Festival Looks Alwight
By Liam Rudden Arts and
household names ready to make an impact at this year’s extravaganza
SIXTIES sex-siren Britt Ekland, troubled gameshow host turned actor Michael Barrymore, below, and a play by Star Trek’s Mr Spock are among the highlights of the 2008 Edinburgh Festival Fringe, revealed today.
As previously reported, veteran funnywoman Joan Rivers will be joining the bill of the biggest arts extravaganza in the world, along with Any Dream Will Do contender Keith Jack, The Gentle Touch star Jill Gascoigne, actor Simon Callow and Clive James.
For all the sparkle, this year’s Fringe promises dark content, with hard-hitting dramas tackling everything from the death of a young soldier at Deepcut Barracks to the US massacres at Columbine and Virginia Tech.
This year’s programme, announced this morning, include plays tackling the London terrorist bombings of 7/7 and one in which the last moments of doomed flights, as recorded on black box recorders, are relived.
Star Trek actor Leonard Nimoy’s play, entitled Vincent, will be staged at the Assembly Rooms on George Street, and follows Vincent Van Gogh a week after the death of his brother.
Other productions focus on the impact of social networking sites such as Bebo and Facebook. The play Free Outgoing, from London’s Royal Court Theatre International Playwrights, emphasises the destructive nature of new technology as an Indian girl comes to be hated by the nation after a clip of her with a boy is texted across the country.
Speaking ahead of this morning’s launch of his inaugural programme, Jon Morgan, director of the Fringe, said: “It’s the artists and writers who decide exactly what shows make up the Fringe programme.
The wide range of shows that connect with current issues in our world shows the Fringe is an incredibly flexible platform for artists. The Fringe was founded on the principle of open access for all performers and it continues to be the best place to perform new work.”
The 2008 Fringe boasts 2088 shows at 247 venues, including 838 world premieres, 350 free shows and a cast of performers from 46 countries from Austria to Zimbabwe.
In the year that 90 per cent of Fringe comedy has been rebranded as the Edinburgh Comedy Festival, laughter becomes the dominant influence for the first time in a number of years with 660 comedy shows and 599 theatre productions.
The music strand also takes on a new look this year. There will be no Meadowbank gigs, but replacing the now defunct T on the Fringe will be The Edge Festival, with Kate Nash, Digitalism, Maximo Park and Plain White Ts among others.
Dave Corbet of DF Concerts, promoters of The Edge, said: “I’m looking forward to announcing a host of additional acts including a couple of very special guests, which will be unveiled in July.”
Local drama groups taking part in the Fringe will again be eligible for the Evening News Drama Awards, which will be announced shortly. Recognising their input into the long-running event, Mr Morgan added: “Local drama groups and performers have been part of every Fringe for the past 62 years and they are a very important part of the Fringe.”
The Edinburgh Festival Fringe runs from August 3-25.
COMEDY HOT TICKETS THE EDGE HOT TICKETS MUSICAL HOT TICKETS KIDS’ HOT TICKET
WITH more than 18,792 performers, the 2008 Edinburgh Festival Fringe will showcase the talents of more actors, comedians, dancers and musicians than ever before. In excess of 31,000 performances of 2088 productions will take place across 247 venues. Here, we highlight the shows not to miss when the biggest arts festival in the world comes to town.
CELEBRITY HOT TICKETS
A Work in Progress By a Life in Progress
US comedy icon Joan Rivers makes her Edinburgh Fringe acting debut in this self-penned autobiographical play.
Udderbelly, Bristo Square, Aug 7-25, 3.45pm, GBP 10-GBP 35, 0844- 545 8252
Britt Ekland – Britt on Britt
Join one of the 20th century’s most beautiful women and former Bond girl, as she looks through her remarkable life, from Sweden to Sellers.
Assembly, George Street, Jul 31-Aug 25 (not 20), 6.30pm, GBP 5- GBP 11.50, 0131-623 3030
Surviving Spike
Michael Barrymore and Strictly Come Dancing contender Jill Halfpenny star in a funny insight into the life of Spike Milligan.
Assembly, Jul 31-Aug 25 (not 11), 6.15pm, GBP 10-GBP 20
Sister Cities
TV star, best known as Maggie Forbes in the ITV cop drama The Gentle Touch, Jill Gascoine makes her Fringe debut in this dark comedy in which four sisters reunite for their mother’s alleged death.
Gilded Balloon Teviot, Bristo Square, Aug 1-24 (not 11, 18), 6.45pm, 0131-668 1633
Only The Brave
Keith Jack, the Dalkeith-born star of the BBC’s talent search Any Dream Will Do, makes his professional Fringe debut in a new musical inspired by true events.
George Square Theatre, Buccleuch Place, Jul 31-Aug 25, 6.15pm, 0131-662 8740
A Festival Dickens
Simon Callow revives two of Dickens’ mono-dramas. Forgotten for 150 years, these tales peopled by dwarves, giants and toffs are pure Dickensian gold.
Assembly Aug 7-25 (not 11, 18), 2pm, GBP 17.50-GBP 20
Look At What You Could Have Won
Ex-Bullseye presenter Jim Bowen hosts an entertaining lunchtime chat show.
Udderbelly, Aug 1-25, 12.30pm, GBP 12.50-GBP 14.50
Clive James In Conversation
The writer, broadcaster and raconteur who has been a UK institution for longer than her cares to remember chats with the literati and glitterati of Edinburgh’s festivals.
