From now until the end of August, we’re concentrating on – guess what? – Edinburgh and we’re going weekly rather than fortnightly with our regular video picks feature, in conjunction with the Whatsonstage.com Television channel, a rapidly expanding archive of theatre-related video content. As well as our exclusive first night reports, we regularly add show trailers, event promos, interviews, video diaries and behind-the-scenes footage.
You can view these – & many more – clips on the Whatsonstage.com Television Channel. If you’ve seen something you think is worth a watch for theatregoers, then please email us the clip or a link to it. Thanks for watching!
Pleasance hits 25 – Having opened with just 2 performance spaces at the 1985 festival, Pleasance has grown to be one of the biggest and fiercely popular venues at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe. This year, Pleasance will be presenting over 200 shows in 20 different theatre spaces. Their alumni includes the likes of Graham Norton, Paul Merton, The League of Gentlemen, Steve Coogan, Paul Whitehouse, Jo Brand, Jenny Éclair, Frank Skinner, Bill Bailey, Harry Hill and Simon Amstell along with many reputed theatre companies including Frantic Assembly, Trestle, NYT, Kneehigh and Peepolykus.
Women! – Making a welcome return to Edinburgh this year is Tom Allen with his latest show, Women! Allen won the 2005 competition So You Think You’re Funny in Edinburgh and went on to win the BBC New Comedy Award later that year. A regular on many top comedy TV shows, Allen’s startling sharp eyed observations make his shows tremendous fun and real stand out stand up. Featuring brilliantly charismatic story telling, his latest outing is geared towards “all the women he’s ever loved… but not like that” and is sure to be a top class evening of eloquent wit and effervescent humour.
One man to do it all – Canadian comic Charles Ross returned to the Fringe this year with his hilarious new show, One Man Lord Of The Rings, during which, he recreates the magical world of Middle-earth, armed with nothing more than a pair of elbow pads and his outrageous imagination. No props or costumes are required as Ross hurtles through the Tolkien trilogy – The Fellowship Of The Ring, The Two Towers and The Return Of The King – at break neck speed with brilliantly off the wall panache and surprisingly accurate impressions.
3Gaga Heads – for an altogether more barmy evening at the Festival, head over to the Underbelly and catch The Body Tights Man Show by 3Gaga Heads. Featuring a vast array of silliness, 3Gaga Heads bring their trademark brand of funny dances and pantomime comedy to Edinburgh straight from a storming run in Tokyo. If the experimental forums and countless stand ups become a bore, this is the perfect escape – just be sure you have a spare pair of tights back home to try it yourself!
Selections by David Grewcock. You can view these – & many more – clips on Whatsonstage.com/tv. If you’ve seen something you think is worth a watch for theatregoers, then please email us the clip or a link to it.
For full coverage of Edinburgh 2009, including reviews, interviews, news, gossip, blogs, features and videos, log on to Whatsonstage.com/Edinburgh2009
