survive as she struggles in a merciless foreign land, where her very existence is illegal? Performed at the U.S. Capitol Center, this powerful and fast-paced solo piece is inspired by the true stories of incredibly courageous female North Korean defectors. ‘Excellent… important’ (Henry Song, North Korean Human Rights Activist).”
This play sounds like it will be very serious and hard-hitting, and obviously has an important story to tell. We know so little about life in North Korea, so hopefully this will be informative as well as dramatic. I’m not sure I can say that I’m looking forward to it, but with any luck it will be memorable and stay in the mind for days afterwards.
14:30 – Will Sebag-Montefiore: Will of the People, Underbelly, Bristo Square.
“With over 62 millions views across his digital platforms, Will Sebag-Montefiore brings his sharp musical, comedic and satirical prowess to the tangible realm of the stage 27 days after a General Election. Will is an actor, writer and satirist who turns the news into sketches and songs and Will of the People is his debut solo show. Watch him struggle to keep up with the ever-changing news cycle as he tries to make the world a better place (for him).”
Will is a name new to me, but I saw some online videos of him doing his stuff and he had me instantly howling with laughter! With any luck his live comedy will be equally as hilarious.
16:40 – Sooz Kempner: Class Of 2000, Underbelly, Bristo Square.
“The award-winning, viral sensation returns to the Fringe with a follow-up to her sell-out Fringe 2023 hit. Join Sooz as she looks at class through the lens of doing her GCSEs in 2000 at a state comp… while knowing all about dressage. Politics, horses, EastEnders and the Millennium Bug. ‘Kempner has funny bones’ **** (Scotsman). ‘Brilliant’ (LA Times). ‘An unforgettable show… hits the nail on the head at every turn’ **** (Entertainment-Now.com).”
Sooz Kempner is always a name we look for whenever planning our Edinburgh Fringe; always a super-reliable comedian who I’m sure will give us another great show.
19:45 – Amos Gill: Going Down Swinging, Underbelly, Bristo Square.
“Award-winning comedian and international rising star Amos Gill is back at the Fringe with another boundary-pushing hour of hilarious, challenging and sometimes caustic stand-up. Smart, fearless and always bitingly funny, Amos has conquered Australia’s comedy scene, challenging audiences to think and taking them to the edge. Nothing is off-limits for Amos. Expertly skewering absolutely everyone, he’s gained a legion of fans around the world touring with Jim Jefferies, including a sell-out crowd at New York’s iconic Madison Square Garden. ‘Amos is going down swinging’ **** (Scotsman). ‘An absolute hoot of a show!’ ***** (ScottishDailyExpress.co.uk).”
Amos Gill is another new name to me – so this is a bit of a lucky punt, but those quotable quotes from the Fringe website are very impressive – so fingers crossed!
21:30 – Reginald D Hunter: Fluffy Fluffy Beavers, Assembly George Square Studios.
“For years, Reginald D Hunter has been misinterpreted as a controversial comedian because of his show titles despite his repeated objections that he is not a controversial comedian. He has penned Fluffy Fluffy Beavers with some hope to rehabilitate his persona by manifesting images of well-coiffed river creatures building dams of chocolate in rivers of candy, whilst continually delivering pressure inducing ideas to form diamonds of laughter. ‘Arguably the most accomplished act in the comedy section of your Fringe brochure’ (Scotsman). ‘Stand-up comedy’s coolest customer’ (Telegraph). ‘Comedy of a rare scope’ ***** (Times).”
Another always reliable name, I’m sure Reginald D Hunter will end our first day’s Fringing with a dangerously hilarious and daring show. Can’t wait!
Reviews to follow in the next few days!