Assembly, Aug 19-24, 4.30pm, GBP 13-GBP 15
THEATRE HOT TICKETS
Deep Cut
Pvte Cheryl James died from gunshot wounds at Deepcut Barracks. Her parents still want answers from those responsible for her care. Crafted from source material and first-hand testimonies.
Traverse Theatre, Cambridge Street, Jul 31-Aug 24 (not 11, 18), various times, GBP 10-GBP 16, 0131-228 1404
Pornography
A shattering new play by Simon Stephens that captures Britain as it crashes from the euphoria of winning the 2012 Olympics to the devastation of 7/7 a few hours later.
Traverse Theatre, Aug 2-24, various times, GBP 11-GBP 18
On The Waterfront
Hot on the heels of its unanimously critically acclaimed and sold- out run at Nottingham Playhouse, theatre legend Steven Berkoff brings the stage version of the classic film to Edinburgh.
Pleasance Grand, The Pleasance, Jul 31-Aug 24, (not 5, 12, 19), GBP 7.50-GBP 15, 2pm, 0131-556 6550
Bill Bailey – Tinselworm
Fringe legend and Never Mind the Buzzcocks team captain Bill Bailey brings his critically acclaimed arena show to Edinburgh for one night only.
Gilded Balloon@Edinb urgh Playhouse, Greenside Place, Aug 14, 8pm, GBP 25, 0131-668 1633
Stephen K Amos – Find The Funny
A firm favourite at the Fringe, selling out year after year, the inimitable Stephen K Amos is back for the seventh time with his new show.
Pleasance Courtyard, Pleasance, Jul 30-Aug 25 (not 6, 13), GBP 8- GBP 15, 0131-556 6550
Paul Merton’s Silent Clowns
Join Paul Merton as he screens extracts from the very best silent comedians in some of their funniest films.
The Filmhouse, Lothian Road, Aug 8-16 (not 12), 2pm, GBP 13-GBP 14.50, 0131-228 2688
Rhona Cameron
Musselburgh’s very own funny lady returns for one week only. With her unique observational humour she tackles modern life and her struggles with it.
Gilded Balloon Teviot, Aug 18-25, 7.30pm, GBP 11.50-GBP 12.50
Dizzee Rascal
The walls of the Liquid Room will shake to the sounds of East London rapper Dizzee Rascal as the Mercury Music Prize winner brings to the Capital his critically acclaimed album Maths & English.
Liquid Room, Victoria Street, Aug 21, 7pm, GBP 15, 0131-225 2564
Maximo Park
Newcastle’s finest export since the famous brown ale, Maximo Park will provide a thrilling assault on the senses. With both their albums hitting the Top 20, these boys sure know how to belt out a cracking tune.
Corn Exchange, Aug 18, 7pm, GBP 17.50
Kate Nash
The tart-tongued British popstrel’s tongue-in-cheek look at life and relationships has captured the nation’s hearts. Her biggest Capital gig to date is set to be a sell out.
Corn Exchange, Aug 25, 7pm, GBP 15
LOCAL COMPANIES’ HOT TICKETS
The Full Monty
Tempo present the tale of six unemployed workers who decide to make some easy cash by forming a strip troupe. From the winners of last year’s Evening News Drama Award.
St Oswald’s Hall, Montpelier Park, Aug 9-16, 8.20pm, GBP 8-GBP 12, 0131-220 3234
Stramash at the Store
Take a trip back in time with Edinburgh People’s Theatre. It is 1962, the week before the State Visit to Edinburgh of King Olav of Norway. Meanwhile, in the Bread Street Store, the Cameras Department has a new assistant and a mysterious box turns up in the basement.
St Peter’s Church Hall, Lutton Place, Aug 2-23, 7.45pm, GBP 9, 0131-226 0000
Jekyll and Hyde
After previous Fringe sell-outs, Forth Children’s Theatre return in the gripping Broadway musical based on Robert Louis Stevenson’s gothic tale.
Inverleith Church Hall, Inverleith Gardens, Aug 8-12 (not 10), various times, GBP 8, 0131-538 6077
Masquerade!
Last year it was Disney, this year Edinburgh Music Theatre turn their attention to the works of Lloyd Webber in this celebration of Broadway and the West End.
St Andrew’s and St George’s Church, George Street, Aug 4-7, various times, GBP 10, 0131-226 0000
PHYSICAL THEATRE/DANCE HOT TICKETS
Caesar Twins
Fringe favourites Pablo and Pierre Caesar, the extraordinary identical twin stars of The Royal Variety Performance and La Clique, are back with a new take on their breathtaking, high-octane acrobatic variety show.
Udderbelly, Jul 21-Aug 25, 5.50pm
Big Bruvva – The Musical
A house, a big chair and a shower room. Add some bright young things who are not all that young, not all that bright, but are definitely things, and you have the basis of this new musical.
George Square Theatre, 3pm, Aug 5-25 (not 19), GBP 5-GBP 9.50
The Grease Lightnin’ Drag Show
After the success of last year’s Drag Sound of Music, the Australian ‘girls’ are back.
Gilded Balloon Teviot, Jul 30-Aug 25, 10.15pm, GBP 6-GBP 12
Robin Hood
Join the outlaw of Sherwood Forest and pelt the evil Sheriff of Nottingham in this piece of interactive theatre for kids.
The Merchant’s Hall, Hanover Street, Jul 31-Aug 17, 1.30pm, GBP 5, 0131-220 5911
WHERE TO BUY TICKETS
Book on 0131-226 0000 or online at www.ed fringe.com from Monday
Originally published by Liam Rudden Arts and Entertainment Editor.
(c) 2008 Evening News; Edinburgh (UK). Provided by ProQuest Information and Learning. All rights Reserved.