More adventure awaits us, let’s have a look.
Here’s the schedule for August 9th.
11:30 – no one is coming to save us, Pleasance Courtyard. From the Edinburgh Fringe website:
“Maddy is worried that no one is having fun at her party. Her sister Lily is worried that the world is falling apart. As this group of friends gather on a mountaintop, watching the sunset, a wildfire sparks in the forest below. They drink beer and talk nonsense while the flames race toward them. From award winners Pepperdine Scotland and playwright Lewis Hetherington, this world premiere is about young people finding fragile hope in the face of an overwhelming environmental threat, carrying the flickering flame of belief that things might yet be alright.”
A serious play to start the day – and there’s no more serious subject than the future of the planet. Exploring this issue through theatre is a constructive way to kick start discussion. I’ll be fascinated to see from which angle this play approaches the subject.
15:40 – Duck, Pleasance Courtyard.
“It’s the summer of 2005, England prepares to win the Ashes and Ismail (Smiley to his friends), a British Indian schoolboy, is about to become the youngest ever player in his elite public school’s First XI cricket team. He sets his sights on immortality, breaking the school batting record and getting his name into Wisden. But things are about to heat up. From award-winning playwright maatin, Duck is about adolescence, the pressures of sporting competition and finding your identity in an environment that doesn’t cater for difference. Recipient of the Pleasance’s Charlie Hartill Fund 2024.”
You don’t often get plays based on a cricketing theme, so this promises to be something a little unusual. Sporting ambition and fitting in are things that many of us can recognise in ourselves, so hopefully this will be an entertaining and enlightening piece of writing.
17:20 – FUFC, TheSpace on the Mile.
“FUFC is a heartfelt, poignant and semi-autobiographical play exploring a world upended by the shocking news of a prostate cancer diagnosis. Set on a muddy football pitch under a hungover council sky, FUFC captures a heartwarming moment of genuine connection between two old friends. This touching play reminds us that even in our darkest moments, the bonds of friendship and the resilience of the human spirit can bring hope. This intimate theatrical experience speaks to the challenges, hopes and camaraderie that unite us all.”
And now another sports themed play, this time football. I think we can make a stab at what the letters in the title stand for! I’m hoping for an emotionally charged piece of theatre that’s not afraid to be brave where it comes to dealing with cancer diagnosis.
19:35 – Ajahnis Charley: Thots and Prayers, TheSpace @ Surgeons Hall.
“Thot. Noun, informal. Definition: a person who has had many sexual encounters – the exact opposite from the kind of nerdy gaymer Ajahnis is. But after attending a rave and attempting his first death drop… he literally dies. When he awakens at the gates of Gay Heaven, a mighty, flighty and unabashedly white-y God reveals that Ajahnis does not have enough ‘Homo Points’ to enter. So through a series of sketches, the little twink relives the gayest age, 22, to prove that he belongs. Witness the HOMO, or suffer the FOMO.”
I’ll be honest, gentle reader; I’d never come across the word thot before (but Urban Dictionary confirms the definition above), but the main reason I plumped for this production was because the phrase “witness the HOMO or suffer the FOMO” made me laugh out loud. Let’s hope it’s a good sign for the rest of the show!
21:00 – Dan Tiernan: Stomp, Monkey Barrel Comedy.
“2023 Edinburgh Comedy Award Best Newcomer nominee and ‘Mancunian wild-man’ (Guardian) returns with show two, following a totally sold-out debut last year. ‘A potent, original fount of gags’ **** (Scotsman). Former BBC New Comedy Awards winner and English Comedian of the Year winner. ‘A furious yet friendly, thrilling ride’ **** (Telegraph). ‘A powerhouse performance backed by solid writing’ **** (Chortle.co.uk). As seen on BBC’s QI and Channel 4’s 8 Out Of 10 Cats Does Countdown. ‘A stand-up set for stardom’ **** (List). ‘Furiously fun’ (Guardian).”
Dan Tiernan has rapidly made his mark on the comedy world with his hilarious, in-your-face style that I’m sure will keep the audience on the edge of its collective seat for a surprising and exhilarating hour of entertainment!
23:00 – It’s OK, I Still Think You’re Great, TheSpace @ Symposium Hall.
“It’s Tibby’s 25th birthday and she is throwing a big party: after years, her friends from uni are coming together — and they are all doing better than her. It’s OK, I Still Think You’re Great is a sparkling three-hander about friendship, friendship breakups, breakup breakups, drama, drama kids, queerness, being an immigrant, rejection and William Shakespeare. Also, about the emotional roller-coaster of being in your mid-twenties and having no clue about pretty much anything ever.”
I’m expecting this to be one of those postgraduate productions where young people work out all their angst about the future – and if it’s done with a lightness of touch and well-written humour, there’s no reason why this shouldn’t be a terrific way to end the night.
Check back later to see how we enjoyed all these shows!