The Edinburgh Fringe Show, with Ewan Spence

The Edinburgh Fringe Show, with Ewan Spence

The Podcast Corner

Explore the world-renowned Edinburgh Festival Fringe with Ewan Spence through a mix of reviews, news, and interviews.

The Edinburgh Fringe Show 2024 Epilogue - Some Final Thoughts On The Fringe

The Edinburgh Fringe Show 2024 Epilogue - Some Final Thoughts On The Fringe

And with that, the Edinburgh Festival Fringe 2024 comes to an end. Trying to capture everything that happened is a task worthy of Hercules, so I hope that I’ve brought you a flavour of the Fringe during August. The Fringe has always faced challenges from its first days to this year and beyond. Instead of an interview to close out August, I wanted to talk a little about our Fringe community and my hope that over the next year, we can all listen to everyone’s concerns and work on solutions that b

Aug 26, 2024 • 11:48

The Edinburgh Fringe Show 2024 – Anthony Alderson, The Pleasance Theatre Trust

The Edinburgh Fringe Show 2024 – Anthony Alderson, The Pleasance Theatre Trust

As we come to the end of week three, we sit down with Anthony Alderson, director of The Pleaseance Theatre Trust. We touch on several critical issues running one of the largest venues at the Edinburgh Fringe, including the continuing impact of COVID and the importance of government funding to the Fringe community and The Pleasance. Given the cost of the Fringe is on everyone's minds, we talk about turnover, tickets, and artistic risk. We also talk about the work of The Plesance to support and

Aug 23, 2024 • 32:48

The Edinburgh Fringe Show 2024 – Tim Benzie, Solve Along A Murder She Wrote

The Edinburgh Fringe Show 2024 – Tim Benzie, Solve Along A Murder She Wrote

Tim Benzie joins us on the show today to talk about his two Fringe shows, "It's A Mystery" and "Solve Along A Murder She Wrote". Yes, he loves his cosy crime shows, but doesn't everyone secretly love a mystery? We start with the rules of detective fiction before our talk turns to Agatha Christie and Dame Angela Lansbury, how you can do a solve-along-a with a murder, and the advantages of having two shows at the Fringe where one is guaranteed to get the ticket sales.

Aug 22, 2024 • 24:29

The Edinburgh Fringe Show 2024 – Mark Dean Quinn, Oh No (That’s Not Your Cheese)

The Edinburgh Fringe Show 2024 – Mark Dean Quinn, Oh No (That’s Not Your Cheese)

Mark Dean Quinn joins me on the show today to do his best not to talk about his show 'Oh No (That's Not Your Cheese).' He's found the right level of fame, and doesn't feel the need to go any further. Nevertheless, we've lots to talk about, including the importance of the Free Fringe and how this can offer more artistic freedom, his work on the Edinburgh Fringe Performers' Forum, and why he is ready to help people before they get to Edinburgh. But does he eat cheese?

Aug 21, 2024 • 23:55

Edinburgh Fringe Show 2024 – Juliet Cowan, F*ck Off and Leave Me Alone

Edinburgh Fringe Show 2024 – Juliet Cowan, F*ck Off and Leave Me Alone

Juliet Cowan has an impressive CV of character roles in TV and film following her stand-up appearances, yet 2024 is her first hour of comedy at the Edinburgh Fringe.  The delightfully titled show has Cown looking at the impact of the menopause and its reflection on the rush of hormones in her teenage life. We...

Aug 20, 2024 • 24:30

The Edinburgh Fringe Show 2024 – Nina Gilligan, Goldfish

The Edinburgh Fringe Show 2024 – Nina Gilligan, Goldfish

To open up week three, I speak to Nina Gilligan on her show Goldfish. We start with the classic observation of a Goldfish's memory before exploring what that means to Nina and how it ties in with the show. We also go into the importance of "the hour" at the Fringe, why it is well suited to Nina's show, and how she could never be as vulnerable on the regular circuit as she can be in Edinburgh.

Aug 19, 2024 • 21:15

The Edinburgh Fringe Show 2024 – Rachel Kaly, Hospital Hour

The Edinburgh Fringe Show 2024 – Rachel Kaly, Hospital Hour

Rachel Kaly is over from the US to bring their debut hour to the Fringe. Hospital Hour looks at Kaly's many appointments and visits to the American healthcare system for psychological treatments. We also talk about what the fringe means in general and Edinburgh specifically. How do you know when an hour is ready for the Fringe, and how does the show change throughout the month?

Aug 16, 2024 • 19:34

The Edinburgh Fringe Show 2024 – Louise Atkinson, She’s Got The Look

The Edinburgh Fringe Show 2024 – Louise Atkinson, She’s Got The Look

A fun conversation with Louise Atkinson today as we talk about her show She's Got The Look. The press release provides my first question (to the light of morning DJs the world over), but we go into more topics on the business and art of being a comic. How can you make comedy accessible to everyone? How does Edinburgh fit into the United Kingdom's festival circuit, and why is the Fringe one of the biggest routes into comedy? And if it's all about rhythm, what beat does Louise work to?

Aug 15, 2024 • 22:22

The Edinburgh Fringe Show 2024 – John Meagher, Big Year

The Edinburgh Fringe Show 2024 – John Meagher, Big Year

John Meagher joins me on the podcast today to discuss his life and Edinburgh Fringe debut. 8 years after starting on his performing career, he has an hour for the Fringe. Big Year is that show, and it's an opportunity for John to look back over his life, from an island off the coast of Ireland to his own home in England. We talk about his approach to writing material and why it has to be personal, the various culture shocks throughout his life, finding love and looking back on his life to find

Aug 14, 2024 • 20:37

The Edinburgh Fringe Show 2024 – Natasha Pearl Hansen, The Right Amount of Wrong

The Edinburgh Fringe Show 2024 – Natasha Pearl Hansen, The Right Amount of Wrong

Today, I speak to Natasha Pearl Hansen. Following her breakout hour and comedy special retelling the moment she cancelled the wedding and turned it into a recording session for a live show, Natasha returns to the Fringe with The Right Amount of Wrong. It looks at life after that not-wedding day, finding the joy and the win in the day, and the journey that followed. We talk about that, but also the challenge of transferring US comedy to the UK, how to name a show so it can be easily pitched and

Aug 13, 2024 • 21:31

The Edinburgh Fringe Show 2024 – Vyte Garriga, Paper Swans

The Edinburgh Fringe Show 2024 – Vyte Garriga, Paper Swans

Vyte Garriga's Paper Swans is a mesmerising and thought-provoking piece of absurdist theatre that is picking up critical acclaim in the media covering the Fringe, and offering an emotionally complex hour for the audience. We talk about moving from Lithuania to the UK and London and why RADA felt like the only option for Vyte to further her career. From there, she talks about her academic studies and why she was hungry to be on stage, both individually and as part of a theatere company. Finally,

Aug 12, 2024 • 21:36

The Edinburgh Fringe Show 2024 – Jazz Emu, Knight Fever

The Edinburgh Fringe Show 2024 – Jazz Emu, Knight Fever

Archie Henderson joins me today. He's the creative mind behind Jazz Emu, a flamboyant singer with illusions of grandeur, as Emu looks to climb the dizzying pole of stardom. The show at the Fringe is a brash mix of musical fun, intense moments, and the drive to succeed in front of royalty. We talk about the influences of music and style behind Jazz Emu and how the audience interaction of a comic can apply to what is essentially a piece of musical theatre. How that changes depending on the venue

Aug 9, 2024 • 22:21

The Edinburgh Fringe Show 2024 – Julie Flower, Grandma’s Shop

The Edinburgh Fringe Show 2024 – Julie Flower, Grandma’s Shop

Joining me on the podcast today is Julie Flower, who has a story that looks at "love, memories and the stories our clothes have to tell." Bringing the true-life story of her Grnadma's counter-culture second-hand shop in Sheffield to the Fringe, we talk about the trailblazing nature of her relative, investigating your own family for personal and professional reasons, and subverting expectations.

