Fringe Festival

Even from the moment we stepped onto Edinburgh High Street in the pouring rain lugging our bags from the train I knew it was going to be a good week. You could just feel the atmosphere of what was to come. Walking down the high street we were handed dozens of flyers about various performances, saw street artists such as magicians, stunt performers, dancers, and musicians. The streets were bustling; it was loud and crowded but you don’t mind when you’re genuinely interested and want to know what’s going on.

The thing I found about the Fringe Festival is that there is something for everyone. There really is if your with your family there are kids shows, if you can’t afford a lot there are street performances and performances that are part of the Free Fringe, if your with your partners and want something a little more adult, there are sex classes (that is not a lie there is a class called the Wank Bank Masterclass) and of course if your there for theatre, it’s everywhere in its many shapes and forms.

It’s also a great place to make some contacts if this is the industry you want to be involved in. Those of you who read my blog will know that I recently created a business card for the purpose of taking it up to Edinburgh to test the waters to see how well it would work. And I’m not gunna lie it went down pretty damn well. I wasn’t just throwing it at people, I gave my card to specific artists/creatives who I thought it would be a benefit for me to know. These included performers, directors, an agent or two. It doesn’t necessarily mean they’re all going to get in touch, maybe none of them will, but I have noticed an increase in activity of people viewing my website and facebook page so it’s doing something.

I was also going to do a review about the shows that I saw, but looking back I know this is impossible to do, during the week I easily saw a dozen shows, and that’s just me counting them off the top of my head. So instead here are the top 5 recommendations of performances to see at Edinburgh (in no particular order):

Baby Wants Candy. This is a musical theatre group who create a new show every single night! No two shows are the same. When the show begins the actors ask audience members to shout out what the title should be of the show, once they have agreed on one the show begins. Improvisation, comedy and music at its finest.
Driftwood. This performance was a circus act, which included physical theatre, contemporary dance, gymnastics, ariel hoops and trapeze artists. With only 5 performers enclosed in a small performance space of a circus tent meant there was no room for errors. You are hypnotised by the movement and strength displayed in this piece.
Giant was the name of the performance created by Human Zoo whose performance tells a moving story of three generations living together. They achieve this through clowning and physical theatre but also includes puppetry and live music. If you’re looking for something a little different watch this show!
Another Fucking Variety Show. Is exactly what it says, this late night show hosts a variety of acts including a woman who loves headstands, a drag queen, a comedian and loads more, this show has something for everyone….over the age of 18.
And finally ‘Axis of Awesome’ this is a show that I had prebooked to see and I’m so glad I did. I learnt about this musical trio a few years ago from their hit song ‘4 Chords’ they are youtube sensations. This show will have you in stitches with their witty songs, comic timing and the fact that they are having just as much fun up there aswell.

The Edinburgh Fringe Festival is still going on for another couple weeks until the 29th August! If you have a few spare days get there see some shows, meet the performers and enjoy! xxx

American Idiot

So for those of you who are unaware currently touring the UK is the show American Idiot, the musical that features the songs of Green Day. The show with the lyrics of Green Day’s lead singer Billie Joe Armstrong and book by Billie Joe Armstrong and Michael Mayer.

Starring Newton Faulkner who is joined by X Factor finalist Amelia Lily alongside Alexis Gerred, Llandyll Gove, Lucas Rush and Steve Rushton.

I was going into this musical with a completely open mind, I had no idea of the storyline, however I knew all of the songs from my punk rocker days, still using these songs to this day for a bit of classic air guitar, let’s be honest, we all do.

American Idiot is the story of three friends, post 9/11 and the journeys that they go on during this time. The show starts with news reports of 9/11, flicking through channels seeing the chaos and destruction. A sudden change of pace as they open the show with ‘American Idiot’. The perfect song to open the show you are immediately hit with loud music, energetic characters and inappropriateness that the young punks display.

You’re also physically hit, seriously. You know you’re close to the stage when the popcorn thrown on stage somehow manages to hit you in the face. The cast definitely had my attention.

I would not have pictured Newton Faulker or Amelia Lily to star in a musical such as this having seen their previous performances, but I can’t fault them, well maybe just a little…It was the accents, it’s always the accents, a general American accent…which wasn’t quiet American, so I couldn’t tell exactly where they were from but all was forgiven when they began to sing.

There were a lot of strong voices in this show, I was slightly worried about some of the upcoming harmonies but the voices blended together beautifully, and I have to give credit to my favourite song of the musical. 21 Guns. The cast nailed it, it was perfect!

The favourite character of the production has to be St. Jimmy, he was electric! The actor’s energy on stage was contagious. This spread to all three of the male leads who all had perfect comic timing but they were sensitive when needed to be.

Basically, I loved this show. It had everything excellent music, good story, great performers. I left this show feeling inspired to pursue this career so that one day I can take part in a performance as amazing as this xxx

Review on Sweeney Todd

I might be lucky enough to attend the theatre a few times a year. That’s not too bad considering I’m poor and forgetful. It is sad that it’s such a rare occurrence when I get to go to the theatre, but when I do it’s always a memorable experience.

On this occasion I had the privilege of watching Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber Of Fleet Street (A Musical Thriller) performed by the Welsh National Opera. I have never seen a musical performed by opera Singers before. This intrigued me, mainly because I have seen this show before performed by a Musical Theatre company as one would expect.

The story follows Benjamin Barker, a barber who's wronged by a powerful judge who lusts for Barker's wife. Barker is sent away for life for a crime he did not commit, 15 years later he makes his way back to London where his overwhelming thirst for vengeance leads him to commit a string of murders with the aid of his associate Mrs Lovett, who promptly disposes of the corpses by baking them into pies to sell in her shop.

This was performed by an ensemble of approximately 40 opera singers who project their characters and Sondheim’s clever lyrics more convincingly than their musical theatre colleagues. Of course the singing especially the harmonies were more than impressive, in particular the sopranos who hit some extraordinary notes.

Director James Brining ensures the pace never lets up, from the imaginative opening scenes and the set (which the ensemble would change in plain view, but in a very creative manner) is very effective. The set is the day-room of a psychiatric ward with steel containers that open to show Todd’s bare barber’s shop, Johanna’s bedroom and Judge Turpin’s study, complete with Mrs Lovett’s meat-pie stall centre stage.

All the cast are excellent but a special mention for Janis Kelly as Mrs Lovett with her fine comic timing turning the musical thriller into more of a dark comedy, whether that was intended or not I’m not sure, but it works, that I am sure of. I have to mention the duet of the young lovers Anthony and Johanna, as Jamie Muscato and Soraya Mafi performed my favourite song from the musical ‘Ah Miss’ perfectly, it was sung beautifully.

To summarize if you are partial to a show tune, a bit of blood and gore, some dark comedy and mesmerizing talent Sweeney Todd is the show for you! xxx