Fringe Focus: Sometimes we need that fourth wall in theatre
I loved Mission Drift at the NT Shed . Well that’s a bit of an understatement actually; a few weeks ago I became obsessed with it. I downloaded the soundtrack and listened to it religiously for a week...
View ArticleFringe Focus: A future without flyers?
Imagine an Edinburgh Fringe without flyers. For anyone who’s run the gauntlet of relentless flyerers on the Royal Mile this is surely a hazy future utopia. During August, it seems all the paper in all...
View ArticleFringe Focus: Why Punchdrunk’s latest left me cold
What is it that you love about theatre? For some it’s the thrill of the live experience, for others the spectacle. For me what makes theatre the best of all art forms is the human connection at its...
View ArticleClik here to view.
Fringe Focus: Three colours Edinburgh – has the Fringe become too corporate?
And we’re off! In 2013 the Edinburgh Fringe Festival is bigger than ever but three colours are in danger of dominating it all. Since splitting off with a separate fringe programme, Assembly (red),...
View ArticleFringe Focus: The year that women took over the Edinburgh Fringe
Wow, 2013 was a good year for women at the Edinburgh Fringe. From feminist comedy to verbatim theatre so powerful it left you reeling, women were getting their voices heard like never before. Bridget...
View ArticleFringe Focus: Secret Theatre: can you keep a secret?
“Three may keep a secret, if two of them are dead.” Benjamin Franklin once wrote. It’s a rather gloomy statement although perhaps a realistic one – we all know how hard it is to keep a secret. But...
View ArticleFringe Focus: Can theatre change the world?
Can theatre change the world for the better? I think it can and should. Last week at two very different conferences I experienced a provocation of this statement and proof of it. At the Critics Circle...
View ArticleFringe Focus: Do you need to know about puppetry to appreciate it?
Last weekend I was at Critical Voices, a workshop on visual theatre criticism organised by the Puppet Centre to coincide with the Suspense London Festival of Puppetry. It was designed to interrogate...
View ArticleClik here to view.
Interviews: Bike Shed: the key to a thriving theatre
“Before I trained as an actor, I used to work in catering. In fact, I think I was better at that than I am as a theatre director or actor,” David Lockwood says, laughing. “But the reason I was good at...
View ArticleFringe Focus: Riverside Studios, real estate and redevelopment
‘Money makes the world go round’. Oh Liza, doesn’t it just. This week, inspired by Bryony Kimmings’ no nonsense blog, a number of fascinating pieces about money in the arts have been posted. Alan...
View ArticleFringe Focus: Roll up! Roll up! Get your £1 theatre tickets here!
Last Friday, nestled amongst the fabric sellers and fishmongers of bustling Deptford market, The Albany borrowed a trick from its neighbours. From a bright pink stall, they sold £1 tickets for their...
View ArticleClik here to view.
Analysis & Opinion: The year in review: fringe
In the midst of Olympics fever, last year’s highlights were all individual shows vying for top spot. In 2013, the most exciting things happening Off-West End and on the fringe were about teamwork. This...
View ArticleFringe Focus: Theatres should be our new churches
This Christmas I spent a lot of time thinking about how similar churches and theatres are. Both have music, costumes, speeches, lighting effects, rituals and of course, cramped seats. Both are communal...
View ArticleFringe Focus: The fringe needs more horizontal engagement (no, not that kind)
Last week I got stuck with a question that perennially seems to raise its head: what makes a theatre a ‘fringe’ theatre? Just as I was starting to ponder the usual circles – funding, location, funding,...
View ArticleFringe Focus: The fringe shouldn’t be playing it safe
David Aula – director of the VAULT production of Ian McEwan’s The Cement Garden – was recently asked “Is it impossible on the fringe to do risky things without completely bankrupting yourself?” It’s a...
View ArticleFringe Focus: Do shows improve with age?
When it comes to seeing theatre is the second time a charm? It certainly was at the Barbican last weekend for Midsummer Night’s Dream and speaking to people who’ve recently been to The Drowned Man I...
View ArticleFringe Focus: Breaking into theatre with Heist Live
Last night I broke into a building, navigated around mechanical and human obstacles, stole something precious and escaped scot-free. If I’m being a bit cagey about the details it’s because I don’t want...
View ArticleFringe Focus: Big name casting: time to Take That and party?
When I found out last week that Boyzone star Keith Duffy was making his stage debut at the intimate Theatre 503 I had mixed feelings. I’d always been a Take That fan so there was the familiar feeling...
View ArticleFringe Focus: Solo shows – when one is a magic number
As the Olivier nominations attest, this is the time of the musical. Even the fringe is not immune – with over 10 musical productions coming up over the next few months. But – stick with me – I’m not...
View ArticleFringe Focus: No get out clause for Wilde flop
Look across the fringe and it’s raining theatrical dynasties; Redgrave, Fox, Rigg – if you want to see the creme de la creme of genetic theatrical talent for half the price of a West End ticket now’s...
View Article