Aug 8, 2024 • 20:42

The Edinburgh Fringe Show 2024 – Bebe Cave, The Screen Test

The Edinburgh Fringe Show 2024 – Bebe Cave, The Screen Test

Bebe Cave joins me today for the big interview. She's been a regular at the Fringe since she debuted in 2012 in a two-hander show with her sister, but this year is her first solo show. 'The Screen Test' is a period piece set in the Golden Age of Hollywood, but it talks about the industry demands of today, as well as a near century ago in Hollywood. We also talk about the delights of the heroines of the screwball comedy, finding the confidence to go out on stage, and the importance of family su

Aug 7, 2024 • 26:38

The Edinburgh Fringe Show 2024 – Finlay Christie, I Deserve This

The Edinburgh Fringe Show 2024 – Finlay Christie, I Deserve This

Today's interview is with Finlay Christie, a comic who has found success on the stage and online, with sell-out shows at the fringe and a popular YouTube channel that can bring hundreds of thousands of viewers to his material. His show ‘I Deserve This’ sees the 19-year-old question his success and how he balances the different needs of comedy for the online and offline worlds.

Aug 6, 2024 • 19:39

The Edinburgh Fringe Show 2024 -Alison Larkin, Grief… A Comedy

The Edinburgh Fringe Show 2024 -Alison Larkin, Grief… A Comedy

Today's interview is with Alison Larkin. She has brought "Grief… A Comedy" to the Fringe. It's a solo piece about Alison finding love late in her life before her partner died. Alison's grief took her on an unexpected journey full of hope, laughter, and a cameo from Archbishop Desmond Tutu… as all good stories must.

Aug 5, 2024 • 23:21

The Edinburgh Fringe Show 2024 – Darrell Martin, Just The Tonic

The Edinburgh Fringe Show 2024 – Darrell Martin, Just The Tonic

For our second preview of the Edinburgh Fringe, Ewan Spence talks to Darrell Martin, owner of the Just The Tonic venues. We talk about starting out at the Edinburgh Fringe with the Big Value Comedy Showcase before moving into venue management; the mix of ticketing at the Fringe (from Free to full price) and which Darrell thinks is best; the cost of attending the Fringe; and finally touch on the impact of politicial decision in Edinburgh and Scotland threaten the Festival.

Aug 2, 2024 • 26:26

The Edinburgh Fringe Show 2024 – Julie Lærkholm, Edinburgh Fringe Society

The Edinburgh Fringe Show 2024 – Julie Lærkholm, Edinburgh Fringe Society

For our second preview of the Edinburgh Fringe, Ewan Spence talks to Julie Lærkholm, the Community Engagement Officer at the Fringe Society to find out more about how the Fringe works with local communities, organisations, and schools, to make the Fringe more accessible to Edinburgh residents and the visiting audiences.

Jul 26, 2024 • 25:05

The Edinburgh Fringe Show 2024 – Chris Grace (Sardines, A Comedy About Death)

The Edinburgh Fringe Show 2024 – Chris Grace (Sardines, A Comedy About Death)

It's our first full preview of the Edinburgh Fringe 2024, as Ewan Spence meets Chris Grace to talk about his new solo show 'Sardines (A Comedy About Death)', how fringe theatre continues to be important to his career, and why the Edinburgh Fringe is such a magical time of year.

Jul 19, 2024 • 26:19

The Edinburgh Fringe Show 2024: Prologue

The Edinburgh Fringe Show 2024: Prologue

With August and the Edinburgh Fringe approaching, Ewan Spence opens up the season with our prologue to set the scene, and to listen to our traditional opening song from Daneil Cainer.

Jul 12, 2024 • 8:41

The Edinburgh Fringe Interview – Scott Matthewman on Reviewing Theatre

The Edinburgh Fringe Interview – Scott Matthewman on Reviewing Theatre

Reviews play a critical part in the Arts world, especially during the Edinburgh Festival. Who is reviewing you, did it read like a five-star, why is nobody turning up, and what can you do with them in September? In this podcast, I'm joined by Scott Matthewman. He has been working as a theatre critic for nearly twenty years, sometimes as a part-time freelancer and at other times as a fully employed staff writer. We talk about the importance of reviews and reviewers in the Arts, how reviewing has

Sep 18, 2023 • 31:06

The Edinburgh Fringe Show 2023 – Epilogue

The Edinburgh Fringe Show 2023 – Epilogue

Ewan Spence is joined by theatre producer Fin Ross Russell (The Collie’s Shed) to look back at this year’s Fringe, the preparation required, what happens next, and plans for 2024.

Sep 1, 2023 • 24:16

The Edinburgh Fringe Show 2023 – Paul Beeson (Never Trouble Trouble, Until Trouble Troubles You)

The Edinburgh Fringe Show 2023 – Paul Beeson (Never Trouble Trouble, Until Trouble Troubles You)

What does it mean to bring a legend back into the light? That’s the challenge faced by Two Halves Productions in the delightful tongue-twisty Never Trouble Trouble, Until Trouble Troubles You.  Writer and performer Paul Beeson joins the podcast to talk about the life of Bobby Walker, and portraying the legend at the Edinburgh Fringe. Joining Heart of Midlothian Football Club in 1896, Walker became one of the first footballing superstars; before fading from the public eye. What responsibilities

Aug 25, 2023 • 23:47

The Edinburgh Fringe Show 2023 – Cindy D’Andrea (Cat Shit Crazy)

The Edinburgh Fringe Show 2023 – Cindy D’Andrea (Cat Shit Crazy)

Cat Shit Crazy, with either an exclamation mark replacing the eye or a censored graphic over the title, caught a lot of attention as the Fringe started, in part due to the aforementioned ‘we can’t have that sort of thing on display at the Fringe’. Sometimes the best publicity comes as a surprise. But the show is about much more than that. Hollywood-based Cindy D’Andrea’s autobiographical show is much more than that. At one of the darkest moments in her life, her best friend suggested she should

Aug 24, 2023 • 21:46

The Edinburgh Fringe Show 2023 – Mario The Maker Magician

The Edinburgh Fringe Show 2023 – Mario The Maker Magician

What happens when you decide to make your own magic from whatever you can find around you? What happens when you add a dash of robotics to the magic? And then an old tomato soup can from the bin to be your next robot assistant. That’s the world of Mario The Maker Magician. It’s a family show packed with slapstick humour, handmade robots, and a lot of skill. THere’s a mix of science, creativity, showmanship, and laughter that is incredibly hard to balance. Mario makes it look easy.

