Musical Theatre is an artform - Encore
July 31, 2009
Sometimes you hear an interview which makes you shout “YES” and Nigel Richard’s recent podcast with Ed Seckerson sums up almost everything I believe is important for Musical Theatre in the UK. It is 40minutes and worth a real listen - he introduces us to works by reletively unknown British writers like Richard Taylor (who wrote the original WHISTLE DOWN THE WIND showcased at the first Festival of Musicals, Buxton 1992, and later presented by ALW at Sadler’s Wells, before he went off and invented his own version), Tim Sutton (the youngest ever winner of the Vivian Ellis and a wonderful score writer), and of course Conor Mitchell (who’s first work is part of our 2009 Festival of Musicals here in Edinburgh HAVE A NICE LIFE, and who will be here to offer a masterclass on Tue 18th August in George 3 direct from creating a new musical theatre piece with my wife for 39 girls in Cumbria). Read more
12 hours till August…
July 31, 2009
July 31st. That means it’s August tomorrow… arggghh!!!! Read more
Cobblefoot - beware soft shoe shuffles
July 31, 2009
Wherever you walk Edinburgh is changing underfoot - Princes Street is the domain of dusty shoppers and tramline builders, the University of Edinburgh seems to be beating every recession with a wealth of refurbishment, shows have been moved from venues that are close to daytime drilling, and…as always it looks as though the world’s largest festival will arrive in Edinburgh as a complete suprise to many, as it has done for over 50 years. hey ho. Read more
Darwin on the Fringe
July 30, 2009
Baba Brinkman’s “Darwin on the Fringe” blog presents an insider’s view of Edinburgh through the lens of Memetics, Evolutionary Psychology, and other Darwinian paradigms.
The behemoth known as the Edinburgh Fringe looms just a week away, and there is a certain scent in the air, barely discernible: it’s the smell of artists sweating. The Fringe bills itself as “the world’s biggest arts festival”, and it certainly is, but its size is mainly a product of its function as the world’s biggest arts market, and the artists participating know (or should know) that they are the goods on sale. Without the anticipated presence of the buyers (promoters), the sellers (producers) would never invest their own hard-won resources in mounting shows to bring the goods (artists) to their market stalls (venues). If the Arts were Sport (and to some degree they are), then the Fringe would be the Olympics (including the qualifying rounds). Read more
Festival Countdown: Gilded Balloon Founder Karen Koren’s Edinburgh
July 30, 2009
 |
Karen Koren is undoubtedly one of the Fringe Festival’s grande dames. In 1986, she founded the Gilded Balloon on Cowgate, which has helped launch the careers of comics including Bill Bailey, Rhona Cameron, Eddie Izzard, Peter Kay, Dylan Moran, Tim Minchin and Sean Hughes. When the Cowgate venue burned down in 2002 she relocated to the Teviot building, where she continues to build the venue’s reputation as one of the largest and most well-loved destinations on the Fringe - not least for its notorious Late ‘n’ Live sessions. Read more
Glitter and be George
July 30, 2009
Well its started here - the front of house decorations are beginning to arrive to transform a very fine concrete lecture hall foyer, into a wonderland of theatrical magic. None of your red plush, but sparkly pillars to die for. Anyone who was with us last year will know that this is a very theatrical reading of a foyer - and definitely puts a smile on people’s faces.
What you mean produce 4 shows as my 1st Ed Fringe project? Oh alright then
July 29, 2009
Where IS the Royal Mile
July 29, 2009
I know nothing about Edinburgh. I’ve never been to the Fringe. Never been to any of the festivals come to mention it. Never even been to the city. I did venture across the border once. Well twice. Mad-cap adventures to Ben Nevis with old colleagues - a world from long ago. But really, how am I in any way qualified to take one show to the fringe, let alone the four that I find myself producing. God, when I look back it feels like a drunken bet. Your director says to you “Go on, I’ve got four plays for Edinburgh - it’ll make loads of money - it’ll be great”. And you nod gaily.
Here I am 3 months later, juggling four productions, a team of 12 and trying to find the royal mile on the map (it’s not there - there is NO road called the royal mile I swear).
It’ll be fine though - won’t it?
From L.A. to Edinburgh
July 29, 2009
July 15, 2009
It’s not that I have anything against Mexican polkas- or the enthusiastic fans that call in to chat with the DJ, but it is a little distracting when you’re trying to work and tinny horns blast oom pah pah right outside your window. I am a playwright and therefore require a little bit of peace and quiet. Just to collect my thoughts… just enough so that I can get a few pages written on my latest work- a frankly rather difficult family drama called “One Good Death” that I have put aside all year long due to never-ending parental responsibilities. Just when I’m on the brink of figuring out a crucial scene in the first act involving the drugged out Grandfather and his 5-year-old granddaughter, Rick, the A/C man shows up with an assistant who looks like a member of a White Supremacist prison gang. Rick assures me that the five year long leak of Freon into the ground will have no adverse effects either personally or environmentally. I’m choosing to believe him because I’ve got a lot going on. In 16 days I’m leaving two children, a husband and a couple of geriatric German Shepherds in Los Angeles to get on a plane with the cast, director and a clay head to take my first produced play to the Edinburgh Fringe Festival.
Sunshine over Edinburgh
July 29, 2009
It’s great to be back. This is my first blog from Edinburgh 2009, and I’m looking over a sun stroked George Square with trucks in every direction. George 2 (our great 87 seat theatre) is taking shape festooned in fairy lights, of course. The stage of George 4 is being created (275 seats and soon to be home to everything from PORN to MURDER), and George 1 is there awaiting the BLOODBATH which is Musical Theatre at George Square. Dig below the surface of the 25 shows, 40 masterclasses, and no fewer than 72 free cabaret shows, and you will see many familiar names and faces waiting to be discovered by the press, promoters and the public. Kerry Ellis (she of WICKED and other musical wonders) is joining us for a gala, Steps singer Lee Latchford-Evans and Hollyoaks actor Paul Holloway are about to get very close in WOLFBOY, the original Donna in Mamma Mia, Siobhan McCarthy will be joining Blur’s Antony Costa in the bath, and Hollyoaks fans can have a double helping - because Ciara Janson, who played Nicole Owen, will be getting murdered nightly too.
EIF: 14 August-6 September
Advertisement
