End Of Summer
As we all crawl towards the finish line, maintained by the faint hope of an Indian Summer on our return to London, I feel, more than ever before, that we’ve outstayed our welcome somewhat in Edinburgh.
It felt strange on Monday that we were all carrying on our festival, whilst the local kids were going to back to school and their parents’ back to work. It’s definitely felt quieter this week – hopefully the calm before an almighty final storm this weekend. It felt as though we could have all stopped last Sunday. Could the festival survive packed into just the first three weeks of August?
Pedestrian had such a fantastic start – and we might just about manage to maintatin that momentum through to the end. Tom’s deservedly received ten or so five/four star reviews, the word of mouth has been solid and we’ve sold out eight times which ain’t bad going. We’ve already reached my arbritary targets for audience numbers and ticket sales, and there are still four shows left. You think about the nightmare alternative Edinburgh we could have had – no reviews, no audience, no morale, and no money back – it’s been an unqualified success story for everyone involved.
But when you have been as lucky as we have, it all becomes relative. You dare to dream about that next, top, award-nominated level of success – which, this time round, it looks as though we might well miss out on. Hopefully we can all take away a lot and come back stronger next time round, ready to have a go for that next stage.
Speechless is absolutely in the running on the awards front. On Thursday we have the Amnesty International Freedom of Expression Awards in the morning; Friday is the Scotsman’s final awards ceremony and on Sunday, Natasha and Demi are up for best actresses in the Stage Awards. The show has definitely grown and settled over the past couple of weeks, and I’m proud to have been a part of it.
A huge thank you to Margaret Scott from Whatsonstage for her cracking review of Pedestrian; for subsequently dragging along her nephew to see it; and for championing it in the WOS office. Thank you also to Terri Paddock for seizing on Margaret’s recommendation, fitting us in to her hectic schedule, and for offering such kind words of encouragement and advice for the show’s future. We’re so grateful to WOS for all their support this Fringe.