Aug 23, 2023 • 19:33

The Edinburgh Fringe Show 2023 – Tom Mayhew (This Time Next Year, We’ll Be Millionaires!)

The Edinburgh Fringe Show 2023 – Tom Mayhew (This Time Next Year, We’ll Be Millionaires!)

When you do comedy, there’s always a message – the old adage of only punching up is born from many a hard-earned lesson on the stage. You can do that powerfully with force and aggression, but if you prefer a milder comedian, then why not ask Tom Mayhew. Tom’s show for 2023 is ‘This Time Next Year, We’ll Be Millionaires!’ and beyond the well-timed nod to something the audience may be more familiar with to catch their attention, Mayhew has much to say on capitalism, on hopes,

Aug 22, 2023 • 17:19

The Edinburgh Fringe Show 2023 – Benjamin Alborough (Absolute Monopoly!)

The Edinburgh Fringe Show 2023 – Benjamin Alborough (Absolute Monopoly!)

The Fringe is not static. Neither are board games, and the classic Monopoly is a perfect example. It’s not a great game, it’s poorly designed, and it ruins friendships and families. Benjamin Alborough not only has the arguments on the dangers of Monopoly, but is also going to reinvent the game with the help of the audience. Absolute Monopoly is an interactive yet rather chaotic gameshow; from going through the rules through becoming the board to play the game, to deciding the winner. If there’s

Aug 21, 2023 • 18:11

The Edinburgh Fringe Show 2023 – Rebecca McGlynn (Asexuality!)

The Edinburgh Fringe Show 2023 – Rebecca McGlynn (Asexuality!)

Rebecca McGlynn’s musical ‘Asexuality’ asks what it means to be a man in the 21st century and how toxic masculinity affects those of us assigned male at birth. It’s an autobiographical musical comedy about Rebecca’s life before transitioning. Sitting down with Rebecca in a brief moment of sun, we talk about the power of Sondheim and choosing to do a musical for a show about queer identity; and why life never fits in a nice three-act structure.

Aug 18, 2023 • 24:13

The Edinburgh Fringe Show 2023 – Colleen Lavin (Do the Robots Think I’m Funny?)

The Edinburgh Fringe Show 2023 – Colleen Lavin (Do the Robots Think I’m Funny?)

One part of the Edinburgh Fringe for every performer is being judged; by the audiences, by the industry, by the reviewers, and pretty much every part of the business. Which makes it all the more interesting that Colleen Lavin has not only built a robot to judge her, but it’s doing it live, every day, in from of an audience. In ‘’Do The Robots Think I’m Funny’, Colleen asks what it means to be insecure in the modern world, how comedy and improv mix, and the differences between a room in Chicago

Aug 17, 2023 • 23:39

The Edinburgh Fringe Show 2023 – Sid Singh (Table For One)

The Edinburgh Fringe Show 2023 – Sid Singh (Table For One)

Featuring cameos from Columbo and The Eiffel Tower, here’s my chat with Sid Singh. His Fringe show for 2023 is “Table for One”, where Sing talks about his dual career as a stand-up comic and human rights advocate - careers that see him taking on the US Government over human rights before dealing with deportation from India while staying in Germany.  The show, which is supporting and raising money for the Centre for Gender and Refugee Studies, asks how you can fight the good fight while you are

Aug 16, 2023 • 22:20

The Edinburgh Fringe Show 2023 – Emily Walsh (Dad Girl)

The Edinburgh Fringe Show 2023 – Emily Walsh (Dad Girl)

Emily Walsh brings her show ‘Dad Girl’ from the clubs of New York to the Grassmarket of Edinburgh. Emily does not know if she wants kids, but she would like to be a dad. It’s a show about making decisions in a world where others believe the decision has already been made for you by society. The Fringe offers something that many comics, including Emily, rarely get. A chance to spend an hour with an audience. That allows more complex topics to be addressed, to go into much greater depth, but also

Aug 15, 2023 • 21:06

The Edinburgh Fringe Show 2023 – Sikisa (Hear Me Out)

The Edinburgh Fringe Show 2023 – Sikisa (Hear Me Out)

Sikisa’s Hear Me Out is her second hour-long show at the Edinburgh Fringe. During last year’s debut, after reading a passage of text an audience member wondered if she might be dyslexic. To cut a long story short (and not give away any spoilers), Sikisa was diagnosed, and this year’s show is about that journey. Sikisa and I talk about her performance and how it rarely reflects how she is away from the comedy stage, the importance of music, and how her 2023 show can be summed up in a single ques

Aug 14, 2023 • 20:45

The Edinburgh Fringe Show 2023 – Bed: The Musical

The Edinburgh Fringe Show 2023 – Bed: The Musical

‘Bed The Musical’ is centred around the titular piece of furniture. The show examines a twenty-year-long marriage through the presence of the bed that Alice and Ben bought instead of going on a honeymoon. If beds could tell their own stories, this bed has a tale to tell, and it’s all put to song. Written by Tim Anfilogoff and Alan Whittaker Bed is a musical about a place we spend a third of our life in, and much more of our life around it, making it, and thinking up new things to do in it., A

Aug 11, 2023 • 21:16

The Edinburgh Fringe Show 2023 – Patrick Susmilch (Texts from My Dead Friends)

The Edinburgh Fringe Show 2023 – Patrick Susmilch (Texts from My Dead Friends)

Patrick Susmilch has spent time looking back over all the messages, memes, and moments with his friends on social media. Many are still around, yet some have died. Through those older messages, he feels connected to those who have passed on. Through the medium of PowerPoint presentations, Susmilch introduces us to his dead friends, their impact on his life, the bursts of joy and laughter as well as darker moments. Think Twilight Zone and Black Mirror mixed with Who’s Line Is It Anyway.

Aug 10, 2023 • 25:10

The Edinburgh Fringe Show 2023 – Chloe Radcliffe (Cheat)

The Edinburgh Fringe Show 2023 – Chloe Radcliffe (Cheat)

If the world is becoming more used to shades of grey, why is infidelity still a black-and-white conflict with a clear villain? Chloe Radcliffe is one of many comics who has made the trip from the US to Edinburgh this year (something, something. exchange rate, half-price trip, something). Her show. ‘Cheat’ is in the classic fringe style of examining the human condition first through the eyes of the comic and their lived experience, before moving that out to the wider world and finding something

Aug 9, 2023 • 19:19

The Edinburgh Fringe Show 2023 – Kuan-wen Huang (Ilha Formosa)

The Edinburgh Fringe Show 2023 – Kuan-wen Huang (Ilha Formosa)

Kuan-wen Huang’s Fringe show for 2023 is ‘Ilha Formosa’, (which means ‘beautiful island’ in Portuguese, a nod towards the sailors who landed on the islands in the 16th century). In it, he talks about how he traded his beloved Taiwan for the rainy British Isles, what it means to be Taiwanese and what it symbolises through generations of migration and shifting identities. The show does have some autobiographical elements, how could it not given its subject, but it does offer that time-honoured us

Aug 8, 2023 • 21:30

The Edinburgh Fringe Show 2023 – Emily Carding (Let The Bodies Pile)

The Edinburgh Fringe Show 2023 – Emily Carding (Let The Bodies Pile)

The Edinburgh Fringe is a mix of every genre and emotion; from stand-up and dance, through music, to cabaret and theatre, and beyond, the Fringe swings from light and fluffy to hard-hitting and heavy themes and emotions. It’s the latter that we’re going to talk about in this episode. Emily Carding is one of the performers in Let The Bodies Pile, the other performer, Henry Naylor, is also the writer. This is an intensely political piece that looks at the reaction to Covid here in the United King

Aug 7, 2023 • 23:02

The Edinburgh Fringe Show 2023 – Bedlam Theatre Returns To The Fringe

The Edinburgh Fringe Show 2023 – Bedlam Theatre Returns To The Fringe

Bedlam Theatre is home to the Edinburgh University Theatre Company… and when August comes around Bedlam Fringe comes around with an eclectic and varied programme of shows. Except it’s not been at the Fringe since 2019. That changes this year, as the gothic 90-seat theatre opens its doors once more. Ewan sat down with venue manager Marie Rimolsrønning to find out what it takes to return to the Fringe, what Bedlam represents, and some of the shows we can expect.

Jul 31, 2023 • 30:01

The Edinburgh Fringe Show 2023 – Marc Burrows (The Magic Of Terry Pratchett)

The Edinburgh Fringe Show 2023 – Marc Burrows (The Magic Of Terry Pratchett)

In today's Fringe 2023 preview, Ewan is joined by long-time friend of the parish Marc Burrows. He’s bringing three shows to Edinburgh this year… a classic stand-up, a second show that talks about what happened in his third show, and a third show that takes us through the life and work of Sir Terry Pratchett. When did Marc decide to bring Sir Terry to the Fringe, why the footnotes that Pratchett loved are part of the experience, and what was he thinking when he added a third show to his already

Jul 24, 2023 • 37:13

The Edinburgh Fringe Show 2023 – Anu Vaidyanathan (Blimp)

The Edinburgh Fringe Show 2023 – Anu Vaidyanathan (Blimp)

The Edinburgh Fringe is drawing closer, so let's continue our previews, talking to some of the artists who will be arriving in August. In our second preview ahead of Fringe 2023, Ewan chats with Anu Vaidyanathan about her show 'Blimp', and her busy creative life. She is a comedian, filmmaker, director, and triathlete; Anu brings her show to the Fringe, exploring her nomadic and creative life with the audience.

Jul 17, 2023 • 32:04

The Edinburgh Fringe Show 2023 – jD Shapiro (Stories From The Hood To Hollywood)

The Edinburgh Fringe Show 2023 – jD Shapiro (Stories From The Hood To Hollywood)

Our first full preview of the Edinburgh Fringe 2023, and Ewan meets jD Shapiro to talk about his second Edinburgh show “Stories From The Hood To Hollywood”. How does stand-up fit into his career as a writer and director, what did he learn at the Fringe last year, and why has he come back to Edinburgh?

Jul 10, 2023 • 32:39

The Edinburgh Fringe Show 2023: Prologue

The Edinburgh Fringe Show 2023: Prologue

As we prepare to explore another year of the Edinburgh Fringe, Ewan Spence opens up the season with our traditional musical prologue from Daniel Cainer.

Jul 8, 2023 • 7:38

The Edinburgh Fringe Archives – Rob Lloyd (Who Me, 2017)

The Edinburgh Fringe Archives – Rob Lloyd (Who Me, 2017)

‘Who, Me’ launched in Australia in 2011, and has been a popular hour on the touring circuit since then. It’s always nice to have a show that always sells at the Fringe. to go along with your regular set. This is the show that made bank for Rob… and still does. He joins myself and co-host Jon Jacob in the Rose Street Theatre; we broadcast the podcast live in 2017, so everything was one take, get it right, fun and games. So now, ‘vworp vworp’ back in time to the Fringe, back to the time as a new

Mar 9, 2023 • 13:43

The Edinburgh Fringe Archives – Des Bishop (Grey Matters, 2016)

The Edinburgh Fringe Archives – Des Bishop (Grey Matters, 2016)

Getting his big break on Irish television in 2004, and then working up the rungs to his first Edinburgh show in 2010. The momentum kept building, including a sting of becoming fluent in Chinese to do a stand up show in the country, multiple years selling out venues at the Fringe, and bringing back something bigger each year. It’s easy to be an observations comic. It’s hard to be a really good observational comic. Des makes it look easy. In my minds eye, let’s head to our luxury studio beside a

Mar 2, 2023 • 17:52

The Edinburgh Fringe Archives – MJ Hibbert (Hey Hey 16K, 2015)

The Edinburgh Fringe Archives – MJ Hibbert (Hey Hey 16K, 2015)

Following on from the viral success of his retro throwback to the days of the ZX Spectrum and other 8-bit home computers, MJ Hibbett brought his musical mix of comedy and meme-ability to the Edinburgh Fringe… although the hit song was released in 2000, and he didn’t make the Fringe till 2015, this might feel tenuous but when you have a one-hit wonder online, you live the dream. MJ, along with Steven Hewitt, expanded that little ditty into a time-travelling rock and roll opera, mixing in Back to

Feb 23, 2023 • 0:00

The Edinburgh Fringe Archives – Old Trunk (The Bastard Children Of Remington Steele)

The Edinburgh Fringe Archives – Old Trunk (The Bastard Children Of Remington Steele)

Put on by Old Trunk in 2014 - Sadie Hasler (Playwright/Actor) and Sarah Mayhew (Director/Actor) brought The Bastard) Children of Remington Steele to The Fringe. The play is less about about the television series and more about life and finding a place in it Curiously, this show was a double-header at the Fringe - while this and ‘The Secret Wives Of Andy Williams’ were both standalone plays, they were also designed to be seen in partnership with each other and create a larger story. The podcast

Feb 16, 2023 • 15:29

The Edinburgh Fringe Archives – Jeremy Nicholas (After Dinner Stories From My Disastrous Broadcasting Career, 2018)

The Edinburgh Fringe Archives – Jeremy Nicholas (After Dinner Stories From My Disastrous Broadcasting Career, 2018)

Jeremy Nicholas’ career includes working as a news and sports reporter from his early days at studio radio, an award-winning breakfast radio show on BBC Greater London, recognition for his live commentary at the horrific Hillsborough Disaster, the Professional Speaking Award of Excellence, and 11 years as the voice of the FIFA computer games. 2018 saw Jeremy bring a show packed full of anecdotes, hilarity, and humility to the Edinburgh Fringe with the keyword packed ‘After Dinner Stories From

Feb 2, 2023 • 12:52

The Edinburgh Fringe Archives – Matt Parker (Humble Pi, 2019)

The Edinburgh Fringe Archives – Matt Parker (Humble Pi, 2019)

Maths and stand-up is a strange formula - but one that clearly has an abundance of puns if you put your mind to it. One performer who has put their mind to it is Matt Parker. Like many performers at the Fringe, he’s Australian but lives in the United Kingdom. His early days at the Fringe saw him appear in ‘multi bill' shows, with two other scientists, taking 20 minutes each... before he stepped up to a full solo show. One of those hours was in 2019, with Humble Pi. Based on the book of the sam

Jan 26, 2023 • 17:35

The Edinburgh Fringe Archives – Dominic Holland (Eclipsed, 2017)

The Edinburgh Fringe Archives – Dominic Holland (Eclipsed, 2017)

Dominic Holland made his name at the Fringe. His first time in Edinburgh, in 1993 he won the Perrier Best Newcomer award, and was later nominated for the full Perrier. He’s made TV appearances, is a regular on the circuit… and was anointed by Bob Monkhouse as "Britain's funniest not yet famous comedian". He’s a stand-up with many highs (and lows). He’s also a father, and in 2017 he brought his show ‘Eclipsed’ to the Free Fringe. The eclipse in question is by his son Tom Holland. How was Domini

Jan 19, 2023 • 18:28

The Edinburgh Fringe Archives – Rich Batsford (Classically Chilled Piano, 2015)

The Edinburgh Fringe Archives – Rich Batsford (Classically Chilled Piano, 2015)

Popping up for a single week at the Edinburgh Fringe - something that was becoming a more popular option in recent years due to the cost and complexity of the Fringe - Rich Batsford brought his piano to the Festival. Was this a rock n roll hour of gags and wordplay? No. But it was a master at work. The Fringe is more than stand-up comedy, and our Fringe interviews always try to get the same balance. And this certainly was it - Batsford could capture the room in the same way as any Perrier nomi

Jan 12, 2023 • 16:26

The Edinburgh Fringe Archives – Lady Carol (Lost and Found, 2014)

The Edinburgh Fringe Archives – Lady Carol (Lost and Found, 2014)

Lady Carol, a Fringe stalwart then and now, back on the touring circuit of cabaret and festivals and the like, returned to the Fringe in 2014 with a mandolin and ukulele in tow, Billed as a show with songs of spirited spite and tales of melancholic mischief, Lost and Found, has 30 songs, and 30 stories, and of course, you can’t get all of that into a single hour. The random nature guaranteed something different for every audience, kept the show fresh for the whole month, but perhaps made it dif

Jan 5, 2023 • 16:36

The Edinburgh Fringe Archives – Jess Robinson (Impressive, 2016)

The Edinburgh Fringe Archives – Jess Robinson (Impressive, 2016)

Performing regularly since 2004’s appearance on Dead Ringers, various roles in the audio adventures of Doctor Who from Big Finish, and one of the “we need a voice” actors called on by the Horrible Histories troupe, Jess Robinson has been in the business for well over a decade before making it to the Fringe. 2016 saw impressionist Jess Robinson’s third show at the Edinburgh Fringe. I,pressive opens with a promise of 99 voices in the first 5 minutes before a gentler pace kicked in and a storytel

Dec 29, 2022 • 14:27

The Edinburgh Fringe Archives – Carey Marx (Intensive Carey, 2013)

The Edinburgh Fringe Archives – Carey Marx (Intensive Carey, 2013)

Carey Marx’ Fringe in 2013 is the sort of one-line elevator pitch that Hollywood loves - ‘I had to cancel my show in 2012 because I had a heart attack… let’s talk about that in 2013’. Marx was already an accomplished storyteller who had that delightful ability to keep the story on the straight and narrow but twist everything else just a little, under the surface, and capture the audience. Intensive Carey - which is still a fabulous pun nearly ten years later - did just that. The Fringe is also

Dec 22, 2022 • 16:23

The Edinburgh Fringe Archives – Mike Bubbins (Retrosexual Male, 2017)

The Edinburgh Fringe Archives – Mike Bubbins (Retrosexual Male, 2017)

It’s Mike Bubbins’ turn to escape the archive. He’s a Welsh comic who has carved out a great little space in the scene as “the comic who does the seventies”. His fringe show forom 2017 is quintessential Bubbins, as he looks back at the seventies, what made it great, and what we can learn from it intoday’s world. He’s continued that mix of cultural time travel in his 2021 TV series Mamoth, where he plays “Tony Mammoth, a Welsh PE teacher, missing presumed dead in an avalanche in the Alps in 197

Dec 15, 2022 • 12:10

The Edinburgh Fringe Archives – Ismo Leikola (Observing The Obvious, 2015)

The Edinburgh Fringe Archives – Ismo Leikola (Observing The Obvious, 2015)

This week I want to head back to 2015. That year the show was broadcast live on Leith FM community radio, as well as being a podcast, with a number of guest hosts joining me - so you’ll hear the voice of WUSB New York’s Emma Backfish - as well as our comedy just… Finland’s Ismo Leikola. For countless decades, the ‘observational comedy’ routine has been a staple of stand ups… yes we have all seen just how many Cafe Nero’s there are, and how many stamps you need to get a free coffee, but Ismo bro

Dec 8, 2022 • 11:58

The Edinburgh Fringe Archives – James Seager and Les Enfants Terribles (Vaudevillans, 2016)

The Edinburgh Fringe Archives – James Seager and Les Enfants Terribles (Vaudevillans, 2016)

Everyone at the Fringe is inventive, but one group is very much associated with that in my mind, Les Enfant Terribles. Formed in 2002 by James Seager and Oliver Lansley, they have brought many shows to the Fringe over the years, from psychological World War One horror, through Piratosaurs, to 2016’s vaudevillans;a classic murder caper mixed with a variety show. James Seager popped into our studio that year to explain it… although that year the studio was a shed next to a double decker bus that

Dec 1, 2022 • 12:44

The Edinburgh Fringe Archives – Jeff Innocent (Eco-Worrier, 2006)

The Edinburgh Fringe Archives – Jeff Innocent (Eco-Worrier, 2006)

An artist at heart with a long and varied list of interests, Jeff Innocent went on a stand-up comedy course in 1996 - led by alt-comedy legend Tony Allen - and he’s not stopped since then. Jeff has carved out a place in the UK stand-up scene like no other, as well as working as a writer and actor. In 2006 he brought the show Eco-worrier to the Edinburgh Fringe - environmentalism remains a strong part of his ethos to this day - and it’s interesting to be reminded of how the path looked some 16 y

Nov 17, 2022 • 16:34

The Edinburgh Fringe Archive – Celia Pacquola (Let Me Know How It All Works Out, 2014)

The Edinburgh Fringe Archive – Celia Pacquola (Let Me Know How It All Works Out, 2014)

2014 saw Australian comic Celia Pacquola return to Edinburgh for her fourth Fringe Show. ‘Let Me Know How It All Worked Out’ looked at the world of psychics and their promise of foretelling the future; specifically one who said she would never have children. (Spoiler… congratulations are in order, Celia and her partner had their first child earlier this year,). Since the Fringe Pacquola moved frequently between the UK Australia, with various apeprances, scriptwriting, and starring appearances

Nov 10, 2022 • 13:18

The Edinburgh Fringe Archive – Shedload Theatre (The Statement of Randolph Carter, 2015)

The Edinburgh Fringe Archive – Shedload Theatre (The Statement of Randolph Carter, 2015)

The world of H P Lovecraft is one that many people have explored, both the horror of the writing and the horror of the man. In 2015 Shedload Theatre looked at the former, in an inventive show called The Statement Of Randolph Carter. The big moment in the show is the Foley work. The show is presented as a radio play, and that means lots of sound effects performed live. The story is very much classic horror, but the theatre experience is much more visual than you would expect… and thoroughly enga

Nov 3, 2022 • 17:08

The Edinburgh Fringe Archive – Sofie Hagen (Bubblewrap, 2015)

The Edinburgh Fringe Archive – Sofie Hagen (Bubblewrap, 2015)

Sofie Hagen started their stand-up career in their home country of Denmark, before quickly moving to London to further their career. 2015 brought the debut show to Edinburgh. Bubblewrap examined issues of depression and mental health, difficult teenage years, and attacking the beauty industry, all with just a dash of Westlie and a perfectly cringe reading of their Westlife Fan Fiction. It’s fair to say that Hagen nailed the Edinburgh experience, with the ‘Best Newcomer award from the (no long

Oct 27, 2022 • 13:33

The Edinburgh Fringe Archive – Little Soldier Productions (The Ingenious Gentleman Don Quixote of La Mancha, 2014)

The Edinburgh Fringe Archive – Little Soldier Productions (The Ingenious Gentleman Don Quixote of La Mancha, 2014)

The Fringe is not just a recruiting vehicle for Live at the Apollo, there’s more to comedy, more to the fringe, than that. You can have theatrical performances that bring the art of clowning and farce to the stage alongside pathos and examination of the human condition. In 2014, Little Soldier Productions brought its first production to the Fringe, the aforementioned Don Quixote show, which took massive liberties with the story, twisted reality and fantasy, and ignored any semblance of structur

Oct 20, 2022 • 16:21

The Edinburgh Fringe Archive – Tim Fitzhigham (Flanders And Swann, At The Drop Of A Hippopotamus, 2016)

The Edinburgh Fringe Archive – Tim Fitzhigham (Flanders And Swann, At The Drop Of A Hippopotamus, 2016)

There are Fringe performers, there are Fringe stalwarts, and then there is Tim FitzHigham This Gentleman Explorer has spent decades at the Fringe, bringing shows about his madcap activities that he has attempted in the previous twelve months…most notably he was the first person to row across the English Channel in a bathtub, held the British and European record for the longest Washing Line, and was part of an obscure show called “Alex Horne: The Taskmaster” in 2010. I wonder what happened to t

Oct 13, 2022 • 19:04

The Edinburgh Fringe Archive – Adam Kay (Bum Notes, 2012)

The Edinburgh Fringe Archive – Adam Kay (Bum Notes, 2012)

I’ve talked before about the podcast archive giving us a window into the past when the recognisable names of today were still figuring their artistic life out. That’s very much the case with Adam Kay. With 'The London Underground' song becoming the breakout viral hit of 2005 (or at least as viral as you could manage in 2005) he started his appearances at the Edinburgh Fringe. We join his story in 2012, where his mix of songs and storytelling settled into the 'Fringe Favourite' list, with multi

Oct 6, 2022 • 14:50

The Edinburgh Fringe Archive – Kate Smurthwaite (The News At Kate: Leftie Cockwomble, 2014)

The Edinburgh Fringe Archive – Kate Smurthwaite (The News At Kate: Leftie Cockwomble, 2014)

2014 is our destination this week, for that year’s ‘News At Kate’ from Kate Smurthwaite. Smurthwaite’s TV writing credits include ‘Have I Got News For You’ and ‘The Revolution Will be Televised’ her words have appeared in The Guardian, New Statesman, Cosmopolitan, and more; and she has made countless appearances discussing politics over the years. 2022 saw the award-winning Smurthwaite bring “The News At Kate: Humanity’s Last Hope” to the Edinburgh Fringe. “The News At Kate” is a lynchpin of

Sep 29, 2022 • 15:53

The Edinburgh Fringe Archive – Sarah Kendall (Get Up, Stand Up, 2012)

The Edinburgh Fringe Archive – Sarah Kendall (Get Up, Stand Up, 2012)

This week we’re back to 2012 once more, as former Perrier nominee Sarah Kendall returned to the Fringe after a five year absence. “Get Up, Stand Up” (or is it “Get Up, Stand-Up”, how delightfully interpretive) takes on a more storytelling approach than a bang-bang-jokes routine, and Kendall’s acting chops wer brought to the fore in an hour of pitch perfect raccentouring, reflecting on motherhood, the world that her daughter was growing up in, all wrapped up by the tale of the Ugly Duckling. He

Sep 22, 2022 • 12:58

The Edinburgh Fringe Archive – Tiff Stevenson (Uncomfortably Numb, 2012)

The Edinburgh Fringe Archive – Tiff Stevenson (Uncomfortably Numb, 2012)

Tiff Stevenson has been a Fringe fixture since 2006, debuting as a solo act in 2009. Stevenson was already established on the circuit in 2012 when, following her appearance in ITV's 'Show Me The Funny', she brought 'Uncomfortably Numb' to Edinburgh, She continues to bring new material to the Fringe, with this year’s 'Sexy Brain' picking up five star reviews; And year round she runs and MCs the monthly new material night 'Old Rope' each month at London’s Comedy Store. So let’s go back in time,

Sep 15, 2022 • 10:52

The Edinburgh Fringe Archive – Arthur Smith (…Sings Leonard Cohen, volume 2, 2013)

The Edinburgh Fringe Archive – Arthur Smith (…Sings Leonard Cohen, volume 2, 2013)

Into the archives once more with another Fringe legend. Over the years, Arthur Smith has performed countless stand-up sets at the Fringe, been arrested for some outdoor shows, wrote his own review and snuck it into The Scotsman, kidnapped a puppet, and many more adventures lost to time. In 2013 he performed the second of three shows around his love of Leonard Cohen and how his music is wrapped around Arthur’s life. We invited him into our podcast studio to tell us more about “Arthur Smith Sings

Sep 8, 2022 • 15:28

The Edinburgh Fringe Archive – Phoebe Waller-Bridge (Fleabag, 2013)

The Edinburgh Fringe Archive – Phoebe Waller-Bridge (Fleabag, 2013)

In our first trip into the archive, we start with Fleabag. Directed by Vicky Wood, written and performed by Phoebe Waller-Bridge, this small show from 2013 took place in the depths of the Underbelly. It remains the gold standard of Fringe legends... from a theatrical dare, to a short stand-up like ten minutes, to a 'that's so Fringe' run in Edinburgh, and then onwards into the zeitgeist Phoebe and Vicky joined Ewan Spence in the podcast studio to talk about the origins of Fleabag, highlight the

Sep 1, 2022 • 11:59

Introducing The Edinburgh Fringe Archives

Introducing The Edinburgh Fringe Archives

As we prepare to explore nearly twenty years of Fringe coverage, Ewan Spence offers a quick audio glance into the archives to give you a taste of what’s to come with some Fringe moments from Phoebe Waller-Bridge, Arthur Smith, and Tiff Stevenson.

Aug 29, 2022 • 2:20

The Edinburgh Fringe Show 2022 – Looking Back Over This Year’s Fringe

The Edinburgh Fringe Show 2022 – Looking Back Over This Year’s Fringe

As the sun sets on the Edinburgh Festival Fringe for 2022, Fin Ross and Ewan look back on this year's Fringe. How has it felt welcoming the Festival back to the city. Can we offer four more recommended shows for the last night or two in August? And what dangers lie ahead for the Fringe in 2023? All that, and a sneak peek to some Fringe podcasts coming up in September.

Aug 28, 2022 • 29:10

The Edinburgh Fringe Show 2022 – Lynn Ferguson (Storyland)

The Edinburgh Fringe Show 2022 – Lynn Ferguson (Storyland)

The world is full of stories. Lynn Ferguson works with stories every day, and her show at this year's Fringe mixes a love of stories, how the tales we all tell reveal who we are, and the stories of invited guests, to create 'Lynn Ferguson's Storyland'. Ewan and Lynn sit down to talk about the power of stories as the Fringe begins its final weekend of 2022.

Aug 27, 2022 • 15:34

The Edinburgh Fringe Show 2022 – Ronnie Golden (Fringe Legend)

The Edinburgh Fringe Show 2022 – Ronnie Golden (Fringe Legend)

It might just be a ten-minute appearance at this year's Fringe thanks to an invite from John Cooper Clark, but Ronnie Golden is once more in Edinburgh during August. Ronnie is a Fringe legend, having taken part in the Festival since 1984, sometimes alone, sometimes with his band, and sometimes with the great Barry Cryer. Ewan sits down to talk about the history of the Fringe and what comes next both for the Fringe and for Ronnie.

Aug 26, 2022 • 13:05

The Edinburgh Fringe Show 2022 – Fills Monkey (We Will Drum You)

The Edinburgh Fringe Show 2022 – Fills Monkey (We Will Drum You)

Can you do an entire show using only drums? Fills Money has done just that, as they bring their delightful mix of percussion, props, and pantomime to the Edinburgh Fringe this year. The show is full of moments of "ooh, it's that tune" and we're not going to spoil it for you, but we are going to talk to one of the drummers about the story of the band, how they met, and how they've travelled the world with this show just to end up in Edinburgh.

Aug 25, 2022 • 16:08

The Edinburgh Fringe Show 2022 – Jenna Fincken (Ruckus)

The Edinburgh Fringe Show 2022 – Jenna Fincken (Ruckus)

'Ruckus' deals with issues around coercive control in a relationship. Ewan listens to writer and performer Jenna Fincken explain the research that went into the play, the powerful message that it delivers, and guiding the audience through an emotional and powerful piece of theatre.

Aug 24, 2022 • 17:29

The Edinburgh Fringe Show 2022 – Max Percy (This Is Not A Show About Hong Kong)

The Edinburgh Fringe Show 2022 – Max Percy (This Is Not A Show About Hong Kong)

Max Percy joins Fin to discuss his brilliantly titled ‘This is Not a Show About Hong Kong’. We explore the legal necessity of such a long title, the importance of developing your own artistic language and the challenge in trying to artistically represent a situation as complicated as that of Hong Kong.

Aug 23, 2022 • 14:55

The Edinburgh Fringe Show 2022 – Will Pickvance (Half Man Half Piano)

The Edinburgh Fringe Show 2022 – Will Pickvance (Half Man Half Piano)

Will Pickvance joins Ewan Spence to talk about his mix of music and storytelling at this year's Fringe. From the first moments of being already on stage and playing as the audience arrive, through a gentle journey, to the final moments that wrap music and story together, his latest show continues to showcase a unique style.

Aug 22, 2022 • 17:02

The Edinburgh Fringe Show 2022 – Nell Bailey (How To Build A Wax Figure)

The Edinburgh Fringe Show 2022 – Nell Bailey (How To Build A Wax Figure)

Nell Bailey of November Theatre joins Fin Ross to talk about the theatre's Fringe offering for 2022, ‘How To Build a Wax Figure’. We talk about queer love in 2022, crowd-funding a Fringe experience and how on earth a play was devised in which an anatomical wax sculptor falls in love with a maker of prosthetic eyes.

Aug 21, 2022 • 15:11

The Edinburgh Fringe Show 2022 – Making The Fringe Accessible

The Edinburgh Fringe Show 2022 – Making The Fringe Accessible

Ewan talks to live captioner Claire Hill (Claire Hill Realtime) and Jonnny Patton (producer and programmer for The Pleasance) about the various accessible shows at The Pleasance; including audio described, captioned, signed, relaxed shows and touch tours, as part of the Fringe.

Aug 20, 2022 • 17:48

The Edinburgh Fringe Show 2022 – This Week’s Fringe Review And Recommendations

The Edinburgh Fringe Show 2022 – This Week’s Fringe Review And Recommendations

Fin Ross and Ewan sit down together after another week of The Fringe to talk about the shows they have seen, the marathon of performing in Edinburgh, and to discuss the big news stories from the biggest Arts Festival in the world. They also pick out four shows to recommend for this weekend in the Capital.

Aug 20, 2022 • 21:30

The Edinburgh Fringe Show 2022 – Shelly Middler (The Collie’s Shed)

The Edinburgh Fringe Show 2022 – Shelly Middler (The Collie’s Shed)

It’s time for an East Lothian story as Fin talks to writer/director Shelley Middler about her new play ‘The Collie’s Shed’. We learn about East Lothian’s mining heritage, the effects of the pit closures on local communities across the county and the eerie parallels between politics then and now.

Aug 19, 2022 • 14:01

Edinburgh Fringe Show 2022 – Ignacio Lopez (El Cómico)

Edinburgh Fringe Show 2022 – Ignacio Lopez (El Cómico)

Ewan sits down with Igancio Lopez to talk about the family name being passed down the years, performing indoors in the heat of an Edinburgh summer, and why he hasn’t brought his Lockdown Quiz Nights to the Edinburgh Fringe.

Aug 18, 2022 • 15:30

Edinburgh Fringe Show 2022 – Lubna Kerr (Tickbox)

Edinburgh Fringe Show 2022 – Lubna Kerr (Tickbox)

Fin Ross speaks to fellow Edinburgh native Lubna Kerr about her semi-autobiographical play ‘Tickbox’. Themes include what happens to Edinburgh when the Fringe comes to town, immigration in the 60s vs. today and why it’s important to never let yourself be forced into a tickbox.

Aug 17, 2022 • 16:51

Edinburgh Fringe Show 2022 – Alice Brine (Brinestorm)

Edinburgh Fringe Show 2022 – Alice Brine (Brinestorm)

Every stand-up has something special to bring to the microphone. For Alice Brine the starting point is her ADHD and how it allows her to look at life in a different way to her audience. Ewan sits down with Alice to talk about her debut at the Edinburgh Fringe, living with ADHD, and bringing her life experiences and unique viewpoint to the stand-up stage.

Aug 16, 2022 • 14:32

Edinburgh Fringe Show 2022 – George Bailey and Hal Darling (Caligari)

Edinburgh Fringe Show 2022 – George Bailey and Hal Darling (Caligari)

Fin’s travelling back in time to talk to Chewboy Productions duo George Bailey and Hal Darling about their new show ‘Caligari’. How is a silent German film that’s over 100 years old still relevant to audiences today? How is music so important to protecting the story’s legacy? How does it feel when a company you started with your childhood friend ends up with a show at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival?

Aug 15, 2022 • 16:43

The Edinburgh Fringe Show 2022 – Emo Majok (African-Aussie)

The Edinburgh Fringe Show 2022 – Emo Majok (African-Aussie)

Emo Majok joins Ewan Spence to talk about his Edinburgh Fringe debut show ‘African Aussie’. He talks about how comedy has become a part of him, an immensely layered journey through life, and the power of story-telling at home and on the stage.

Aug 14, 2022 • 14:42

The Edinburgh Fringe Show 2022 – Previewing The First Big Weekend

The Edinburgh Fringe Show 2022 – Previewing The First Big Weekend

Ewan and Fin Ross sit down after a week at The Fringe to talk about how this year is feeling, from the joy of returning performers, through the smaller Fringe of 2021, and on to our recommended shows from the last seven days in August at the largest Arts Festival in the world.

Aug 13, 2022 • 23:33

The Edinburgh Fringe Show 2022 – Amie Enriquez (Lightweight)

The Edinburgh Fringe Show 2022 – Amie Enriquez (Lightweight)

Fin welcomes Amie Enriquez to the podcast chair to discuss her solo show, ‘Lightweight’. How has the discourse around mental health changed over the last 20 years? What is a “debilitatingly positive attitude”? Why do we need to laugh about the scary stuff in order to normalise it?

Aug 12, 2022 • 15:35

The Edinburgh Fringe Show 2022 – Tom GK (How To Record The Greatest Album Of All Time)

The Edinburgh Fringe Show 2022 – Tom GK (How To Record The Greatest Album Of All Time)

Can you convince an audience that you can record not just an album, but the greatest album of all time? That's the challenge that Tom GK has set himself at the Fringe this year. Ewan sits down with Tom GK to talk about the power of song, his Wikipedia-fuelled years as a music critic, and coping with hearing loss.

Aug 11, 2022 • 15:16

The Edinburgh Fringe Show 2022: Fraser Scott (Land – A Scottish Musical)

The Edinburgh Fringe Show 2022: Fraser Scott (Land – A Scottish Musical)

Kick The Door’s Fraser Scott joins Fin Ross Russell to discuss the group’s first Fringe Festival excursion with their original musical ‘Land’. We discuss Scotland’s musical storytelling identity, how the group drew parallels between the 18th and 21st centuries and how the group developed such a unique brand of theatre.

Aug 10, 2022 • 15:31

The Edinburgh Fringe Show 2022 – Luca Cupani (Happy Orphan)

The Edinburgh Fringe Show 2022 – Luca Cupani (Happy Orphan)

Italian comic Luca Cupani has always been a popular face at the Free Fringe, but in 2022 he has a one-hour tickted show called Happy Orphan, and the adventure he took when the rent ran out for mother's grave He joins Ewan to talk about his show, his first experiences of open-mic comedy, why he looks younger now than he did ten years ago, and why Italian paperwork indirectly led to his Fringe 2022 show.

Aug 9, 2022 • 15:21

The Edinburgh Fringe Show – John Hoggarth (Brown Boys Swim)

The Edinburgh Fringe Show – John Hoggarth (Brown Boys Swim)

Fin Ross Russell begins his month as the podcast's theatre correspondent by speaking. to ‘Brown Boys Swim’ Director John Hoggarth. They cover everything there is to know about Oxford’s finest offering at this year’s Fringe including the awkwardness of adolescence, needing to see it to be it and the many faces of masculinity.

Aug 8, 2022 • 16:52

The Edinburgh Fringe Show 2022 – Aliya Kanani (Where You From, From)

The Edinburgh Fringe Show 2022 – Aliya Kanani (Where You From, From)

First up in our Edinburgh studio is Aliya Kanani. She's making her Fringe debut with "Where You From, From", a stand-up show that takes you on "a turbulent journey around the world with tales of fitting in, sticking out and standing up." As well as introducing the show, she chats with Ewan about how the Fringe feels to a Canadian, why she records every single performance, and what it means to finally bring this show to the Arts Capital of the world.

Aug 7, 2022 • 16:03

The Edinburgh Fringe Show  Is On Hiatus

The Edinburgh Fringe Show Is On Hiatus

Following the Edinburgh Fringe in 2019 the world… changed, especially for those in the live arts and those covering the arts. With no Edinburgh Fringe in 2020, the show moved into hiatus.

Jan 1, 2021 • 1:21

The Edinburgh Fringe Show 2019 - Saturday Aug 10

The Edinburgh Fringe Show 2019 - Saturday Aug 10

Ewan Spence chats with Brodi Snook, Magical Bones, Bethany Heath, and Matt Parker. Music comes from Momento, and Bow Jangles.

Aug 10, 2019 • 59:30

The Edinburgh Fringe Show 2017 - Saturday Aug 15

The Edinburgh Fringe Show 2017 - Saturday Aug 15

With Cally Beaton, Megan Gogerty, Djuki Mala, and The Marriage Of Kim K.

Aug 15, 2017 • 59:10

The Edinburgh Fringe Show 2016 - Iraq Out Loud

The Edinburgh Fringe Show 2016 - Iraq Out Loud

An in-depth look at 'Iraq Out Loud,' as the Chilcot Report into the Iraq War is read out loud in its entirety at the Edinburgh Fringe.

Aug 21, 2016 • 44:30

The Edinburgh Fringe Show 2016 – Sunday Aug 14

The Edinburgh Fringe Show 2016 – Sunday Aug 14

With the cast of Spontaneous Sherlock, David Gant (King Arthur), Patrick Monahan (Pub Quiz for Kids), John Robertson (The Dark Room), and the cast of Captain Flinn And The Magic Cutlass.

Aug 14, 2016 • 48:26

The Edinburgh Fringe Show 2014 - Saturday Aug 9

The Edinburgh Fringe Show 2014 - Saturday Aug 9

With Gordon Southern, Lucie Pohl, Tom Rhodes, and the cast of Manuelita.

Aug 9, 2014 • 46:56

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